How A Top Grandmaster Deals With My London Opening

In this video, I share my round 1 chess game against GM Alexandr Predke (2693) from the Abu Dhabi Masters Tournament.
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[@zeggyy]

I love recap videos like these, but honestly it seems a lot to have both the tournament and video creating on your plate!! I wouldnt mind waiting a week or so for recap videos

[@mymyscellany]

Eric don't stress yourself out too much with the recaps. Have fun at the event.

[@31redorange08]

It's his job.

[@timwilson7326]

Ok mom

[@ItsAsparageese]

Want to echo everyone saying not to overburden yourself, we can wait! That said, if you prefer doing the recaps soon after games like this, then you do you bamf 😁 We appreciate you!

[@jamief-h3044]

I love you Eric, you are fantastic and extremly entertaining and educational. Even as a 1000 rated player who blunders their queen 2/3 games, I love to discover a masters way of playing!

[@herrspaten1796]

Please dont stress yourself with recaps. We can wait a week or two until you finished

[@Nouel_]

No, we cannot.

[@Nouel_]

@birds no, learn how to detect sarcasm. (:

[@stvia]

@@Nouel_ learn to use text.. There is no way to tell that you're being sarcastic

[@zackarysemancik5491]

@@stvia context lol. Just realize it brah

[@daniels.3990]

I agree with you, however, since chess is the liverhood of Eric, the more content he creates the more KZbin will recommend his channel, if he takes too much to uploap, KZbin wont recommend him, more subscribers = better sponsors

[@MyBiPolarBearMax]

This was so interesting to watch! I love the ideas and the aggressiveness and lack of fear to play for winning chances. It’s hard to believe white had no chances after that sac but I guess that’s the difference between how a computer (or superGM with time) see the board. Youre awesome Eric, play fearlessly! Remember you can only gain from this tournament and losses will ultimately be irrelevant long term but wins would be huge. You got this.

[@GaryTheGray]

I agree with your commentary on the game. I don't think you lost the game as much as your opponent won the game. Nicely played, and best of luck tomorrow!

[@danwoo21]

Keep up the good work eric! The opponent was very strong and I think you did very well. No big blunder and very much to learn about from the game. Thank you for sharing this incredible experience with your subscribers! I am glad to see you share this right after the game which you lost and you can keep calm and be ready to absorb everything from the game which means you are mentally beating the contest!

[@ajm7375]

Still better than most, I never thought I’d enjoy learning chess but your videos are top notch my dude!

[@jandrewhill63]

Oh no your London

[@GardenChess]

but actually...

[@abee127]

While "stressing" over recaps isn't desirable, it's nice for both entertainment and archival reasons to have a recap of the game while it is still fresh in your mind and emotions.

[@kmarasin]

5:02 "I actually didn't quite know what to do here" Common problem for White in the London, when Black fianchettoes and generally plays sensibly. The London isn't the best choice for positional play since the initiative is ultra-important and being the first to choose central pawn configuration is paramount. The London lets Black take the initiative with regard to central pawn play, and after ...c5-cxd4 there's nothing much for white to do, positionally. Add in that time-wasting Na3-c4-d2 maneuver and Black is now calling the shots. There's just no plan for White: the classically developed Bishops are targets in the center and don't have help; d-pawn is pseudo-isolated and d5 is an outpost; Black has activity on the c-file while there is a block of granite on the e-file. Computer might say equal but it's a nightmare to play White here. 14:06 "I don't know what my losing mistake was" Probably not a good idea to think of it in those terms; that's how engines think, not humans. Your "mistake" was trying to play incremental chess in an opening not suited to that, against a very strong player who can meet your usual resourcefulness in complications. I go back to what I say above, that while you might have been able to hold equality at move 18, it would probably have needed a more defensive mindset of meeting Black's threats, as Black holds most of the cards. You would've had to patiently wait for Black to open the position and hope he went wrong.

[@REKKnives]

Love the analysis, thanks for fitting in the video into your busy schedule Eric!

[@syrix5914]

Thank you for the recap! Nice to hear your thoughts so close after the game.

[@TheChessViking]

Nice to hear your thoughts. Good luck with the future rounds.

[@Thatrageface]

Interestingly, during the live broadcast, D5 was highlighted (by the engine) as the best move around move 21-22, and you ended up playing it in move 24, after Stockfish's supposed window had closed. If you do end up analysing this game in-depth, could you care to elaborate as to why you wouldn't play d5 earlier?

[@Jack-in-the-country]

Your resourcefulness never ceases to amaze me. You inspire me to never give up, even when the odds are against me.

[@enriquevecerra4651]

Buena partida,Saludos Rosen.

[@c_bass1971]

Ignore them. I demand recaps! I paid my subscription fee in full!! (j/k Eric. we can wait)

[@GB2010ize]

Predke 2692 and you fight him, Eric!! Proud of you man!

[@Santiino]

Watched thegame live. Very intense cant imagine how its truly like

[@qzrnuiqntp]

Interesting! Thanks for starting-blocks! At 9:16 I thought your idea was to play Rb6 to take the d6 pawn and create a pass pawn on d5. Also to play more directly threatening mate with the Bishop and the Queen (Bh6, Qd3, Qd4...)

[@brucelittleboy3594]

Your rough cut is pretty good!

[@swift8821]

Sad about the result, but there’s plenty of more embarrassing ways to lose to a super strong GM.

[@alhfgsp]

GMs play such good positional chess that if no tactics are missed it can be hard to pinpoint the exact mistake that loses.

[@griffintwalsh]

Love the way you play my friend. That was a very good opponent but you put up a good and very interesting fight

[@_wetmath_]

this game was awesome!

[@Nocturnalcuber]

I als sacrificed a bishop in my previous tournament and i ended up loosing but i won next three matches in a row. Don't worry Eric you'll do better ☺️

[@thetimssportstalk3160]

Exactly why I play c3 first. I want to take towards the king side anyway in the london so e3 is pointless and it also allows Qb3 on Qb6

[@tonybarfridge4369]

Eric I'm wondering why u didn't attack that annoying pawn with your dark square bishop? He will be forced to defend with the knight, blocking his queen and rook. Then u can push your c pawn and get a very safe position.

[@RyanEmmett]

Kudos to you Eric for recording an instructive recap after a tiring loss. But don't feel you need to release recap videos during the event. Look after yourself and we can have recaps after the tournament!

[@haidermohsin]

I will put this video in a playlist named when you mess with a grand master.

[@nicserbo2689]

can't get back to clevland and st .louis to check on the cardinals and guardians

[@Rockrypt4]

Seeing chat being so supportive made my day

[@Andrew-vy6rr]

Losing mistake? You played what is essentially a super GM who didn't make a single mistake. Nearly everyone will lose every time. You got the next one Eric!

[@BlanBlan19901990]

I play the London a decent chunk and Qb6 move 3 is by far the most challenging line by black for me. I have solid responses to everything but this. If qc1 then d pawn hangs and pawn b3 looks weird and wrong

[@brianmcdonnell2466]

That defense is straight out of Kaufman's Chess Opening Repertoire Book.

[@ethangilworth7891]

Your super GM opponent played a brilliancy against you honestly great game

[@lucid13311]

Thank you

[@officialEricBG]

is this the line that Hikaru sacrificed a queen to you in and then proceeded to lose? I can't seem to find that video anymore though :(

[@tator9798]

Yes, I remember a Hikaru vs Rosen game where Hikaru went to take on b2 with the queen on this line because he forgot white had a forced draw, and then he sacrificed the queen for the rook instead of accepting the offer of repetition and proceeded to lose.

[@officialEricBG]

@@tator9798 I found it! 3J9EM-K4sT8

[@tator9798]

@@officialEricBG waaa nice finding!

[@barbaracouti]

So much effort from eric in his content

[@cHVF]

thanks that was really interesting -

[@paddyofer]

1:52 I saw you teach Andrea Botez the London. Did you teach Alexandra as well?

[@xanbex8324]

Thanks!

[@TGregers]

I started learning the regular London. But now Jobava is my go-to. Feels like there is less counters from the start. Tbh it just feels better. Also having an easier time attacking with it. Im not a high level player tho, so what do I know haha

[@nikeswoosh7575]

Great video and pre match video combo

[@АндрейСтоляров-з9ф]

Sometimes it's difficult to just defend position without any active plan.

[@natebobbybgaming5072]

I didn’t analyze with an engine but in the position after B4, A5, NC6. Could you play the line NB3, ND5, BH2?

[@darkmax4722]

where's the oh no my bishop shirt

[@tolkienfan1972]

That didn't seem rough cut to me. Cool game

[@weetjijwel050]

It may be a loss, but that means you learned and became stronger. Good luck on the next, Letsgooooo 😁👍!

[@wvandael]

I believe @GingerGM recommends d5 after an 2 ...c5. Any thoughts on that?

[@choco_addictee]

Interesting game for sure, never saw 2...c5 before 🙂

[@shawman5676]

I would say you played well. Just that Predke is level above and you tried something. You did not try to play for a draw. There will be further challenges and based on swiss format you will have easier opponent tomorrow after a loss today?

[@Exayevie]

I'm curious, do you have a coach at your current level Eric?

[@aidenwilkin5738]

looks like you need to trade more knights

[@BSplitt]

How do you get clock times on the board when doing this analysis?

[@DeBert]

Game PGN was from live broadcast

[@educat1on166]

11:53 what about Rd4

[@zadh]

then black play Rc1+ and white cannot stop black from promoting the pawn

[@Nick-mg5xl]

you played a really nice game here despite the result

[@oraz.]

maybe it was too optimistic to sac

[@juneguts]

(almost super) GMs are terrifying lol

[@booknikYT]

Super GMs aren't terrifying when you're me and still losing to barely 1000s! Bring on them Super GMs!

[@jaybingham3711]

Both ugh and yay. Ugh in that exceptionally honed human intuition is simply no match for the vagaries of the huge possibility space that is chess. Yay in that lesser honed intuitions aren't truly distinguishable from better ones. No matter how any human intuition is honed, they all are quite lacking from the perspective of SF15. And 14. And... There's really no point in taking ourselves to seriously when it comes to this game.

[@يوسفعمارنة-ش9ت]

I saw eric doing an "oh no my queen" in real life i have finally completed my life purpose (I didn't take a photo tho cuz i was too shy☹️☹️ but i will try again tomorrow) I took the photo!!

[@JadenYukiBruceLee]

eric i can train you if You want

[@flippert0]

Maybe the London just isn't that strong?

[@SuperMo22]

11:46 here why not knight take rock then rock d4 instead of rock b1?

[@SLKCHESS]

👍

[@sushilkhadse6814]

Focus sir. Good luck for next game

[@mrlucasftw42]

Eat. Sleep. Chess. Repeat

[@paulthompson9668]

Don't stress the losses against the GMs...they're supposed to win! lol

[@loveistheanswer5924]

What IM means? Are you not a grand master?

[@happyhillsfarm9598]

rookstar!!

[@NathanHarrison7]

Dude… sleep! Do your tournament. Videos later.

[@georgelafner8760]

:*

[@blueguitarist]

I always hope the London loses, such a terrible boring opening

[@raicyceprine8953]

Pls stress yourself with recap so you have money

[@ryyuk7408]

Today is my birthday!

[@j.21]

Congrats!

[@AlfaEcho]

🥳

[@basketca2]

Happy birthday!

[@j.21]

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[@KrishKalra]

.

[@nicholasdrost693]

.

[@_wetmath_]

.

[@depressivepumpkin7312]

.

[@Hasan...]

.

[@IslamicRageBoy]

Eric is Not that good at chess

[@MfundoBioMathematicianMayaya]

First?

[@j.21]

Um... First to say first. Congrats!

[@pepega3344]

@@j.21 woah you were the first commenter!! What did you have for breakfast this morning?

[@j.21]

@@pepega3344 well, I wouldn't exactly say that it is morning, yet, so I don't have anything yet for breakfast.

[@jiggs8073]

Aw look at those chubby little cheeks