The Evolution of Chess

[@GlcB]

I still always think the arrival of the eval bar has been one of the biggest boosts for chess' universality. Now people who are beginners, intermediates, or totally inept at chess can watch and enjoy games as if it were a tennis match. Not fully understanding the intricacies of each move but understanding advantages and disadvantages - who's winning and who's losing.

[@simonhinkel4086]

And it makes them feel like they are in a position to criticize players way out of their league 😄

[@marcosjz5oy6q]

Yes. It used to be so hard to study chess. You had to memorize where is d5, h4, g8... read books that were written in code. Everybody learned in a moment of their life how to move pieces, but it was so damn hard to find ways to improve your game. Than with the internet and computers the game became more and more visual! Chess streamers learned with online gamers how to communicate online, and now there's so many interesting content and fun ways to learn about position and tactics. Chess is simple, elegant and connect different generations and social classes. There's no grandparent playing freefire with his grandson! You don't need the top computer to play chess. You can play chess with old guys in the park, or with handcarved marble pieces, or alone with you cheap phone and it's exaclty the same game. Thanks Gotham Chess for being an important part of this movement.

[@lukaswolek7294]

@@simonhinkel4086😂

[@prettyflywhiteguy92]

I agree except for certain situations like when the eval bar shows near equality, but there's only 1 move that keeps that equality. If the move is obscure or hard to find, it takes away from the spectacle of a top player making a move that the public would never find. All you see is that it was equal, he made a move and it's still equal, but in actuality it was a game saving move. I think having someone like Gotham to explain those situations matters much more than the eval bar.

[@yagof6365]

without the eval bar, chess would be as interesting as mini golf

[@Pahis1]

"Garry Kasparov became the first chess player to lose to a computer" Nah, I managed that BEFORE Kasparov!

[@MrTacosAndBurritos]

@@Pahis1 exactly my thought lol 😂

[@PaperIsCool5]

3:48 just a minor correction, piano is quiet/soft and pianissimo is very quiet/soft there is also mezzo piano which is moderately soft/quiet

[@albertobisanti3319]

In Italian, piano means also slow. Pianissimo is very slow. "Vai piano", for example means "slow down" but it means "take It easy" too.

[@kalinamura1416]

I'm loving the historical games. Its what originally got me into chess and your channel. I would love to see some games of Petrosian. He is an underrated world champion. He was arguably equally gifted to Tal but had the exact opposite style. They had many of the exact same strengths but used them in very different ways. It would be cool to see a video discussing his life and/or games

[@coreykline43]

Love all the historical references recently! Props to Levy!

[@iamnisc]

Thank you

[@ConservativeisConventional]

What a generic comment Corey.

[@iamnisc]

@@oliver-04 lol you here

[@JaidenTamayo]

For real w levy

[@nathangreen69]

Wow, this was a wonderful video! You should really do more of this, 100x better than showing Magnus in every video, it was really interesting and educative. Absolutely loved it!

[@elonif4125]

I couldn’t agree more.

[@R.Akerman-oz1tf]

Now I know His name is pronounced "allay-oh- kin". (not alek hine)@@elonif4125

[@kaboomkp]

100 percent agree

[@jesse1086]

Video needed more Magnus

[@Lightspark]

Some day in the future, this channel will be considered a historical evolution of chess. Thank you for never failing Levy ❤

[@oliver-04]

just not a future in our reality

[@pawnzrtasty]

He makes cool videos but having an effect on the evolution of chess is heavy glazing. Settle down

[@LightSpeedFury01YT]

You cant steal my username!

[@sirchewietheterrible]

@@pawnzrtasty god forbid we be nice and show gratitude right?

[@quAsargg]

​@@sirchewietheterribleHe admitted Levy's video being cool and was just disagreeing with other guy that to settle down on saying about this being evolution of chess.

[@Nightshade_goblin]

I usually don't comment, but I gotta say that this is one of your videos I enjoyed the most. It really conveys your deep passion for the game. I love the historical deep dives and seeing how everything evolved. Only love for 2024, keep entertaining us with this type of content gold :3

[@silasvinson3968]

Thank you for these chess history videos lately :) They’re some of my favorite content you make, and they’re so well done! Would love to see you do more of these - maybe even highlighting some lesser-known players throughout history like the one video you did on Sultan Khan way back. Thanks for all you do!

[@Ryanmuniverse]

I’m so happy we’re getting historical videos like this. Pls keep them coming levy. You said they may not do as well but pls don’t let that discourage u from making these. They’re great!

[@Kloiyd]

I’m really enjoying all the historical videos Levy has been posting lately. I hope you make more historical videos in the future as it’s interesting to see how the game has evolved overtime.

[@ilpokejonen-fk1qm]

One thing I want to add that it is not the first time chess players were afraid of the draws will kill chess. Capablanca, Fischer and others suggested changes to the rules of chess to prevent this happening. However, still new stuff were invented and chess evolved. Maybe today it requires changes to the time control or something but still, if you look at the games of Tal, Alekhine etc., it is impossible to outperform the creativeness of a human being by just learning books, computer lines or anything else.

[@theofakostas]

Your thesis is solid kind sir!😊

[@MrStivi1981]

Nobody does chess history like this guy. Great job levy. I actually enjoy these videos a great deal.

[@SANDWICHEEEEEEEZ]

my biggest flex is that my Chess teacher beat Hikaru in a tennis match

[@WumpusAlpaca]

I remember watching levy cover such historic games back in the day. It feels good to be back.

[@AMReyVenz]

So good! Cheers to a fellow 'old' subscriber!

[@DerekJ23]

How does he know what moves were played 300+ years ago??

[@10dandaman]

​@@DerekJ23he asked the players politely

[@DerekJ23]

@@10dandaman I’m genuinely curious, did they record games back then??

[@EchoThundertron]

Agreed! Been looking forward to this for a long while now

[@partizandibelgrado]

Chess history is simply the best type of content. Just sit back, learn about how this game used to be played, and implement some of it into your own style, thank you for this video Levy.

[@yoppelpanger]

Keep the chess history content coming, Levy!

[@JimmyVermeer]

Sorry if I seem a bit nitpicky, but Karpov lost the title to Kasparov in 1985, not 1984.

[@TOLTOLTOL3]

This is literally 1984

[@JimmyVermeer]

@@TOLTOLTOL3 I assume you're trying to make a joke about George Orwell's "1984", but I don't get it.

[@TOLTOLTOL3]

@@JimmyVermeer 🧞

[@garethpearce8699]

I don't think it's too much of an overstatement to say that this is one of Levi's best KZbin videos of all time! Super entertaining, great narrative, love the theme of tying different eras together!

[@MICHELANGELO_JR.]

I haaaate when Levy’s like “I don’t wanna make this vid longer” NO plz do. I’d watch the whole thing front to back multiple times. Please make more of this

[@ChessGrandPasta]

A couple of fun facts by an Italian: first of all, Gioacchino is pronounced more like “Joakeeno” (and yes it’s spelled with a double c, in the video it says Gioachino), and he actually was the inventor of the greek gift: Greco in fact means Greek in Italian, so it has nothing to do with Greece, it’s just his last name but “greek gift” is actually a misstraslation, it’s as if we called an opening that Wesley So invented the “Thus opening” because of his last name. Hope this is clear!

[@Caronte4116]

As a Spanish I was creeping everytime I heard "Joa-chi-no". Mamma mia!!! Italiano e spagnolo sono lingue sorelle!

[@N0zer0]

Also Réti is pronounced as Raytee, not Ready and Petrosian is like Pettrossyahn not Petrozhun.

[@sticlavoda5632]

But his name does matter! He came from a region where Greek was often the vernacular.

[@RickJaeger]

But "So" doesn't mean "thus", because it's not an English surname. For accuracy, you'd want to translate it from Chinese, not from English.

[@noekoehler]

True

[@Erix963]

4:52 small correction for anybody confused, knight cannot take queen because it is pinned to the king by the bishop on b5, not because the queen is protected.

[@ZT13-9]

This channel will be a part of chess history. It has brought so many players back into chess, including me. Thank you levy for helping me find my passion. ❤

[@Norwegian733]

Its WAY harder to be top 10 now with millions of players and so much knowledge than it was only 20 years ago.

[@flatbread42]

I know it doesn't pull as many views, but I love the historical content. I would love to see you cover highlights of previous world championship matches and you could probably brand them with all the brilliant symbols.

[@thepolyglotraccoon]

2:30 - 2:37 damn! Greco was ANGRY, lmfaooooooooo!

[@aditkakkad]

Thank you Levy for all of these chess history videos. I highly enjoy this type of content, make more of it! Levy never fails to bring good historical content.

[@vvBoost]

This video and one about Tal were so good bro, I need more of this

[@shawnmichaels568]

I am loving all the historical videos, Been a while since levy has been consistently uploading about them.

[@starfire0007]

Hey Gotham, at 33:05 you say Kasporov was the first person to lose to a computer. What you meant to say, is that Gary was the LAST person to learn that computers were superior to humans. The rest of us learned this way earlier!

[@lunki5559]

I personally love this kind of historical content, very entertaining! I also enjoy it when the evaluation bar is gone, since it spoils a lot

[@truthpopup]

Steinitz introduced the idea of accumulating small advantages for a better position from which to launch an attack. Before his time, players just attacked in the opening.

[@the_chess_army01]

Can we just take a moment to appreciate how levy never fails to entertain us with chess content!!

[@Sitbear]

It’s not “always finds a way” it’s “never fails”

[@buuythbuuyth1412]

​@@Sitbear xD

[@ramakantpathak7148]

That too daily

[@the_chess_army01]

@@Sitbear oops my bad, I'll fix that

[@Toomuchliades]

Hmmm???

[@MachuSayTruck]

Levy's videos like this are the real reason his channel is the biggest. Guess the Elo and current game recaps do great for him but these show his Nerdist love for chess. And he shows it with such excitement which makes him likable.

[@Saunderabovo]

Two historical videos in a row, what a gift from levy. This has made my year so far.

[@roblikesmusic9476]

9:27 when the Roman Empire invents bathrooms with running water 2000 years before you were born

[@therealgathe]

Big fan of the recent videos! I’ve missed this educational stuff, glad you’re back at it again.

[@alieser7770]

Levy, the new content of 2024 is absolutely wonderful. I'm so glad we got this Gotham back. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy the Mittens vs Mittens videos while eating etc. but this right here is quality.

[@onembk]

It would be cool to dive into the evolution of ancient chess variants and their strategies and how they worked and evolved into modern themes, like Chaturanga and Courier chess.

[@ianstewart8993]

Huge fan of the historical content like this. I also really like when you cover the best games from great players of the past and epic games from the past.

[@isterning1210]

It would be nice to see a deep wive into the Karpov Kasparov era as it inspired most of the modern day top players

[@GNU_Linux_for_good]

14:28 Tarrasch: For you, I have only three words: "Schach und matt"

[@cappeb]

This might be the best video on this channel. So interesting, keep up with the historic content!

[@alexavierkugler643]

Wish historical chess had more of an audience becuase these videos are really damn good

[@valimaa1006]

Perfectly timed with agadmator chess history saga lmao. I loved this video btw, please continue these types of videos even if they don't get as many views.

[@seejoneslift]

just want to say I can sense your passion and love for the game of chess through this video. The way you speak about the greats who came before is how I will speak about you in the future when I teach my kids. I played when I was little but stopped for many years and the passion to play again and get better now came from watching your videos and twitch streams. For that I thank you 🙏

[@aniket1008]

Levy got tired of using the greatest chess player of this generation, So he went for the past generations

[@ZeCroiSSanT950]

Levy, really appreciate your historical deep dives, hope you keep making these every once in a while!

[@ytbook9639]

I really like these historic videos like the last one about Tal , ive missed these so much so please keep them up, i would like some Fischer game❤

[@stuvius]

Wow one of your best videos so far. Amazing content and I hope you continue to make these historical videos when there is an interesting subject

[@ZGNRSVLDMRVS]

Great school presentation, Levy. This is definitely A++ Genuinely glad that this year you decided to make more content about chess history

[@mew5701]

levy this is one of your best videos i gotta say. i really hope that you continue making these historical videos they are your best ones fr keep it going

[@Acro_YT]

I'd like more historical games, this was quite interesting.

[@thecarokannplayer1102]

3:55 minor nit pick (I'm a musician and this bugged me slightly so now it's your problem) piano means quiet and pianissimo is just really quiet. there are 6 classifications going from quietest to loudest being: pianissimo, piano, mezzo piano, mezzo forte, forte and fortissimo

[@thecarokannplayer1102]

technically there's 8 but i think adding another issi to fortissimo and pianissimo is redundant. if I want you playing really loud then I'll just say fortissimo

[@v0nman]

yay i love chess history content and am excited to see your take on presenting it :D

[@pretzelman945]

These videos are my absolute favorite and what really drew me into your channel when I first started watching you around 3 years ago PLEASE make more of these videos

[@shawnmichaels568]

Levy is just as good as agadmator interm of telling a story, Love that you are uploading historical videos consistently again.

[@ickaruus4909]

YES! That is amazing content! Look at the like ratio, you haven't had that in months! I really hope the views will tell you to do more high quality content like that with actual research instead of "uuh look at that bot playing another bot", "magnus has worn these shoes today, wow!"

[@gregdorgan3734]

A big reason why chess is so big now. At least for me, I ONLY got into chess because your videos are so entertaining. Keep it up Levy!

[@konstantinoschatziioannou4909]

Please keep those videos up, I love looking back at historical chess games!

[@Xonos11]

Amazing video Levy, I think we need a full one about Alexander Alekhine, this man is in my opinion one of the most interesting chess player of all time

[@noidph]

Love this Levy! Grew up here in the Philippines in the era of Karpov-Kasparov, and your video brought back memories of playing and studying chess. :) More content like this!

[@salmon_tag]

I love the historical stuff recently Gotham. It’s a great (nearly endless!) source of content for you to keep the channel diversified and all that

[@andrewj-boy9406]

Best video you’ve made since I started watching a year ago. As someone who joined the chess community in early 2023 a lot of this was new to me and finally gave me faces/stories to put to names when I see openings titles. Thank you levy for growing and supporting this game that gives us so much.

[@rufusjasko]

Loving the historical content. Great job Levy

[@GamerBach]

Absolutely love this! Keep it coming, these deep dives are so fascinating. I'll take this over random elite competition play-by-plays any day, (though those are nice too sometimes)

[@rodriguez4809]

38:42 and IM - indeed u are

[@aireaireaire_]

I love the deep dives on concepts or history, it's really entertaining

[@CuberSourav]

You Diving Back To The Historical Chess, Brings back so much memories from your 2020,2021 Videos, And it also makes the game of chess interesting, as it shows how chess has evolved :) We want more of these type of content :)

[@mauro_cb]

Please do more videos like this!!! Seeing those historical games and players is always fascinating and this is definitely m y favorite type of chess content

[@3bros442]

This video was fun to learn how chess came to be , thanks levy !

[@log1c91]

You didn't even mention Topalov as world champion and his unique style of play. What a shame.

[@Crew7340]

I’m sure there were many more amazing players but simply not enough time otherwise the video would be 15 hours long

[@NathanHorne-q3x]

Levy, been watching your stuff for yrs. Your enthusiasm and love for the game is tangible. Keep it up man, sheers.

[@stupiditiusmaximus]

It is crazy that Paul Morphy has been in a giant until 2019!

[@himankraoyadav369]

Please make a separate video on Soviet and later Russian domination on chess and their contribution to CHESS

[@charli3751]

You're really a great story teller Levy. The passion and the efforts in making these kind of contents make more chess interesting to watch. What a masterful piece.

[@altonbrek]

Totally agree!

[@andywolf92]

I thin you probably would have made this better as a series, with all the nice interactive moments that we can still see even today.

[@B16Extras]

Levy Rozman? More like Levy Rizzman

[@Levinkubis]

the introduction for bobby fischer is so epic

[@ΚωστήςΠαπαδόπουλος-ε3η]

When I watched the first video of the year in which Levy talked about the upcoming content of the channel I thought "the only thing missing from the new year's resolution is some history of chess". Levy never fails to not disappoint.

[@anday7421]

Shoutout to Mikhail Tal, the Latvian grandmaster and World Champion who held the longest streak until Ding Liren broke the record in 2018.

[@rainboltfiend]

ding

[@ngare.k]

I’m so glad Levy covered the Opera Game. I know he’s covered it before on this channel a few years back, but it’s such a historic game that I enjoy coverage on.

[@v4v819]

The unsung hero in chess history is the mysterious "NN", who was competing against the top players for centuries...

[@krishsharma5642]

Levy never fails to brag about Magnus' stamina

[@michaelrenzalambra5615]

Absolute favorite video of yours. Im so happy you are making these kind of content again. I hope you create more. I also hope these kind of vids would be your best performing to incentivise you.

[@Pedone_Rosso]

A couple of things, just about the Italian language ("Pedone Rosso" = "Red Pawn" in my language, I'm Italian): - in Italian "ch" is always read as a "k", so Greco's name is read like it was written "GioaKino", - and "piano" in Italian means "plan/flat/soft-ly/slow-ly" (I think it means "slow" in the case of Gioco Piano, as it's a building up opening, especially if compared with the main opening of the old ages, i.e. the King's Gambit... BTW, "Gioco/Giuoco" means "play" or "game"). Thanks for your videos!

[@valentinobeniamino]

Very interesting, as usual, fundamentals datas of chess. Thanks a lot for this contribution to the modern state of chess.

[@DoctressCalibrator]

I just want to say that I miss your commentary on low ELO games. They were both fun and full of insightful remarks.

[@MrConverse]

5:14, the 18th Century actually went from 1701 to 1800.

[@Knight-marechess]

Levy never fails

[@henrykaspar3634]

I enjoyed this. Suggestion: make a series breaking chess history down into intervals, one decade per video, starting with the 1840s.

[@muther686]

one of my favs in a long time, will be rewatching for sure! keep the history coming!

[@matheuscorrea3061]

Amazing content. Loved it. I can still remember my early days, studying Steinitz's games and stuff.

[@JPinheiro93]

Love this kind of content! Thanks for making and sharing it!

[@dipronafis3298]

this is one of the best videos of levy ever

[@Daviraines777]

Yes, the best Gotham yet!!!!!!!!!!! Thank-you.

[@ethanlal4517]

I gave a standing ovation after this video.

[@phaustho]

I loved this video, I think this is great content! Please, keep them coming!

[@sunsun4364]

thank you for the video!

[@DefyyourGravity103]

I was literally wanting to see this kind of video today and was hoping that you'd make something like this so.. thanks.