The Dzindzi-Indian Defense, aka the "Beefeater" | Climbing the Rating Ladder vs. 1812

[@hakon7103]

Hi John, nice game we played. I haven't met bxc3 many times, though i know it is an idea in some openings to exchange the dark squared bishop for the knight and place your pawns on dark squares. I clearly wasted time with 15.qe2 where i should have played qc2 instead. I didnt't see at first that i should just give up my c4 pawn for activity, since defending it is a bad use of my resources. I had some chances to equalise, but you clearly showed you understood the position better than me and it was a tough position to gain activity. I checked with the computer in afterwards, and the moves it recommends are not at all natural. In the endgame i had no chance against your octopus knight on c4. Good game!

[@goldenlion3184]

Thanks for commenting Hakon, it's great to see what you were thinking during the game. You held up well against the likes of JB!! A very positional game where he paralyzed you from the beginning. Nicely played!

[@JohnBartholomewChess]

Thanks a lot for the game, Håkon! Really appreciate you stopping by the comment section and sharing your thoughts, too! Agreed, roundabout the three consecutive queen moves is where the game seems to slip for you. I imagine you'll have some good ideas how to handle the Dzindzi next time you face it 👍

[@psaini1999]

Octopus knight I love that haha

[@danjeory3659]

Well played Håkon! At least you got in e4, Bc1 to temporarily bamboozle John. I liked that. It reminded me of Frank Bruno's left hook against Mike Tyson, which was briefly effective and got the crowd roaring. But all too briefly. You held your own well though 👍

[@nosystem1098]

Thank you for giving us your take on the game. I really wish more of JB's opponents would.

[@goldenlion3184]

When John says "feeling in a fianchetto kind of mood", puts on a blue shirt with white flowers, and says "Dzindzi-indian" three times really fast, you know you are in big trouble. Might as well resign on the spot! Makes me want to learn the Dzindzi!! 🤨

[@uguugu98]

I try to play this as black all the time since Roman Dzindzikhashvili is from my country and my grandpa actually got introduced to him back in the days. But yes, struggle is real with actually getting it on the board. I would say that only time I actually get it on the board (about 10%) is probably because people play opening 3 moves automatically even in rapid. If you get it on board, its definitely a lot of fun. However, you do have major major weaknesses that are big pain to deal with during game if opponent recognizes weaknesses right from the start. Big thank you for the great content as always! Just a reminder, if you try to go for this as black and don't get it, you can always go FULL GEORGIAN MODE and go for Gurgenidze system as mentioned by John.

[@jonpark5203]

Thankyou john, for explaining the concepts and theories of the game so brilliantly 💯🙌

[@darkriver7564]

And another one? The gift that just keeps on giving. Glad to have you back John!

[@Kurth_Works]

I was literally doing cup bubble exercises while watching you and then you said you have MTD. Sorry to hear that, its very difficult. I'm surprised you have it since you speak so well. Good luck with it, and thanks for the great chess videos!

[@adamh6094]

Half way through. Rocking the summer vibes, I see! I’m a southern hemispherian. It’s always so interesting to see the vast majority of the world work in opposition to the season I’m in. It’s been a life constant. One of my earliest memories is coming racing out of my bedroom on Xmas day and being so butthurt that there was no snow. All I’d seen was cartoons of snow on Xmas, and I was but 4 years old. I remember my mother explaining how it doesn’t snow in Australia at Xmas. Real feels. Enjoy your summer John! For reference, im somewhat north in aus so even our winters are mild lol. Peace!

[@KingCrunchere4c6]

I remember when you played this opening in a standard video on ICC. Bxc3 and you blew my mind. Didn't realize it was so high on your list of favorites. I love how you show your chess culture with a throwback to CSQ and the "beefeater" reference. Thanks for showing a lot of the plans. Glad to hear your voice.

[@mikek3459]

Thanks for sharing this game with us John and I have never heard of this opening with the black pieces. Great explaining and sharing the thoughts how to navigate with this opening. Keep up your great work & vids. Cheers!

[@davidpeak6103]

Glad your vocal therapy is helping you. Keeping you in our prayers. When there isn't new content to view I pick a good video from the past to watch. There are so many and they all help me improve my game. Take care of yourself. Dave from Ohio

[@volkom91]

Gaining ELO via hawaiian shirt I see, classic Hikaru tactic 👌🏻

[@dennismays5692]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this very nice strategic game. Your knight on c4 was an amazing piece. I hope you decide to do an article on the Dzindzi-Indian Defense.

[@alkaye3784]

Hey John, this is guys 👋

[@amitanshuv]

great fan of climbing the rating ladder, quite informative

[@johngleich1379]

I studied the Dzindzi-Indian several years ago. It's a fun one!

[@JohnBartholomewChess]

Absolutely!

[@brieyonpoinsette7946]

Thank you for your consistency

[@mandatory360]

I really enjoyed this one, thanks John. If you choose to do a writeup on this defense please give me a holler.

[@robertgelblum5154]

A very nice, clearly explained exposition on how to play the quirky "Beefeater" (as I call it) from either side. I have long been skeptical theoretically about this system for Black, not liking the dark square weaknesses on the kingside that Black takes on. However, it's very tricky for White to play, whereas Black can play a lot of moves on auto-pilot. So in practice as White I would tend to avoid allowing Black to play this system, whereas as Black I would be willing to give it a go, but in practice my opponents don't usually allow it. Incidentally, the Beefeater was a pet system of a good chess buddy of mine from several decades ago: IM Deen Hergott (who used to be one of the top chess players here in Canada). I remember him showing me one of his Beefeater games, me making a sour face and complaining that the line looked anti-positional. He patiently tried to explain to me that actually the line is based on classical positional principles.

[@octrozil291]

Brilliant and original opening, I use it and love it!

[@JohnBartholomewChess]

Glad you like it as well! It's a blast to play :)

[@neueraeightyeight8019]

hey john, I love this line and play it with black whenever possible, hence I'd love a video an/or a book on it!

[@BonkLoud]

Never seen this opening, absolutely bewildered after Bxc3+

[@katis999]

Very nice game, John. Btw when you said you have problems with your voice, it reminded me of the fact that Mick Jagger once said that he drinks a lot of tea to keep his voice and vocal cords intact. Maybe you should look into some practices that professional singers use.

[@connormonday]

This sort of reminds me of that …Qa5 Winawer line. Black trades off the DSB there too and plays the Qa5-Qa4 maneuver. Obviously it’s pretty different with a pawn on e5.

[@JohnBartholomewChess]

Yes indeed, great parallel!

[@impartialreview-r7f]

In my database, Dzindzichashvilli first played this 1983. However, Joe Bradford employed this opening against me in about 100 speed chess games in 1979. I wonder when this was first played.

[@JohnBartholomewChess]

Wow, that's a great anecdote!! Joe Bradford is a strong player. We played in a couple tournaments together back when I was studying at UTD.

[@bramganapathy350]

nice opening idea

[@lllllRBlllll]

These names for the modern openings are the best thing about modern chess. Absolutely hilarious and I'm a huge fan of the not-so-politically-correct 'beefeater' variation lmao.

[@Trolosi123]

A video on the theory would be very nice! 😁

[@JohnBartholomewChess]

Thanks for the feedback - will make one at some point!

[@nosystem1098]

What are the chances that the same man is the best chess streamer and the best dressed chess streamer? Way to go, JB!

[@rumpelRAINS]

Ahola guys

[@JohnBartholomewChess]

Aloha ❤

[@josepherhardt164]

Glad you're feeling better (voice). BTW, is that huge black K in the background decoration, or a prize from a tournament? "Enquiring minds want to know!" :)

[@JohnBartholomewChess]

Thank you, Joseph! It's actually a prize from a tournament :) I received it for winning the Minnesota state championship a few years ago.

[@josepherhardt164]

@@JohnBartholomewChess Hmmm. Minnesota. Didn't know you could move chess pieces with mittens on ... :) :) :)

[@Drew672]

Nice shirt John!

[@carson784]

Never been exposed to the Dzindzi, the position is super interesting. I'd definitely watch a series about it, like "Climbing the Dzindzi-Indian Ladder" haha

[@ninjapandathethird6241]

Can this opening occur from a leningrad dutch or does white have a better response than pushing then pawn to D5 when C5 is played

[@JohnBartholomewChess]

Yes, I suppise it could come about via an unusual Leningrad if Black delays ...Ng8-f6 and White plays an early Nb1-c3. It could also perhaps arise via 1.d4 c5 2.d5 f5!?, the Clarendon Court Defense.

[@mallard_duck458]

Shirt looks good on you

[@Robmonster]

Yes yes yes, the chess is great and everything, but where did you get that shirt!?!

[@antikingtm6929]

This line looks very fun but I’m not sure about 1..g6 moveorder since white can play 2.e4. What do you play against 2.e4?

[@kurtozan251]

Holy hell!

[@AgentSmith911]

It looks like the Dzindzi-Indian Defense is pretty solid, have you every played it OTB in a serious game?

[@JohnBartholomewChess]

Yes I have! Check this game from 2017: kzbin.info/www/bejne/sHupfqaZZbirrZI

[@kevinlee983]

Love the Hawaiian shirt!

[@platonfoucault1087]

The shirt is the highlight.... ;-)

[@thelight288]

Yeah if someone played Rg1 would be a little suspicious, but doesn't look to weird. King is safe enough in centre and white needs some counterplay and going for g4 is the only way. Going for e4 doesnt seem feecable.

[@thelight288]

But I like to add in a classical game instead of rapid its easier to find

[@thetransferaccount4586]

never looked at this opening though

[@haybekuragami8658]

Not the pterodactyl beefeater variation!?

[@Japan-Four]

Never seen you wear Hawaiian shirts before. You must really be ready for white boy summer.

[@yashj8238]

nice shirt

[@bbbrown3408]

no theory you last longer

[@Exodus5K]

7:09. Jesus. In trying to figure out if Nd4 is a good move or not, John just calculated that he might trap the queen after Nd4, Rc1 Nb6, Bd3... and if john passes then Bxd4 fxd4, Qxd4 Bf5!! Son of a bitch, how do you get that kind of board sight.

[@fridgeron1641]

First

[@JohnBartholomewChess]

Sorry, I was first! (j/k 😉)

[@terryleddra1973]

Third