The art of navigating Caro-Kann middlegames

[@dolly6685]

Here is your weekly allowance for Romanian snack cakes.

[@AlexBanzea]

The father I never met, thanks again!

[@christian7054]

30% goes to google. Unfortunately he doesn't have paypal.

[@silviubroadcast3976]

​@@christian7054that's irrelevant

[@ITWorksSoftware]

Great way to start the morning, my fav song from my fav streamer playing my fav opening! 😂☕️✌️Thanks!!

[@filipeoliveira3050]

Incredible content creator, amazing opening, 10/10 humor

[@christian7054]

It's more 11/10 😁

[@RickL555]

...and he is one foxy dude too!😁

[@pablomata7098]

That 2300 on the first game was actually diabolical tf, actually lost like a 900 with 9 minutes left LMAO

[@jonathansweet2230]

babe wake up, new Banzea video just dropped

[@davidkeck6183]

Alex, you are the only chess teacher I need. You are by far the best, mixing opening theory, narrated games, quick humor and no wasting of time. There's no better formula. As always, thanks so much and congrats on 100k subscribers!!

[@Glenn-tj3fk]

almost coughed up a slice of pizza when the tinder profile came up

[@NightC7check]

I'm just glad I get another video so soon! I binge watched everything in a month or two and found myself lost when it stopped.

[@Ares_1960]

I don’t know what i like more , your humor or opening lessons. I’ve been frustratingly checking ur page everyday for a new video 😅I had to rewatch some old ones sometimes… pls do another speed run gracias 🤗

[@kaidoChess]

I went from 1200-1600 watching your Caro Kann vids. Thanks brotherrrrr🎉

[@McRingil]

Ok but where did you get to

[@kaidoChess]

@@McRingil wait what?

[@emkayglock_30]

current rating ?????

[@kaidoChess]

@@emkayglock_30 I lost some elo lol 1500 range

[@icerabbit9433]

Alex and the Caro-Kann are both unbreakable ! Thanks a lot for all these great videos !

[@axhraf7712]

43:39 No you were right it is a Spanish (Catalan) commentator. He actually says "encara Messi", which means "still Messi". It has nothing to do with the Turkish city Ankara 😆

[@ignaciosaenz6352]

Encara means “faces”. The verb. As in Messi faces the goalkeeper or face your fears. He faces the defender to dribble him.

[@TheDestroyer7102]

I love how casually he says “yeah got 94 accuracy” like it’s no big deal😅

[@VincentPeer]

Man, I was so appreciative of your videos for like, 3 months. It really seemed to help. Now, suddenly, I’ve gone from playing with minimum 75%, usually closer to 85%, to almost exclusively getting below 60%. This feels like it’s doing real damage to my game trying to learn how you play.

[@Deagin]

you shouldnt be "learning how he plays" you should be learning the ideas of the games he shows and listen to his explanations. if you just blindly copy youre going to have a bad time.

[@paulonopa]

Pure-pro, pure hilarious, and always good fun.

[@giacalonebuilding4443]

Thanks so much Alex! My win rate with the Caro is up to almost 70%, and over 80% last 30 days. When I finally finish the London course can’t wait to do your caro one. Thanks again!

[@matthew_cramer]

thank you bro, the double f pawn line i play every day in blitz so it’s nice to understand why i make move

[@abdelhamidmeriouma8248]

thank you for all your free continue I love what you give for us... my big thanks for Algerian

[@saintsrobbed6450]

I'm a simple man. I see a new Banzea video, I watch. Almost to 1000 due to your videos. Thanks!

[@moniinom4271]

0:27 the best way to begin

[@franbrok]

As usual, fantastic!!! Bravo Alex! I like your videos!!!

[@timmysam3138]

congrats on 100k, great content!

[@rich842]

Damn bro out here singing like Romanian Andrea Bochelli before casually cooking a 2300

[@DecvsJapan]

Love your way of showing the different possible moves during the game. "good move... however..."

[@bix3134]

Love all your videos , I actually play all your openings. London, carro and slav. You are the one guy who explains beginner friendly openings (the noob theory was perfect for me). Although I struggle greatly at endgames. I have absolutely no idea what to do with the pawns.I would love if you can make some videos on how to play pawn endgames leading from carro kann . So far the only pawn tutorial I found is Naroditsky's. But I'd love to see you explaining it cause you know how noobs play. Looking forward to it.

[@samcooper8585]

Love your work Alex! Come down and teach some chess in Australia!

[@saulescolar333]

Love when Alex puts his humor hat and do stuff like the tinder profile picture

[@thetransferaccount4586]

my dinner video is ready

[@etc-passwd]

0:30 - Game 1: Tartakower 12:42 - Game 2: Advanced 27:37 - Game 3: Exchange

[@tiendaweii]

Wish you'd have shown the game review, Brother. 'Dem Deets always help, right? Keep up the great content. Insightful, as always.

[@KirbChess]

This is the best caro kann video ive found. Im 1000 elo and this is extremely helpful

[@Benjamin-ku1qx]

I'm so happy to watch the last game ! I played a tournament à month ago and my opponent with white played this exchange variation ! I fianchettoed but he took my white bishop. I admit I panicked with my pawn structure in a mess... and lost. Now, I have a plan, thanks !

[@Azulblxde]

I love these educational videos keep it up

[@tunlinmaungmaung1718]

thanks Alex

[@fredviner2774]

Thx for your instructive Caro defence 😊

[@thoughtcontrol1503]

Hello Alex! Can you consider making a series on how to deal with white’s kingside fianchetto? Such as the KIA or the Reti?

[@adamstanger6502]

really enjoyed the following games!

[@lucafrau7461]

I'm italian and, I mean, you can only imagine how off guard you caught me at the beggining of the video 😂

[@allygod25]

I have gone from just over 900 elo O.T.B in our chess League last session to 1090 O.T.B elo for this New session hoping to improve again this chess session. thanks to your Videos with wins over 1200 elo players and a Draw with a 1400+ player thanks Alex Amazing Work

[@fredgandolfi2356]

The third game, Maestro, was art!

[@docoftheworld]

I pissed my pants laughing when you started your italiano song 😂😂😂😂you are the best troll ever

[@andrealombardi8341]

0:27 lasciatemi cantare 🗣️🗣️🇮🇹

[@mustaregis]

Would be nice if you made a martian gambit video :) It def needs prep to counter, and who better than you to teach it!!

[@BlunderMaster64]

Something which was mich needed,thanks brother

[@banzaiburger]

Belated CONGRATS 🎉🎉🎉 for 100k subs!

[@irjake]

26:09 opponent demonstrates why it's important to have 6+ minutes on the clock when you lose to cause maximum pain when you rage quit 😂

[@SirSwaggyy]

Really enjoy the Caro content. 👍🏼

[@jasontraub7814]

That pop-up Tinder profile killed me. 😂

[@ccemcoffingonzalez5304]

@14:42 you play Qa5. However when i played this the computer went Qa4. I of course panicked and lost. What do you recommend against this. Lichess analysis is Qxa4. What would you recommend?

[@johannestapper3003]

I'm not sure if you got your answer already, but I think going Qa4 is a bit inaccurate, because white loses a tempo when Qxa4 and Bxa4, meaning black gets a small lead in development. Don't be afraid of trading queens if it ends up being positive for you.

[@ccemcoffingonzalez5304]

@@johannestapper3003 Thanks for that. I will follow your advice if I get the position again.

[@banzaiburger]

The video I was waiting for 🎉 would love to see games where in the advanced variation they do the theoretically better capture on c5 right away.

[@kwanxin9506]

Hi Alex there's a variation that I saw that isn't in ur chessable course and I was wondering if u had any games with that. This is with the advance after black plays c5. 4. dxc5 Nc6 5. c4 Any suggestions on follow up?

[@AlexBanzea]

it's not a great line, simply 5...e6 and win back the pawn with good stability in the center.

[@Grandcapi]

Another excellent lesson.

[@kaidoChess]

This game was Alex B vs Alex B 😅

[@Smallbizuk]

RIP to all the funny videos that don’t get posted when you lose 😢

[@JoseP.Flores]

I like to push the D pawn double, attacking central pawn, offering as a sacrifice, able to exchange queen's after... ...prefer that to the knight move

[@lendamusic]

lasciatemi cantare….to play a game of caro….to learn from the best……lets go mi hermano!

[@OkoYT]

when's the jobava course ready mate!!

[@AndyJMacLeod]

35:30 Surely if he had done Rxb2, he could have followed-up with Qxa3+, then taken back the white rook with mate?

[@Willeinhelm]

You are awesome!

[@ImCalledAnq]

Congratz on 100k🎉

[@Rectangularification]

35:35 was there any reason why you couldn't play Rxg2? If white's rook retakes then Qxh3+ allows Qxg2# on the next move no? And if they didn't retake would that be so bad?

[@EloQuest2k]

20..Rxg2 21.Rxg2 Qxh3+ 22.Rh2! and black has no clear way to proceed.

[@davidd1948]

At 15:00 after ....QA5 can white play QA4?

[@josh198282]

Nice insights. Please do a video for Indian Attack (white side).

[@johnmahugu]

i went to play a 3 minute chess tournament on lichess, the theme was caro kann, i got clobbered. okay i will sit quietly in this corner and learn as i weep :)

[@hubertjedrzejak1872]

Hello, I've been watching your caro kann videos for some time and I've learned a lot from them, helped me break 2000 rating online. Im also playing in local chess club and I enjoy tartakower variation a lot, however I often play a player which forces early queen trade (1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3.Nd2 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nf6 5. Nxf6 exf6 6. Bc4 Bd6 7. Qe2). Do you have any suggestion how to avoid or improve this line? I was thinking of playing gxf6 or Be7 to waste a tempo but keep queens on the board

[@MMehdi-he4uo]

It's crazy how easily you beat these players !

[@Kenjitsuka]

Currently studying your London System on Chessable!

[@iceyroo]

Cover the Birds opening!

[@Spiethstar]

After awhile of basically playing just the Jobava London and Caro Kahn, I find my opponents very often play weird lines. Im gaining rating still, the ideas seem to be helpful at the middle game were Im blundering much less because of the directions

[@kpioryboy]

Came for the chess content, and stayed for the humour ❤️

[@radovancertik8421]

Alex can you please show us a game where you actually lose the game(not on time) so we can see the thought process in and where you made a mistake? I think you are good teacher and lost games are pure gold of knowledge. Thanks

[@stephenklump7615]

He loses some in a Titled Tuesday video vs Gotham IIRC

[@MatthieuSCHREK]

Awesome. Thank you !

[@sliceserve234]

Game #3 was a lot of fun! including 0:02.4!

[@shamassive]

Seriously... Wtf. How do 2000s make these types of strategic errors

[@screwtude2647]

Thank you Buckaroo Banzea!!!

[@howlingwolf317]

Could you do a video with you playing AGAINST the Caro Kahn at some point? I’ve been playing it almost exclusively because of you but I still can’t figure out the ideas how to punish it if facing it as white.

[@BenjisBees]

Bruh just play jobava.....

[@rhysgriffiths9675]

Play the exchange variation, followed by Bf4 and Nc3. 90% of games your opponents will develop both knights, you play Nb5 and get an instant win.

[@prplt]

just go Ne2 remote chess academy made a video about it 😂

[@Pablo4544]

Bring back the Jobava Cult, Master.

[@eamonro]

Salut, ce model de microfon Rode folosesti? Foarte tari filmuletele!

[@gamesspeedprodev7497]

Amazing video .i really like when you play with higher rated oppenent 👍🏻👍🏻

[@TrRunner6]

Amazing defense by Botvinnik

[@what-if-universe-big-bang]

are you going for GM? would definitely root for you!

[@judahdadone9410]

Been curious best way to proceed when we go into tartakower, but opponent does not take our knight on f6 with their knight. Sometimes they’ll just hop their knight away

[@Heyutana]

Tartakower denied, these lines are in the chessable course

[@ChefMane]

In game 2, if they do Nf3 instead of pinning our knight, what do we do?

[@407X]

34:18 Qh4 and the king should be groggy! Points for originality! 😅

[@fadedchemistry]

I watch these during working hours so I can literally get paid to watch Banzea videos (don't tell my manager)

[@kayodeopenibo532]

I have been struggling with jobava London

[@mrjaquavis6444]

Jobava london when?

[@donalmooney88]

@37.16 is it not forced mate with Kxh3 g2xh3 rook takes rook and mate?

[@coucoucmoi8651]

really good content ty

[@ITWorksSoftware]

OMG I love that song! 🤩

[@EmilFlorinMocanu]

Te rog sa faci tutoriale cum este pe canalul Lectia de sah de la zero la maestru

[@ichbleibefreiFlorianFreiheit]

36:44 why do you not lift rook to G2 - is this not a forced win?

[@joaorafael6218]

thought the same thing, its mate in 3

[@ismailgudic8314]

How is it a forced win? Rook takes rook, and you take the rook again and King takes than you have a check with Queen on g5 and can pick up his rook and it's an equal position

[@ichbleibefreiFlorianFreiheit]

I thought Black rook takes White rook, the white Queen takes Pawn on A3 - but then the Black rook goes to A2, so you are right it’s equal, my bad 😅

[@gerardopaeste8898]

Thanks IM Alex Banzea my opponent can't win anymore using Alien Gambit.

[@Thechesslad1]

Alex post caro kann video Me see video Me happy

[@Maestro-Akiyama]

Brooo i waiting so much to your course :(

[@CordeliaSimon]

I’m thinking about getting into meme coin trading. Any advice you can share?

[@athiestperson5947]

How was fabi in person

[@ChristianSoschner]

Excellent content

[@stevemoyle5932]

My Karo can't 😢..at 45% I need middle game help. 🎉White alright at 55% ❤ and middle game is always just mopping up the blood..of course im playing Jebava London! I will soon be Back in Black with the Black pieces, thanks Alex.

[@myldone]

Game 1: 21...Rxc2+ also good (followed by ...Rc8)?