The Legend: Vasily Smyslov - GM Ben Finegold - 2014.12.04

Grandmaster Ben Finegold pays tribute to one of the original grandmasters, former World Champion Vasily Smyslov. This is a new beginners' lecture that features a legend each week.
Smyslov vs Zoltan Ribli, London (1983): D42 Queen's Gambit Declined, Semi-Tarrasch, 7.Bd3
Smyslov vs Anatoly Karpov, USSR Championship (1971): D41 Queen's Gambit Declined, Semi-Tarrasch with e3
Paul Keres vs Smyslov, Zurich Candidates (1953): A17 English opening
Finegold vs Smyslov, London Lloyds (1988): E34 Nimzo-Indian, classical, Noa variation
Alexandar Tsvetkov vs Smyslov, Moscow (1947): B08 Pirc, classical system, 5.Be2

[@TremendousSax]

Not only is Finegold a brilliant teacher and player, but he's a grandmaster at shit talking, too. Well done. And props to the St Louis club for sharing these tremendous resources with the Internet public. Bravo

[@juliafloridausa]

02:47 Smyslov vs Zoltan Ribli, London (1983): D42 Queen's Gambit Declined, Semi-Tarrasch, 7.Bd3 18:06 Smyslov vs Anatoly Karpov, USSR Championship (1971): D41 Queen's Gambit Declined, Semi-Tarrasch with e3 29:05 Paul Keres vs Smyslov, Zurich Candidates (1953): A17 English opening 37:00 Finegold vs Smyslov, London Lloyds (1988): E34 Nimzo-Indian, classical, Noa variation 39:15 Alexandar Tsvetkov vs Smyslov, Moscow (1947): B08 Pirc, classical system, 5.Be2

[@lukemarks3281]

Thanks

[@gonedoof8531]

"I went to Soviet Russia - or it went to me?" Ohh, Ben...

[@PriveGitaarles]

Ben Finegold's lectures are simply the best..... Those chess players in Saint Louis are really lucky

[@MiniSermons]

the hassling of Ken West is always hilarious to me...also great quote, "that's why they are playing for the world championship and we are sitting in this scary room"

[@Admiralmeriweather]

best line from a different video: "That's why he was top 10 in the world and you guys are top 10 in this room. Well. Some of you are."

[@jonadair2588]

yeah that was hilarious, then someone walks into the room and Ben says, "now less of you are." Gotta love Finegold.

[@leadnitrate2194]

@@Admiralmeriweather I bet there were less than 10 people in the room

[@Admiralmeriweather]

@@leadnitrate2194 Either way it's hilarious.

[@JSaga1]

Amazing lecturer! I didn't think I was going to be engaged for 44 mins and kept watching the whole time.

[@Shadowkillerx777]

I can never get enough of Ben Finegold. Beginners lecture about the movement's of pieces? Sign me up anyway, it got Ben Finegold in it.

[@aminamaher4321]

I like Finegold lectures and Akobian lectures. I like Finegold because he is creative to make his lectures very entertainment and I like Akobian because he simply shows you how you have to play chess like grand master move by move. I really learn from them. Thanks Chess club.

[@BREAKocean]

I didn't realize how amazing Smyslov was.

[@Playncooler]

Thank you GM Finegold, you are awesome. Really love your lectures.

[@brianflygare3498]

I met smyslov and wife in Moscow at botvinik chess club. By far the most pleasant people to meet. His eyes were failing him. But very willing to play without chess board.

[@harpsmith8570]

I love the constant jokes towards Ken West LOL

[@Craigevansagain]

27:18 If I'm only down a pawn, knight or bishop I'll never resign. However if I'm down a queen or rook with no playable compensation, then I'll resign and cry like a baby and then I'll read the book "How To Cry Like A Grandmaster".

[@gxtmfa]

I absolutely love Smyslov and have always looked up to him. Psyched to see Finegold feels the same.

[@MassimilianoFarris]

Wonderful lecture, as always😊. Thnx *****

[@NobleSteed00]

on the floor after britney spears reference 15:38

[@pcs06d]

If I send the chess club some memorabilia, will Ken West sign it?

[@STLChessClub]

Cam Staubus I'm sure he would. The real question is: will we pay to send it back to you?

[@kimjong-un156]

Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis LOL

[@FilipM1]

Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis Hahaha!

[@dannygjk]

LOL Good one!

[@dannygjk]

LOL Also a good one!

[@Ed2754]

Ben and St L Chess Club Thank you for this series. I think they are great and Ben is his usual entertaining self.

[@sacundim]

This lecture is a great demonstration of the d5 motif in isolated queen's pawn positions.

[@aqeiwwrgunaug4ne3]

"Thats why hes a world champion and we're sitting in this scary room" maybe my favorite quote from Ben

[@liver1865]

Don't know what to say so I don't know why I'm typing this

[@Rhythmmical]

Ken West is very suspicious.

[@abribra96]

GRANDMASTER Ken West! :D

[@immabreakaleg]

"dude I crushed you"

[@f.d.3289]

"Well this last game is my favourite, because then I won't have to lecture anymore." xD

[@FriendlyVienice]

Smyslow sings really good!

[@ExclamChess]

Smyslov is one of my favorites

[@Foxhound3857]

"Oops, I lost that piece again" LOL. Britney probably sued him after hearing that.

[@thiagovieira800]

The variations Finegold choses to analyse are so instructive, as opposed to some chess content creators that chose random engine variations to analyse.

[@konosmgr]

Ben is a fucking legend!

[@TheParadiseInc]

Ah yes, the inventor of the semislov opening

[@DreamWizard9]

Ben, you played Smyslow!?!?!!? Damn you legend!! xD

[@Admiralmeriweather]

maybe his father did... maybe...

[@morthenex2792]

How is it not the most exciting when the most explosive opening in all of chess is played?

[@patrickmoloney672]

I wonder who's going to do the 'Legends of the Past' Ben Finegold Lecture? Paul Morphy probably.

[@engboino]

Finegold is great.

[@GlobalUnion420]

Great video!

[@quagapp]

Finegold is very good. Even though these are relatively"elementary" for me as I knew the Keres game and I know Smyslov's (and others') way of handling IQP positions (and Karpov usually defended them very well and won some nice games as Black in those kinds of positions: despite all that the clear demonstration is helpful even to stronger players than begginners as well as others (I don't mean FMs or player perhaps over 2000 they possibly don't need it) but otherwise it is useful sometimes to emphasise the tactics and various themes as Finegold does very well with good humour.

[@peterganga4734]

Probably the best chess lecture ever,i wish ben finegold could lecture my games but am guessing this would be his response`who are you`,don`t confuse with` wu the chinese player....hahaha

[@engboino]

Curious to know the already famous Ken West, Ben....

[@HT-rq5pi]

I'm new to this channel, I was just wondering, who is "Ken West"?

[@STLChessClub]

***** He's a Club member who frequents our lectures.

[@engboino]

***** I am also very curious! He is sort of a friend now! I love Finegold's lectures.

[@francoisripoll5398]

I think it is one of his student in the classroom

[@jatkinson85]

No, clearly your internal sarcasm meter is permanently stuck at 0

[@Thaumazo83]

"GM" Ken West actually appears in one of GM Finegold's videos, but I don't remember in which one! :D

[@dannygjk]

Top player: "Why did I lose I made no mistakes!?" Other top player: "You were playing Vasily Smyslov."

[@naqi_zariz]

If it's free, it's for me. And old quote I've never heard of

[@issacb6124]

13:30 - 13:48 For some reason this had me cracking up haha

[@BongelaMnguni]

please put GM Ken West on the camera, we really wanna see him

[@dgmisal1979]

Ridics I think there is a video where they go over a few of his games and you get to see him.

[@BongelaMnguni]

dgmisal1979 : Bravo, I just watched it

[@jerrygu5316]

"GM"

[@drakonlorek1430]

I wonder if black calculated all the way to the queen being pinned on g7 when he played Nf3+. Otherwise, what was the point of the sacrifice?

[@MartinStaykov]

Ok, the ending was hilarious.

[@Bighomer5]

These guys are pretty good!

[@Jate0000]

If you want to hear Smyslov singing look for "Ajedrez - Vassily Smyslov canta (Parte II)" at 01:00

[@RobPalmer454]

Finegold does not fuck with Ken West lmaooo.

[@MrTakba]

good ol' ben finegold :)

[@seifdawg]

Are people really not figuring out the answers to your questions in the audience? Some of these are really easy.

[@finnsteur5639]

"When did I become the bad guy ?" - D-fense

[@Roopamodugu]

Vasily died the day I was born

[@glum_hippo]

I'd love to see your Bronstein lecture! Does it exist on youTube?

[@pt4m]

16:02 britney spears is on......confusing the audience!!!!!!

[@harishmohan1364]

He has a lovely tongue in cheek humour

[@hank-ie4tc]

nice vid

[@irgendwerjoker]

Marathon Man reference @25:00

[@alphablitz1024]

irgendwerjoker is it zaaaaafe?

[@eddie-booth]

seems a little unfair to make these guys do a series on legendary world class grandmasters -- ben has to do lots of research and database searching while yasser can just pull up any of his old games

[@lenks0]

In a way it's easier for Ben. All of these games are standard knowledge (for players like him) and he could likely do lectures like these in his sleep (no analysis, just basic ideas)... which is one reason why I think he makes so many jokes (he's bored lol). Although I like it because he's very funny too :)

[@andrewb1830]

Whats the opening song?

[@majora231]

I dont know ken west but I feel sad for the dude :D

[@otakurocklee]

What is the purpose of Re3 at 26:31?

[@Tibi1q2wthesecond]

Cause after those tactics with the queen sac the bishop on the diagonal can take the knight and double the pawns with some drawing chanses. White wanted to prevent that, so first Re3 threatening Qxf8+

[@otakurocklee]

Tibor Deze Thanks!

[@dusanmijatovic7913]

Well, not really good drawing chances :)

[@Tibi1q2wthesecond]

Yeah, not real(or good) chances, just some chances. Wich you dont want to allow if you are Smyslov.

[@dusanmijatovic7913]

Agreed (An 1800 would easily win that)

[@tomzhangg]

its not morphy style because there was an A rook, very suspicious

[@emmanueltorres7917]

Smyslov only won 500 games? How did he get so good? When you play blitz matches, it's so easy to play 500 games.

[@Fetrovsky]

10:15 Why didn't blacks play Nf5 here?

[@Bhubnipz]

33:32

[@michaelthomheadley]

16:47

[@dottemar6597]

Unfortunately, today Estonia has the Euro

[@LloydM-oh4uk]

Keres should have known he wasnt mating with a king on f8 and a bishop on g7 but i think he needed to win this game

[@brianzhou8278]

NOT 1957

[@glennso8134]

Third person to comment!

[@jancikollarik8176]

it's almost legal

[@carljohnson6763]

Let's pick a rook cuz it's funnier)

[@Tibi1q2wthesecond]

moooore Finegold!!! btw 69 in background :))

[@raulstoicovici9682]

goood

[@raulstoicovici9682]

Raul Stoicovici after bishop c4(min41:45),why not "a4"

[@Tibi1q2wthesecond]

Raul Stoicovici after a4 the answer is Bxe2. And after white recaptures his bishop, black takes the pawn on a4. So black wins.

[@Jealod24]

Yea, the guy is cocky and he has every right to be as he’s a top player, but that doesn’t mean he should be. Most of his wise cracks aren’t funny and he’s condescending as hell. I enjoy the lectures but I always think about what a little asshole he must have been as a kid... most teenagers are full of themselves enough, just imagine one with a high rating to back it up...

[@ogtfromthefirstep1459]

I heard he used to hustle the GM's back in the day by making his move, and then hitting the clock with his chin