Learn the Black Lion! Developments, and information about new course.

BUY my new Black Lion course on SALE for a limited time only - www.chessable....
This course really was a labour of love, and I hope you love the final product. Once you learn The Black Lion, you will have a fully-analysed and exciting opening to 1 e4.
With nearly 15 hours of video and an accompanying book, you'll be the King of the Jungle, the top of the food chain! Harness the power of the Black Lion!
Get it here with a 40% discount for a limited time only (with a full money-back guarantee): www.chessable....
/ gingergmchess
Twitter - ginger_gm
Website - www.gingergm.com
Twitch channel - www.twitch.tv/gingergm

[@Chessable]

Great stuff Simon!! -The Chessable Team

[@popeyethesailor1089]

Thats the best thumbnail picture i have seen in quite some time.

[@GingerGM]

Yeah, it is awesome. The artist is Willum Morsch.

[@DrSaintkiller]

I play chess for 9 months and I am rated around 1300-1400. I went to my local chess club and play against 1800-1900. It was pretty funny when I say "I will be with black" and started attacking with the lion and the others were like "why tf someone like him can attack me that good". Even though I lose in the end it was pretty fun games and everyone enjoy them. Thank you Simon

[@Tasmanaut]

there is no way you were rated 1300 after 9 months.

[@DrSaintkiller]

@@Tasmanaut if you say so, you must be right

[@bluepenguin2071]

As a newcomer to chess, the beginning reminds me much of the Caro-Kann, so this is very enjoyable to learn. Thank you for this!

[@jhadesdev9576]

I got it this morning, I was refreshing the website every hour 😀 Never got rid of 100 euros so quickly and so gladly 😀The course is awesome I'm a couple of hours into it, very in-depth and answering a ton of questions I had about the opening. Simon, if you are reading, to answer your question I think the Old Indian that you mention in one of the videos would be a very natural complement, I would love to hear your ideas on it 👍 As I play the Black Lion, I always play the Old Indian hoping it transposes, which most often it does LOL 😀, even though I know that's not much of strategy against d4 to say the least LOL 😀 But the c4 lines aren't bad either and I rarely get in serious trouble, the thing is I can't find much material on it at all. Thanks for the course it's awesome, Black Lion fans will have a definitive resource for years to come 👍👍

[@GingerGM]

Thanks for buying the course! It is you guys who buy this stuff that means I can keep creating. :) I did spend a lot of time on the lines, so I hope it will come in handy. Yes I will give some serious thought to an Old Indian course. Just need to find the time...

[@ReverseDutchRulz]

@@GingerGM It's now 2024 and I'm still hoping for the Old Indian 😉

[@DGA2000]

Already bought the course and also got the short and sweet as well. I like to study the short and sweet first and get a foundation for the larger course. Did that with the Jobava London System and it's working out very well. A big thanks to my favorite chess instructor...

[@federicoballacci6869]

True, it's so much better to get the short and sweet course and have at least something to play against the main lines. That way I can learn the opening in the bigger course while also comfortably playing it.

[@thomasdewolfhound6458]

Thanks Simon. You always come up with some really interesting stuff.

[@RayT70]

You should do a course on the white lion. Maybe that's the best answer to the tricky traps you pointed out.

[@eamonnotoole7429]

That thumbnail drawing is nothing short of GLORIOUS

[@GingerGM]

It is brilliant

[@dlbade01]

I've been enjoying your youtube content so much I've made my first chess investment in your black lion course on chessable. First chance to play it I was way up but got caught in a perpetual check. Second time Garry did some major damage and I got the checkmate. Pretty sure I'm just a couple games away from Grand Master now. lol.

[@timgluckman8663]

Thanks for covering 4. F4 after 3...nbd7. i commented on another of your videos that 4. F4 was the best response for white.

[@fandastruhal5231]

Perfect video, Mr.Simon., I will play this opening. THX...

[@GingerGM]

Good luck!

[@canefan17]

I've been playing the quiet black lion for years (not knowing what it was). Thanks for the new ideas - I'll be purchasing the DVD for sure.

[@nicholaspreiss]

I'm a huge fan of your videos (and your style of play), Simon, so I'll be purchasing this one, too!

[@GingerGM]

Thanks Nicholas. :)

[@SuperYtc1]

Congrats Simon.

[@GingerGM]

Cheers!

[@danopheim3981]

Bought! I also have Jobava 😀 So next time the Dutch is on sale.... Looking forward learning. Thanks Simon

[@GingerGM]

Thanks Dan. I hope the Jobava helped you!

[@kalmarknekt4764]

Big fan of this opening since 2010. After being inspired by Van Rekom & Leo Jansen but also combined their book with Lakdawala book "1...d6". Recently also looked at Barsky book "A universal weapon 1.d4 d6". Still need moore and... This course is another chessbolt on my chesstank openings as black. Great work Simon! Hats of for helping out :)

[@GingerGM]

Lets hope it helps

[@Saiyan_Elite]

Another great vid!!

[@wineweasel]

Simon I love your black lion and London videos I think you should do more openings with your simple rules they are great I even looked on chessable at your videos but I think they are overpriced for a beginner like me £30 is a lot to spend for a beginner you should do some £5 courses but keep up the great work I use London for white and black lion for black I've only learned a few of the lines but your opening Principe rules are great as it leaves me in a fairly decent position after about 10 moves even if it all goes down hill after that

[@ShubhamGupta-ep7wt]

Please bring any course against D4 other than Dutch defense

[@guitarseast]

Love the mane line!

[@excalibur5434]

🙄

[@johangamb]

Have a huge amount of fun at a [very] amateur level on lichess with this. All out attack, no castling.

[@GingerGM]

It is a real fun opening to play. :)

[@mickbeirne3427]

Hey Simon, this is grrrrrreat. On a pedantic point, I think you mean the Phildor defence, not the Petroff,

[@dominiks5068]

true. he later corrected himself tho :) around 7:10

[@GingerGM]

Yeah, I mention that later on!

[@mickbeirne3427]

GingerGM as ever my pre- move was rubbish!!!!!

[@GingerGM]

@@mickbeirne3427 lol

[@andreburger9932]

Je ne comprends pas bien l’anglais 😩mais vos vidéos sont excellentes merci thanks Mister Ginger !!!! Excellent !!!!!👍👍👍

[@GingerGM]

Cheers!

[@roland.j.ruttledge]

Informative as ever, many thanks.

[@meathead919]

I so was looking forward to buying, but I lost all my money in the stock market crash today. Maybe next time, looks great!

[@mimerafm3794]

should have invested in face masks :^)

[@randalltripp5970]

Sorry for the loss. Good luck in the future.

[@mrhed0nist]

@@mimerafm3794 No man, toilet rolls is where the money is ;)

[@dr.chessguide904]

really great video simon, thank you very much for it.

[@TheDitronik]

1. d4 d6 2. c4 { A41 Old Indian Defense } Nd7 3. e3 e5 4. Nc3 c6 5. Nf3 Qc7 6. b3 h6 7. Bb2 Ngf6 8. g3 Be7 9. Bg2 a5 10. O-O g5 11. Nd2 Nf8 12. Nde4 Nxe4 13. Nxe4 f5 14. Nc3 Ng6 15. dxe5 dxe5 16. Qc2 h5 17. Rad1 h4 18. Na4 g4 19. Rd2 Be6 20. Rc1 hxg3 21. hxg3 Bb4 22. Bc3 Qh7 23. Kf1 Be7 24. Ke2 Qh2 25. Bf1 Qh1 26. Qd3 e4 27. Qc2 Qf3+ 28. Ke1 Rh2 29. Re2 Rh1 30. Kd2 O-O-O+ 31. Bd4 Bb4+ 32. Nc3 Rxd4+ 33. exd4 Bxc4 34. bxc4 Nh4 35. Qb3 Qd3+ 36. Ke1 Ng2# 0-1

[@ChrisLevine14]

So what if white castles queenside? And how would you play against this if your opponent tried this opening?

[@sanmina3]

I'd had success with the tame Lion and would try the ...nbd7 lines. I also include the Old Indian in my repertoire so would like to see a course in that.

[@ayatjawad3113]

Simon I really like your video and your amazing work here but , I can’t buy your DVD because I can’t get it in iraq so i wish you find way to allow me get your DVD or do more videos about black lion please . Thank you

[@nimzodis]

I am a working man who likes to play chess in the evenings. You know my type. So if should choose one line to learn from you Simon against E4, would the black lion be it? Against D4, I play dutch, but don't know much theory behind it either. For white, I'm learning the London System. Also, hard to justify big expenditures to the wife. Is the course without video worth it?

[@GingerGM]

Well, I hope so. It does give you an aggressive way to play against 1 e4. And the book is not too expensive.

[@DeBert]

I actually lost a long OTB game with the 11:00 trick a few months ago... But still a huge fan of the Black Lion!

[@GingerGM]

A very nasty trick, hopefully, it won't happen again now!

[@jacobshroyer2420]

Am I wrong, or is it very similar to the czech pirc opening?

[@raoufakram8120]

Hi coach Simon If a buy the course I will be able to play black lion against d4 and another opening Or just for e4 Best regards for you I like your attitude and your behavior 👍

[@GingerGM]

It is just against 1 e4.

[@ploopybear]

although 1600 I like the king's indian + grunfeld against d4 because it's the top moves my leela gave and got some cool stuff out of it

[@kewkabe]

At 20:13 you say you don't want to trade queens, but then recommend a line where white can force the queen trade anyway (after f4 and your ...e5 there, simply dxe5 dxe5, fxd5. ...Nxe5 is forced, allowing white to trade queens (all other lines Stockfish says is losing +3.0 or more, e.g. ...Ng8 gives up the pawn and black's position is horrible).

[@Stripping_Bolts]

I bought your book on this, do I need the course as well?

[@ph6560]

I just bought it, hope it'll be good! :-D

[@GingerGM]

Me to!

[@Svenson-kr2ry]

Why is it called the black lion? How did it get its name?

[@fabian8383]

Very interesting opening that you Made a DVD of, Simon!

[@sutters7251]

Everything goes out window and I never get to follow the plan as my opponents always take on e5 as soon as I push the pawn!

[@henrycamera3904]

Thank u so so much First of all We really need the old indian defense against 1d4 Secondly I hope u give the tactic and attacking checkmate ideas more importance...because sometimes I got the position that we talk about it in the repertoire but I don't know how I can get through checkmate 🙂🙃🙃 thank you so much again U are the best GingerGM 😍😍😘

[@GingerGM]

I do my best at explaining checkmate attacking ideas in the course. Let's hope they work.

[@jacobtarallo4370]

Just a theoretical thought. If White plays a4-a5 before you get in b6 in the hanham, the position can become positionally a bit suspect.

[@GingerGM]

Not if you play ...Rb8 first, all in the course. ;)

[@zenmaster1958]

Can you still play this if 2. d4 is not played? What is the best move for black if d4 is not played by white?

[@dmintz2]

Collapse of the Lion system after 5 moves with 5. dxe5? after: 1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 Nbd7 4.e5d xe5 5.dxe5 Nxe5 6.Qxd8+ Kxd8 Because white in move 5 takes black's pawn on e5, and then black has to take with Kxe5, white captures my queen with his queen (Qxd8+), I take back with the king, and it seems that the whole Lion system collapsed in 5 moves: I cannot castle, my king is exposed, I have no e5 pawn to establish attack on king side, etc. What to do? (Maybe instead of moving the knight to d7 on move 3, move it to c6 to counter/prevent 5. dxe5?) Does it mean this whole system can collapse so early and so easily just by white 5. dxe5? Thank you, Dan Mintz

[@canefan17]

The engine has black up half a point after those moves. Hard to complain about that as black with the queens off the board. In my experience, white players are not looking to trade queens and be down a pawn after 6 moves.

[@Shaash_S]

At 16:13 what if white plays a5 instead of Re1?

[@mrhed0nist]

I find the Black Lion setup works fine for me vs d4 openings. What is my patzer mind missing here?

[@DGA2000]

Tam Crude I don't think you're missing anything. I understand it is quite playable against d4.

[@ploopybear]

probably just at the top engine level it's worse

[@Jersey_Shore]

If you purchased The Black Lion Chessbase DVD, can you explain what is new and how much is the same in the Chessable version?

[@GingerGM]

I should explain that in the video. Much more material, deeper analyses and more variations for a start. :)

[@justinperry7550]

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@hmangaihtea9984]

Do you have an account on lichess???

[@GingerGM]

I am a chess.com boy ;)

[@fs-wh5en]

Will you make a new Black Lion for Chessbase?

[@magic_hotel]

I think the BL can often be achieved against 1.d4, by answering with 1.... d6. Most White players would then opt for 2.e4 thinking they're heading for a Pirc/Modern, but Black has 2. ... Nd7, keeping the BL on the table.

[@randalltripp5970]

What if white goes with c4? Resort to Kings Indian?

[@magic_hotel]

@@randalltripp5970 Yes, the King's Indian may be safest. You could try f5, but would need to find a satisfactory line against 3.Bg5.

[@snstrubbe]

If white delays playing d4 and plays modest with Bc4 and d3, is there an aggressive wat to play as black (h6 and g5?), or is black forced to play along in a normal Italian game (with f.e. the two knights defence)? Thanks

[@GingerGM]

I do not see any reason why you can't still play ...h6 and ...g5!? White is not threatening you in the center.

[@Haelbakr_chess]

!!!! Excellent !!!!!👍👍 Ginger but I don't have money to buy the course

[@GingerGM]

Loads of free stuff on my channel. :)

[@Haelbakr_chess]

@@GingerGM I love you man you are awesome

[@Haelbakr_chess]

@@GingerGM Hi Simon I am Hael Bakr from Syria I am facing difficulties in the middle stage of the game, which course you advise me to study Thank you in advance

[@vivianebajjani]

WOW Thanks for the ideas! Could you make a video what to do vs d4? Also Ideas in the Middle-game :) Thank you

[@plywoodcarjohnson5412]

If u want to you can have a go at it anyway. Remember rook g8 and hope they go for the queens gambit. However if they go for the London you must spot it immediately and start playing the french. Which sucks. But the good thing is if they play the queens gambit - and you don't castle. He he. All their pieces point wrong.

[@ym276]

It can't really be played against d4 - go check out his collection of dvds

[@GingerGM]

yeah, that's a good idea, will take me a bit of time to do my research.

[@plywoodcarjohnson5412]

@@ym276 Go check out my collection of games.

[@Cruz0e]

I wish a shorter (free) version will come out for us "amateur" players like on Jobava and Dutch, I kept 1 slot of my 5 free lessons for an other GingerGM lesson :)

[@Cruz0e]

oh at 30:18 you answered it :)

[@GingerGM]

One will be coming out soon. :)

[@Cruz0e]

@@GingerGM you are the best I'm that guy from Limerick who spoke to you in twitch too, I was off saturday and I was going to visit the tournament (and You) in Bunratty but my brother's car had issues and he called me I was on the way already... then I had to help him, so I couldn't go.. next year:D I definitely go there I will book the whole weekend out:D and I hope I can invite you for a beer:D

[@Cruz0e]

@@GingerGM I got it:D I had to archive an other one...

[@MarkW126]

Watched the short and sweet version on Chessable. Played 40 games after. Wound up with a 46% win rate. Not one game was reflective of the versions explained on the video. Not one game! Going back to the Caro-Kann.

[@erikstetina2248]

@GingerGM what about black lion for white? with extra tempo! have you tried it?

[@GingerGM]

Only in blitz, it is a fun way to play. Jobava has done this with much success.

[@pakchu2]

A question about all your Chessable courses: Is the Chessable book course the same content as the Chessable video, only without the video? Or is there more content in the video course? #Suggestion French Defense, esp. some aggressive Ginger ideas in playing against the exchange French as black

[@GingerGM]

I believe they are the same. You just get the extra explanation in the video courses. I would love to find time to film a more up to date French defence course.

[@ShaunSedice]

A good companion to the GingerGM's newest recommendations for playing the French Defense is "The Bulletproof French (The Libiszewski Method)". I find it goes very nicely with the second GingerGM Method course. I have used ideas from both these courses in my games with the French Defense. Maybe knowing this is out there will help the GingerGM prioritize the Old Indian course.

[@nimzodis]

Needs a guest appearance on Vikings, the great tv show

[@GingerGM]

Would love to

[@Stazzles]

Hey Simon, any info on your next project? (perhaps black opening vs d4? :D).

[@GingerGM]

Got some interesting ideas for gingergm.com coming up

[@guycardwell2541]

Can't you just play the same old Indian setup that Simon is recommending against 1. d4 as well?

[@Jersey_Shore]

What is the advantage of learning this opening if one already has your Killer French DVDs?

[@GingerGM]

Just if you fancy a change of opening really. The Black Lion can lead to some fascinating attacking games.

[@magic_hotel]

The French doesn't have much scope to attack the White king early doors. Personally, I would play the French at standard time limits and have fun with the BL at blitz. Horses for courses.

[@ChandlerWrites]

I've been playing the Philidor (modern move order) for years. It was a happily under-rated opening with an undeserved reputation for passivity. And now Simon goes and ruins it for me...

[@GingerGM]

This course will help you play the opening even better. ;)

[@ChandlerWrites]

@@GingerGM I already bought the book portion of your chessable course so I can look at some of your more mental lines.... 😀

[@lofobic1]

Sold!

[@GingerGM]

Cheers!

[@SpaceCadet4Jesus]

What..?! I gotta fork over *more* money for Simon's pub crawling...?? Will do!

[@GingerGM]

Yeah, another 5 beers for me!

[@cjman250]

Ooiiiiiiii nice

[@dmythica]

Need a tattoo of that thumbnail!!!

[@GingerGM]

It is wicked

[@shcottam]

I am rated 130p and will be playing this on chess.com :]

[@GingerGM]

Go kill 'em!

[@howariABC]

Sadly its in chessable, the mobile ui is very bad. Byed the jobava course and it really hard to find the video lessons in there. The videos are good when you actually find those.

[@sintdm1634]

Lions are not black, they are Ginger!

[@cats_revenge]

riknuo kao lav ...

[@shauntaylor6040]

After 4 f4 I think white has the better game.

[@stevenodonoghue6856]

White has a better game in virtually every opening. Black lion is no different, the game is still a draw with best play. But the black lion does give you a fun position, with attacking chances

[@milankotevski1663]

It's Philidor Defense. Why do you call it the Black Lion!?

[@HighlyCruciferous]

A couple of Dutch authors wrote a book on these lines in the early 2000s using that name. I believe that there are two things that truly differentiate this opening from the Hanham variation of the Philidor: Firstly the 1...d6 move-order, which avoids 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 Nf6 4. de as well as 3.Bc4 without d4 but in exchange allows 1.e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 Nbd7 4. f4 and 4. g4 or the Queen swap after 3...e5 4. de Secondly, the typical ...h6, ...Nf8 and ...g5 plan which was virtually unexplored at the time that the aforementioned book was published.

[@milankotevski1663]

8:00 this is a typical position from the Philidor defense. People may call it whatever they like, but it's still Philidor defense.

[@HighlyCruciferous]

That is indeed a direct transposition, as occurs in many different openings. But I don't think that you properly read what I wrote.

[@dougveganparadisebuilder5808]

If you ever come to my neck of the woods in the heart of South America I will trade your course for delicious bananas and/or other knick knacks of interest. I took what I could from your free lessons and play it.

[@GingerGM]

Sounds cool!

[@vivianebajjani]

First