The Legend: Garry Kasparov - GM Yasser Seirawan

Grandmaster Yasser Seirawan celebrates Garry Kasparov by analyzing one of his most famous games: The Brisbane Bombshell. After you see this, you'll realize what an "Octopus Knight" really is!
2015.02.05
Anatoly Karpov vs Garry Kasparov, Karpov - Kasparov World Championship Match (1985): B44 Sicilian, Szen variation, Dely-Kasparov gambit

[@nathanashby4918]

This guys voice is soooooooo smooth.

[@DiegoRiedemann]

hahah so true! xD

[@mugenjin205]

GM Yasser Seirawan is amazing

[@alikooti7368]

The Syrian intelligent guy.

[@christophbader3713]

Bob Ross c3.

[@drnantz]

This guy is a great teacher.

[@juicyclaws]

honestly, best chess video i've ever watched. such a humble man

[@luckyapple2655]

David Nantz but not a pretty good player though. And he is humble to admit it when he talks about the wining position, and I quote. "I'm sure I'd had 300 more rating points if I'd won all the wining positions that I let escape"

[@BrennenChua]

What? He was top 10 in his prime.

[@9308323]

@@luckyapple2655 He's a grandmaster, dude. That alone makes me certain he'll kick your ass in a match.

[@suprgrobi1698]

@@luckyapple2655 4 times US Champion - just to let you know

[@Mcsqueegy]

'He basically played e4, and said ''I win'' ' Damn that's savage

[@solfeinberg437]

Except he didn't win.

[@LeVezz]

Mcsqueegy , E4 , best by test , Bobby Fisher

[@MrPuneet123abc]

It wasn't between 1975-85. That was the time where he used to dominate the world of chess.

[@IngTomT]

Me: playing 1.e4 Stockfish: So you have chosen death

[@robbass7611]

Then you timed this comment perfectly, I'm reading it exactly when he's saying it!

[@kojiattwood]

The famous "octopus knight" game. An all time fave, and beautifully brought to life through Seirawan's incisive analysis.

[@winterlandboy]

Ahhhh indeed

[@MrSupernova111]

If you want to see a real octupus knight check out Fischer's 21move game brilliancy on the chessnetwork. You won't be disappointed.

[@pedromayorga874]

OMG this guy is the antithesis of Ben Finegold

[@EsotericStarWarsRubbish]

Thin and tolerable

[@okbro3524]

They are both great

[@AZCaveMan480]

Ben probably has a constant odor, judging by the look of the bridge he lives under.

[@AllendeEtAl]

Well Finegold is a goof player but Yasser is another level above, not comparable.

[@thundermill7109]

Yeah it’s crazy that they get along so well 😂

[@Daggerfall40]

Alien chess indeed. You can say all you want about Garry Kasparov but he was something else. That was just one brilliant move after another.

[@RicardoAGuitar]

Some people think of Kasparov as some sort of caveman attacker; I'd say half of his best games are positional in nature, though always aggressive.

[@sox-b9999]

I could listen to Yasser all day long

[@jamespatrick5348]

I am recently retired and I find myself doing just that and loving it!

[@CTilling]

Utterly brilliant lecture. Yasser is such a gentleman, too.

Yasser for president? 🤔

[@ajs3147]

Yasser has quickly become my favorite chess analyst. He speaks with reverence not just for the game of chess, but the players as well.

[@berkeleycodingacademy7015]

Yasser going over the great games is the absolute best.

[@connerallen7480]

You gotta love Seirawan's smile.

[@robinjonk]

I don't even know how to play chess but this man is just amazing to listen too

[@aqew]

Robin Jonk There was a joke during a chess tournament live stream that yesser should read The entire the us tax code

[@sensorcato]

Smoothest voice ever. I'm melting down.

[@skillywilly187]

Yasser reminds me of that painter who used to say.."here we have a pretty little tree..hes just happy in this forest and hes loving it"

[@Macrobyte2]

skillywilly187 Bob Ross. And i believe he said " happy little trees."

[@brabhamfreaman166]

skillywilly187 Bob Ross (sadly, RIP) and the "Joy of Painting". Greatest Afro a white man ever grew.

[@brabhamfreaman166]

skillywilly187 Well, this just happy li'l knight gonna say "uh uh, no way Mr. Pawn, not on my watch."

[@skillywilly187]

yes bob ross lol

[@notpresobama1553]

skillywilly187 "we don't make mistakes, just happy accidents." -Bob Ross

[@pgoedde]

i think this is the best strategic game ever in history of chess. its not like garry beat a noname.. it was karpov,one of the strongest players in the world.

[@ChromaticTempest]

Well, in this game Garry played in a risky fashion. Through the use of engines it's been discovered that white could improve. Still, it totally caught Karpov offsides. I can think of one more game that rivals in strategy and elitism. A game from the Fischer-Spassky match. In that game Fischer played as close to perfectly as any human can get. Both games are present in Yasser's book.

[@TheClassicWorld]

+ChromaticTempest Without aid of computers might I add, just Fischer and his board.

[@hibuakha2008]

ChromaticTempest I knew someone would name fischer. People like to push their opinions on others. Fischer not the GOAT at all! Also considering the fact that karpov too had prepared for this game, your argument is totally invalid!

[@somalipirate3291]

@@ChromaticTempest which book??

[@RicardoAGuitar]

@@ChromaticTempest White's improvement was discovered in 1987...by Karpov, against John van der Weil.

[@loujoszai1219]

Did anyone realize that Karpov had no chance at all? I mean Kasparov was simply controlling the entire game, forcing his opponent to react every time he made a move, narrowing down the possibilities of his opponent, step by step. What an amazing skill! This game should be shown more often for educational purposes. And Yasser is such an amazing teacher. Well done!

[@perfectentrytrading]

Yasser lectures are so much better now he's doing the arrows on the screen and the camera moves to where he's pointing on the board thank you much improved

[@solfeinberg437]

I find the board pointing hard to follow, but in other videos he's not even on the screen so it's utterly impossible.

[@zombiefireman]

Yasser has always been a class act, from his competitive days as a player, to his AWESOME Inside Chess Magazine, to his engaging (and supremely respectful) style of chess instruction. And anyone who has met Yasser knows he is genuine. As for this particular game, what can be said but MASTERPIECE! Against lesser opposition it would be a brilliancy, but against such a legendary player as Karpov, and played during a world championship match? Are you kidding me?!!! My only gripe is with Andy Soltis who rated this game 89th....EIGHTY-NINTH!! .... in his book, The 100 Best Chess Games of the 20th Century.

[@darylallen2485]

Hearing someone speak in such a calm manner is amazing in 2020. 2015 seems like a magical time!

[@alexv3357]

Garry Kasparov is possessed of an amazing propensity to win because of position whilst massively down on material. It never ceases to amaze me just how powerful his moves can be, how incredibly accurate and devastating and so well orchestrated, well coordinated, his pieces always are. a truly excellent game.

[@stefanholbek2449]

Always been a huge fan of Kasparov. I simply didn't understand how he could develop the game like he did when it was so well analyzed already. Kaspar forever! ;O)

[@libbens]

I keep coming back to this wonderful lecture. They way Yasser builds up the suspense, his way of talking to the audience, the insights he offers to the understanding of the position... I could go on and on. Such a pleasure to watch!

[@theo7371]

Here is the reason I consider Kasparov the greatest of all time. He has had god tier tactical prowess which less than a handful of people in chess history can match. Which of this handful was the best tactician is very hard to say. However, Kasparov was definitely the one with the most awe-inspiring strategies. Even his strategical games are fun. He played the closest thing we've ever seen to ultimate chess.

[@thejupiter1744]

I agree. He was the very best. I remember in the 80s when only a handful of the worlds top players would "dare" to play 1.e4 against him for fear of the seemingly unstoppable reply of 1 . . c5! Come to think of it many of the top players in the world in the 90s wouldnt risk 1e4 against him either for the same reason 1 e4?! c5!

[@srj34]

Honestly, Kasparov has played a great number of strategic masterpieces. His "fireworks" games get a lot of attention of course, but off the top of my head I can recall: Kasparov - Petrosian 1982, strangling one of the great chess stranglers of all time Karpov - Kasparov 1993, Kasparov's KID drives Karpov's entire army back onto the first rank in just 22 moves, with resignation following five moves later Kasparov - Shirov 1994, putting everything on hold to lock down the light squares on the queenside, culminating with white swapping a rook for black's light square bishop And of course, the game we're looking at right now. I know I'm forgetting a bunch of games, but the point is that his deserved reputation for top attacking play has obscured his abilities as a chess python, a man who can squeeze a position as well as a Petrosian, Andersson, or Karpov.

[@theonlydjtopcat]

Bobby Fischer's ghost has entered the chat....

[@arkos1179]

@@srj34 bro that guy probably has more winning briliancies than most super GM's have wins

[@MrSupernova111]

Bobby Fischer had a much shorter career and most of his games don't have the fireworks of Garry's games but in terms of dominance Fischer beats every player in history except Morphy. Fischer's game are more universal in nature and its hard to say who is the best of all time (all else equal) but Fischer has a 20 game winning streak against the best players in the world and we're not likely to ever see such a performance.

[@markriley5863]

Yasser is such a great teacher and never makes anyone who asks a question or makes a suggestion feel small, unlike some other I have seen on KZbin.

[@CUNDUNDO]

I was born with dwarfism even if I ask him a question he won`t make me feel small ?

[@redbaron6305]

Yasser great dissection of a great game..Gary Kasparov is beyond explanation in so many of his games,Yasser does this with panache.

[@timothybolshaw]

Apart from the unbelievable quality of Kasparov's moves, there is something deeply satisfying about escaping from a Moroczy bind by sacrificing a pawn and ending up paralysing white's pieces in the aftermath. You want to cramp my game? Nah, how about I cramp yours! Absolutely beautiful. Possibly the greatest game ever played by a human.

[@adityababel9375]

Superb lecture. Have watched it so many times now. Never gets boring. And alien chess is the right way to describe this... one of my favourite games ever, if not the favourite

[@Thenerdos787]

I stopped watching chess videos for a while. And listening to Yasser is always so soothing. He is like the Mr Rogers of chess

[@ace942]

This was a great lecturer. Yasser is a great speaker.

[@nicholasfox966]

Mr. Seirawan is a FANTASTIC commentator and teacher. So many chess game analyses and instruction videos tend to blow through games very quickly, assuming a lot of knowledge on the viewer's part. I love that he takes the time to explain all of the ramifications of each move, even the "minor" moves. Bravo.

[@dyBBelyBTASTIC]

Thank you Yasser, one of my favorit games and you made it more beautiful with your run-down. Chess needs more people like you, that can add emotion anyone can understand to what unfortunetly becomes percived as a emotionless game.

[@redhawk4357]

13:10 amazing the depth top players think at. It's not too distant a memory for me that I was happy to spot a knight fork at all, now I'm happy to spot forcing sequences leading to them in a few moves. Amazing subtle and removed from a class player's thought process these guys think.

[@naimulhaq9626]

Thank you, Yasser. Another game of the century. I wonder why Fisher did not note, he must have been relieved he was not on the receiving end. I can remember two more gems from Kasparov, deserving the game of the century labels, that may have shamed Fisher's one.

[@TheAntiChr1st]

Outstanding, these videos by Seirawan. Not only is he a very good teacher, one who highlights the most important concepts of positions and still maintains a certain pace in his teachings, he is a very sympathetic man. Bravo.

[@Kakashi10ist]

I like that in this video, the cameraman actually follows him to the board, so we (on youtube) can see what he is pointing. Also that He actually uses the green arrows, green squares on the computer. So in the tech department and overall good job, keep it up.

[@sasodiarvas]

This series of Yasser is one of the most priceless FREE things that we can enjoy on youtube. Thank you so much.

[@adilibr]

Really amazed with Garry kasparov's game on board and more fun is this guy Seirawan riding through the game !!! Thanks a lot CCSCSL for sharing such a wonderful video

[@nighthawk82]

indeed. I loved it. Very beautiful :)

[@ttone2379]

When I first got into chess I bought all of Yasser's books and I agree I think he is one of the most outstanding teachers of the game. Bruce Pandolfini is another.

[@lovetownsend]

thats my favorite. "thats what chess comes down to, a battle of ideas" ...cause you sit there and think, i dont wanna play the theory all the way through, and i dont wanna pull cowboy style out and lose trying to be clever. i wanna actually express myself through the board

[@mikecantreed]

lovetownsend Only Ben finegold can play theory all the way through.

[@tubeuszr]

I think that comment cuts even deeper. At the top level of any discipline - people with the better and more original ideas succeed more often. Whether it's chess or cancer research. Gary found this unique idea of playing around the pawn in a known opening theory which karpov couldn't handle across the board. It's a beautiful game!

[@harabas3499]

i played over these games lots of times mainly for enjoyment, i did not look through enough the reasons behind the moves because i cannot look deeper to analyse combinations, watching this clears things up and adds more to my enjoyment!!! thanks Yasser!!! and CCSCSL!!! :D

[@gaming2top759]

Harabas349 I only focused on last combinations. or whenever he stopped and asked for a move. the rest I just watched conciously

[@sahilp9470]

My brain would explode if I tried to think like Garry

[@muralidharrangaswamy9643]

This is a classic octopus game. Yasser's explanatory notes provide a lot of insight. This was definitely a case of the genius of Kasparov outplaying the master of positional play, Anatoly Karpov. The best way to summarize this is that Kasparov outplayed Karpov at Karpovian chess.

[@bcfblack]

Always love Yasser. What an insightful man. I love how he doesn't just make things about specific lines, but talks about the general ideas that we use to make good decisions. Now, displaying my lack of general understanding, I want to note that in his analysis of 11. Bc4 in this game where he shared some of the ideas that may have dissuaded Karpov from playing that way, he did overlook a very concrete engine reply to 11... b5: 12. Naxb5! sacrificing the poor knight on a3! 12... axb5 what else? 13. Bxb5+ Bd7 14. d6! there are many ways to play, and this advanced passed pawn always makes a nuisance of itself. If the bishop on d7 trades itself on b5 to attack the pesky d6 pawn with the queen, the knight hops into b5 where it protects the d-pawn and in some lines threatens Nc7+. This computer line isn't working if Black plays something like ...Bd6 and ...O-O before ...b7-b5 meaning that (of course) Yasser's points are still very important. I just thought this sacrifice line the computer found was surprising and interesting, so I wanted to share it.

[@anzidong7018]

He is such a great teacher! I enjoyed this class very much ;))))

[@rickdynes]

Considering the Stakes: World Chess Championship & Competition: Karpov in his Prime & Quality: Extremely inventive Domination of the opponent & Kasparov's age: 22.... This is Probably The Greatest Chess Performance Ever.

[@MEME-qe4ze]

Thank God for Gary Kasparov. Stepping up to the plate and being a positive influence in this world...oh and thanks for all the great chess!

[@ForStarcraft]

Thank you GM Seirawan! I really enjoyed watching this video, your tone of voice and overall delivery and humble attitude are a winning combination for me.

[@andrew-ng]

He's one of the greatest chess teachers ever! The way he teaches encourages people to try and learn. His students don't get intimidated to try in the face of a GM. One can sense he truly loves the game. Thank you so much.

[@russellmurray1011]

Yasser is just the best chess commentator and teacher in the world, only Daniel King even comes close.

[@ragupatt]

Wonderful commentary that makes minions like us really understand the inner workings of the master games. I'm going to look for more such commentaries from GM Yasser Seirawan.

[@yb3604]

GREAT lecture! Garry a legend!

[@tedmaina5556]

Is it just me or I can listen to this guy all day

[@MrSupernova111]

Beautiful game review by non other than Yasser! Thank you!!

[@ElColombre27360]

I used to suffer of insomnia before knowing Yasser. Thank you, man.

[@omarhijazin7209]

the right term for this match for the white is stifling. i hate similar situations , in such cases i start sacrifice knowing that i ll lose faster,but with much more fun (in many cases i also won , but on that level i think is almost impossible ) . anyway grate teacher with high charisma i loved him . sorry for my english

[@FeindrplaysMC]

Yasser is the Bob Ross of the chess world

[@tome57a]

Not to take any credit from Messrs. Kasparov and Karpov, but GM Seirawan brings their games to life like no one else can. He is a phenomenal teacher. I think GM Danny King is of the same caliber, the only difference being that GM King tends to make shorter tournament reports and so can't get into as much detail.

[@boomjonggol5757]

A brilliant game explained brilliantly. I can't say how much I improved because of these types of videos.

[@matthewwroblewski8752]

Gotta love the constant stream of quality chess videos. Thanks tons, Chess Club and Scholastic Center of STL. You guys are killing it!

[@manisdogfish]

Thanks Mr. Seirwan and thank you STLCC for putting these videos online. It benefits chess all of the country. I appreciate that a lot.

[@ripsticklord]

This guys passion for the game is unreal

[@Gregoryt700]

Very instructive. This is just an astonishing game, and Yasser explains it quite well, and in an entertaining fashion

[@kiramanell6275]

Yasser, you are such a class act! And what a kind person you are!

[@moonrunner303]

I like this guy's teaching technique. Great stuff.

[@MrGoalTV]

For me the best game of all-time, brilliant.

[@billsimmons1753]

Excellent presentation. Thanks, Mr Seirawan and CCSL.

[@Breeelax]

Thanks for this video. Mr. Seirawan is a brilliant presenter. Keep up the good work! Outstanding game by the way.

[@bailinnumberguy]

The obligatory 800 rated kid in the front row making move recommendations in a game between chess world champions.

[@harrysbleton7174]

Hahahaahahahahahaha you made me laugh

[@carecavoador]

+Randy Bailin You, Sir. You are the real MVP. lol

[@gregbattis]

That kid is sill better than you Randy. Shots fired. At least I am 1700. :)

[@bailinnumberguy]

I looked you up on USCF and note that your rating is actually 946. Feel free to look me up and then let me know when you want to play a match for money.

[@bailinnumberguy]

and your rating?

[@MusikPiratCH]

Those lessons by Yasser are priceless! Great teacher! :D

[@dralissa]

Yasser is an excellent chess teacher

[@michaele.2583]

Phantastic game, very nice analysis and lecture! Thanks a lot!

[@eshuphoenix]

Yaseer - Sir, your analysis is really deep and you are the best coach

[@bowiesinspace7152]

Yasser seems like the kindest person ever

[@mkn2929]

Great game! Thanks for sharing!

[@stephenheckman5528]

Very inspiring teacher. This is the first video I've seen from Yasser Seirawan but now I plan on watching many more, with a nice cup of tea.

[@ollimalmivaara9389]

Very good game and commentary! thanks!

[@zacharygardner2469]

Really great video. Thanks!

[@777southpaw]

his smile is very beautiful.

[@saeedyarahmadi9913]

Very beautiful panditory and sweet voice.thanks master yasser,you are the best.

[@Gregoryt700]

Gary and Karpov pushed each other to improve, like Ali-Frazier or Nadal-Djokovic. Or Mozart vs Bach. Their 5 championship matches (though one was aborted) pushed chess to new limits, especially the last one in 1990. Tal or Spassy called some of those games 'Hitchcock mysteries,' as only two people on the planet deeply understand what was being played

[@BrennenChua]

Gregoryt700 I agree, except that you missed The Great Federer.

[@vagua1993]

it's unbelievable how flawlessly Kasparov played...

[@GautomChutia-sc8qq]

Nice lecture sir.Want more from you

[@inguh7041]

Very nice, motivates me to get out a board and properly look at this game.

[@dm0065]

I'm a chess novice and don't know this man as a player, though I'm sure he's awesome. What's impressive to me is his teaching skills. I'm a teacher myself, wish I had his teaching chops.

[@fatalcheckmate187]

Seirawan is the best teacher!

[@charliemerrell]

Always enjoy the learn from the legends games

[@komabase]

Yasser has truely the best Chess Pills on Planet Earth...

[@wiiliskaako5875]

the way you explain is great i understood why each move was made in the game

[@arwanpawar419]

Yasser, I like the way you re analysis lecture...go on I follow you. Thanks alot

[@muralidharrangaswamy9643]

This is a case of first Kasparov outmaneuvering Karpov at his own strength-positional play before launching a blitzkreig on the king. This deserves to be an all time great classic

[@Qumec59]

Great lecture! Can we ask for more Kasparov games?

[@marcocef]

Yes! More Kasparov games, please..

[@90blacknight]

Ah yes, the legendary "Octopus Knight" game. With tentacles spreading in all directions that knight on d3 is an absolute monster.

[@BEstudent]

90blacknight Like GM Finegold would say.....That knight on b1 is suspicious! xD

[@nanowarrior01]

Loved it. Thank you Yasser, and the chess club

[@boyatbox]

Yasser is phenomenal

[@tiddlewink101]

Enjoyed that, thanks for the video

[@sivaramarajusiv7826]

yasser sir I love to listen to your speech .

[@tharkanzox1493]

Would love to see a lecture by yasser on his win v kasparov in the 80s.

[@hikkenwayans]

THANKS for upload!!!

[@danielvandam]

what a delightful man I just have to say

[@PushkarChintaluri]

Garry Kasparov is so good, enough Seirawan has to resort to just oohs and aahs to explain his moves with the conclusion being a mind blown "I don't play chess like that."