The only Caro-Kann guide you will ever need

[@AlexBanzea]

My Caro-Kann course: www.chessable.com/the-caro-kann-simplified/course/171080/ Free Lichess study with the lines mentioned: lichess.org/study/0XgCr0Wp/SNPyQvG3

[@darn0k1]

Thank you ❤

[@GreenHope42]

🐐

[@regisdaniels354]

What if they don't take the knight when trying to play the Tartokower variation. What should you do then??

[@AlexBanzea]

@@regisdaniels354 check out the caro speedrun 👀

[@regisdaniels354]

Thanks....I'm actually shocked you responded...I love ALL your videos and most of of your jokes and sense of humor...can you tell me my watch time

[@mariuszpudzianowski8400]

My friend was playing random garbage but loves closed position and is a good defender. Showed him Caro-Kann and he loved it, grasped basic concepts very quickly and now he's playing muuuuch better. Also - Fantasy isn't annoying, it's fun as hell, same with Bayonet Attack, both sides are almost getting mated all the time, very sharp games.

[@Woodflooralchemist]

How do you deal with the bayonet?

[@mariuszpudzianowski8400]

@@Woodflooralchemist I rarely face it but I respond to aggresion with aggresion and usually come out on top in tactical struggles.

[@lasskumite6735]

​@@mariuszpudzianowski8400Bro you have to edit this answer to

[@linkinparkfan103]

​@@lasskumite6735lol

[@mannylokzzz]

Alex I want to share a little story about myself. I was addicted to heroin for 10 years and discovered chess in rehab. Well, that I suck at chess. When I finished treatment, I somehow stumbled across your videos, and, well, now I win half of my blitz games with Jobava and caro, so chess is fun now. I was about 300 elo in blitz when I started… I finally reached 700 today. My game highest game score, 1550, came against a 1000 rated opponent!!! And i converted a filthy checkmate against one of the old geezers playing a kings Indian in my local chess club… So I just wanted to say, you probably have more of an impact on people’s lives than you realize. So grateful for you, your content, it’s incredibly helpful and easy to comprehend. And practical. I eagerly look forward to immediately purchasing your Jobava course!! I’m 6 months sober now and the ability to stomp some decent players with your guidance has been so, so satisfying. Fan for life

[@mariuszpudzianowski8400]

What is it about former junkies and getting into chess? Welcome aboard brother, stay strong and keep up the good work. I know how much that shit sucks, I was doing opiates for 10 years, since I was 16. Now clean for 2 years due to amazing people around me that did everything to help me. You stomped addiction, you can stomp any chess player too!

[@mannylokzzz]

@@mariuszpudzianowski8400 Ah thanks man, really appreciate it, I’m from LA but relocated to the UK to get away from the streets, basically.. there’s something almost poetic about nailing people with the Jobava London, in London.. lmao. Congrats on the sobriety, too! I think I could’ve saved myself a lot of grief had I figured out sooner just how intoxicating it can be to win a hard-fought game of chess

[@mariuszpudzianowski8400]

@@mannylokzzz That's the way brother, replace addiction with healthy addiction. Some people go for sports, some work more, dorks like me play chess lmao

[@AlexBanzea]

Stay healthy brother!

[@Starfish845]

Hey dude what's your rating now

[@spacejunkisforever6311]

This is AWESOME content. I play Caro whenever possible and I generally know what to do when … but refreshing the explanations to WHY those are the moves is so helpful. And what comes after those initial moves is often elusive and I love that you go into the common scenarios a bit here. Great content. Great Caro summary. Great analogies. I’m such a fan.

[@Nature-of-reality]

Cheers for all of your videos on the Caro-Kann and Jobava London. They've helped me loads at my comedy 1000ish level.

[@mariuszpudzianowski8400]

Real comedy is when people fall for most elementary traps in Jobava

[@-frcracked-8804]

​@@mariuszpudzianowski8400I've started the jobava bc of Alex and I think it's so funny when people still play 2 knights against it. I got someone with it and rematched them and they fell for it again I had to stop playing cuz I felt bad

[@banzaiburger9589]

Good stuff Alex. Each summary like this with the main variations without the fluff helps a lot to reinforce the ideas. 👍

[@PanaMaJwaaRd]

The thing with all this theory is, when you play someone who doesnt play anything remotely close to this, its just like.... what are we doin lol

[@danielbattle7620]

If they aren’t playing theory and you know what whites correct response should be than you already have advantage in some way, you just have to find where

[@RustyKnorr]

Then you are studying a different line, obviously. FFS, you have to be able to adapt, calculate…actually play chess. THAT is “what we’re doin”. 🤷‍♂️

[@PanaMaJwaaRd]

@RustyKnorr thanks for the obvious. Im replying in relation to the video. So when examples are given of people who actually are playing theory is where this makes sense, sure in the upper 1000s-1700 this makes sense. but in the lower tiers, people play such like "what is this opening / that isnt any type of opening ") moves that then you end up messing up your structure (unwantingly) and so on. that is why i feel like the 1100 player is much easier for me than the 500 player. just saying.

[@scottysutherland3568]

Well learn the theory, then when people go weird routes you gotta learn how to punish those beginning mistakes. Keep watching videos and Master certain openings that interest you

[@boplax123]

That's an advantage bro trust me. I'm always on the receiving end of this being clueless of openings and my opponent who does know it just destroys me.

[@SevenTheJester]

If you're killing six birds with one throw, I think what you have is a grenade, not a stone. 🤷‍♂️ I'm just guessing. Did the stone have a pin in it that you had to pull out before throwing it, Alex? Man, Romanians are just built differently. 😂 In all seriousness, though, all the free content on this channel about the Caro is ridiculously helpful. If you watch all of it and actually pay attention, you're set to play against e4 all the way up to almost 2000. My guy Alex basically turned the Caro into a system opening, like the London for black. You really can't overstate how helpful this content is for low rated players.

[@mariuszpudzianowski8400]

Bro is dropping a whole course for us for free at this point!

[@camicees]

It's been months and i have been away from chess-tube but i just wanna say one thing....I FUCKING LOVE THIS GUY

[@Wryyyyyyyyy21]

Conclusion here without spoiling the video. Exchange - Simplest one ,just develop normally Tartakower- Popular one but boring variation cuz you go into set up style most of the time Fantasy - Really rare,ive never seen someone played this even in his playlist. You can either get a M7 or GINOURMOUS Fork. Advanced - Most common one and most difficult one but my favourite cuz it's really fun playing. You will see many lines here. In the first main line, your main purpose is to fight central pawn and wait for opponents mistakes. Second one is easier for you you trade and rest is on you.

[@snortingnesquik3470]

Will never get bored of your Caro vids

[@adamblomquist5581]

The chess KZbin GOAT for us under 1800. Appreciate you brother!

[@dianagentu7478]

Just like you said to, this is a video I return to rewatch as I continue to learn and explore the Caro-Kann - thanks for your superlative explanation: it gives us just enough to get a strong foothold and then we can expand from there. Utilising your C-K course and Lichess is my next move! BTW - What is your favorite way of learning openings? As in, we all use video now but how did you learn? Books and tutor? I am wondering what works best for retention... Thanks Alex, you are a gem in this world.

[@shahmatsimplex4144]

Thank you for another instructive video. You are a great teacher.

[@allsunday1485]

This is the best opening video for beginners one ever watched bar none. I really wish you did the same with the Italian

[@christian7054]

To understand plans is much more helpful, than just learning stupid lines. Thanks for that.

[@YoxiiPlz]

I love how you have the Exact same moves as Levy but look at more lines

[@Darkslim3]

they are the exact same moves because its the exact same opening

[@redtube8667]

@@YoxiiPlz so in other words you haven't checked out Levy's courses on Chessly lmao

[@shinom0ri]

Exceptional video. Slimmed down to what's needed and easy to remember. L-shaped pawns infront of castled king? pull back bishop, if not take when confronted :) Can't wait to try it out.

[@kylezo]

bro wtf this video is so good like you really make great points with the prepared arrows and highlights showing the problems in some variations love some of the new format ideas you're playing with

[@thedarkdestroyer5926]

Thanks Alex With the help of your KZbin channel and using the caro- kann ( for everything) and Jaba London I reached my goal 1300 rapid. 1100 bullet. I’m now happy and can quit my unhealthy obsession with chess. I’m sure I could do better but ... that enough. Suggestion- do a video on playing healthy chess and keeping it in perspective. Suggestion 2- do a video for black when white opens with their queen pawn forward two squares. See ya latter and thanks for all the fish.

[@TheIllusionaryGentleman]

13:20 overall, this is a great video; but at this variation, a possible continuation for black is Knight A4, which has the threat of B2 which forks Queen and Bishop. White either retreats dark square bishop to cover B2 (which will weaken E file) or they play a passive Queen move to dodge the fork (since the leftside board is blocked off and the right-side board is well defended by black) The pawn fork for white only exists if you don't take advantage of the Knight to create pressure.

[@dandoii]

Excellent breakdown. I love playing the Caro and already your showing of achieveing the consistency of the opening is helping a lot

[@chizuru1999]

Your videos have helped me to stick to 2 openings one for black and one for white. I used to play a bit of Sicillian (I wasn't trying to climb rating). But now that I have started to grind some games I have reached from 700ish to 1100 in just 2 weeks. Thanks a lot for the videos. I didn't play much chess since the covid years but damn I loved watching chess videos which has also helped me improve. Also keep posting caro kann/jobava london videos. Love from India. 🫰

[@IMTrueBlueYT]

This was super helpful for me. Used to be a 500 but thanks to this video, I am now an 800 rated player who is crushing people with the caro-kann. But i think one of the variations I´m struggling rn with is the goldman variation. Make a video on that pls and you´re gonna be making my day

[@Raanra-m4l]

You have the best instructional Chess videos I've ever found. Also the funniest. Thank You !

[@pizzarand]

Second video of yours that I watch. I've been playing boring engine theory caro for ages. I really love how you show more spicy variations! Brings the fun back to this opening

[@Stuntertju]

Best Caro-Kann explanation I have seen for so far!

[@radioheadfan235]

Wow! I've spent many hours watching all the famous chess KZbinrs and this is by far the most logical Caro Kahn video I've seen! New subscriber ✅

[@norsage]

Best Caro Kann Video !! Laugh out loud funny, and really clear instruction. I'll be play the Caro from now on, Thank you Alex

[@K4sperx]

Very very good comprehensive video. Thanks, alex

[@konstipisti]

Thanks! Best Caro-Kann guide on youtube currently!

[@victorelkassir2617]

Very useful content, thanks for the video!

[@gabrielpadilla3470]

It would be a good video to explain why you can play the slav against d4 but not the caro kann.

[@alcoolbc]

Awesome clear quality and detailed instruction video...thanks, Alex! Using it for sure!

[@natecoomer4421]

So glad i came across your channel, appreciate all you do and you make it easy and fun to learn. We will do our best to make you proud 🤣🤣💪

[@jackiego1]

Such good humor. Kept me captivated the whole time. Time to go try it and likely forget everything I've just learned 😔

[@hatoffnickel]

This is the most succinct Caro guide!!

[@rama4913]

Your Caro-Kann videos have been helpful in my improvement, thanks for that!

[@manubruyninckx9705]

You made me a decent player with Caro Khan and Jebova London. Only against D4 I struggle. I use the Kings Indian but I am not that strong with it. Thx for the knowledge!

[@walterbrownstone8017]

99% of everything you will see playing the Caro Kann rolled up into one video. I will watch it 3 times! Please do a video called "Dumb sidelines that you might see while playing the Caro Kann"

[@gianmarcotani6697]

Very well done, thanks to your contents now I really enjoy playing the Caro! Could you make a similar video with the Jobava London? Keep up the good job 👍🏻

[@Relisoc4]

You made my nephew Timmy cry he thought Santa was still real

[@filipj4377]

In dxc5 line, after Nf6 Bg5, you can stay a pawn down with simple play from white

[@sushantmondal]

You're an awesome teacher, Sir Alex.

[@ricardoguerra4963]

I’m a simple man. I see Alex banzea caro and I click

[@mrutyunjayasahoo9932]

Literally the only caro kann guide you will need

[@LatteEsportsLeague]

Great review. If you don’t have Alex’s caro kann course on chessable, this is a great introduction into some of the main variants you see. I recommend the course tho. It’s quite strong

[@didier184481]

Thank you very much Alex. As said previously I have been practicing a lot jobava London with whites agains computer first to get used with several variations. This black opening will be for sure my best black opening in front of e4.

[@mariuszpudzianowski8400]

Jobava is so fun to play especially if you go for early pawnstorm that Alex showed in one of his previous videos - people just panic and blunder.

[@VincentPeer]

I’ll be watching this video for a third and probably fourth time. Can’t thank you enough.

[@johndavey539]

Thanks! Great stuff for us low level players.

[@Alpacastan21m]

Thank you, Banzeus! Yes, chessbrah are GMs but Eric’s got quite a few speedruns on playing Caro against d4.

[@Esltenme]

Hahaha the karate fight Bishop line is pure hilarious man. Love the way you explain things dude!

[@animeaddict968]

bro taught me more things than school has ever did.

[@vagabundo8450]

I ur videos and comments. I was practicing the petrov as a opening for a while now. Yet, as amateur (

[@CraigTemple]

0:59 “Love your perspicacity…” Fuck, man too funny. 😆

[@FarreIl]

Appreciate the effort! Really helpful, I'm beginning the see all the structures and gaining ELO! It's so addictive, can't help it :D

[@fredayling908]

When it comes to the advanced variation, if white plays dxc5, you suggest to play Nc6. If white then plays Bb5 your knight becomes pinned. The book suggests playing e6 however this blocks in your light square bishop. I’m interested to hear how you would tackle that problem.

[@fredayling908]

(1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. dxc5 Nc6 5. Bb5) As far as I have seen there is no content surrounding this line. It is a very strong position for white and I’m running into it even below 900 elo.

[@TheElsMan]

Did you just drop the word “perspicacity” as a non-native English speaker?! Damn dude, respect

[@dragonx7083]

Great video, helpful last minute revision for my OTB rapid tournament tomorrow!

[@miksilala]

Great job Alex , best regards from Serbia !

[@LanceHedrick]

Only started playing 6 weeks ago. I bottomed out at 600. Found your videos and am around 900 now. Still learning basics and going board vision, but am excited at the early progress. What defense do you tend to practice when White does NOT play E4?

[@PPdabest]

You could try the pirc defense. I always use it as black and got me from 1100 to 1900. Can feel very cramped though.

[@jefflittle8913]

That was my question also. Plus I am double-bummed to find out about Santa Clause also...

[@blevyzgos]

Thanks for a another great Caro video. Good points mentioned.

[@Kenjitsuka]

I've watched this a ton of times now, and 100%ed the opening yesterday ;-)

[@rammahesh3349]

Thanks a lot to my chess teacher 👍waiting for more updates

[@PaulFritzsche]

Wow, thank you for a great quick-guide!! ❤

[@marc-andrebriand-osborne6884]

I swear Alex has the best quotes man!!! Lipstick and pigs his main line

[@Woodflooralchemist]

No caro course is complete without addressing the panov. I agree you won’t face it very often but when you do you’ll have no idea how to handle it. I speak from experience. I’m still not comfortable in the panov or the fantasy. Anf I’ve played the caro exclusively for at least 3 years

[@KnightToRemember]

Indeed this 22 minutes video isn’t a course, but in his course there are lines against the Panov of course

[@SaidakhrorObidov]

Exchange variation, if white pins your knight on F3 with the bishop, u can simply put your queen to h5 and getting a free bishop

[@bnbmike4731]

Nah, it blocked by nc3

[@Molb0rg]

Good stuff, worth watching 10 times in the future

[@benvanasse3397]

Hi Alex - Thanks for the content, your course rocks

[@planezero]

Eric is doing a C6 against anything speedrun ! Anyway love your vids.. And you stomped pretty hard on that Chessbrah-Botez sub battle ❤

[@machillato9369]

Bro thank you the best video so far for Caro players. Could you please do a similar video for Vienna that would be great

[@nmw_nerk]

I believe Alex already has a Vienna opening series, but I may be mistaken.

[@mariuszpudzianowski8400]

@@nmw_nerk He does have a lot of material on Vienna, you are right

[@dianagentu7478]

Why, I like your perspicacity too! ;)

[@aniveshrai4121]

well explained learnt a lot

[@davidb6016]

So many have improved with your london and CK but struggle with black against 1.d4 Perhaps that is why you mentioned they are trying to use the CK lines. Would you consider a course for black against d4?

[@baldwintab8234]

I hope he does so

[@kenkur27]

​@@baldwintab8234He's got a few older videos on the Slav defence, aka reversed London

[@jefftaylor1186]

14:49 also I’m pretty sure that Botvinnik made the 3…Bf5 line obsolete in 1961 against Tal with 3…c5. 3…c5 takes white out of so much theory and gets right down to the eventual confrontation for the c5 square

[@coreyburick1450]

loving the caro-kann breakdowns, but what is your preferred opening when white plays d4??

[@mannylokzzz]

He has recommended the “reverse” London vs. 1d4 and did a little speed run on it demonstrating the approach, but I’d love to hear from the man himself as well if this recommendation has since changed

[@kenkur27]

​@@mannylokzzzKind of a Slav defence

[@AlexBanzea]

So far that’s my go to for beginners. I also like queens gambit declined, but it’s less intuitive.

[@man_uel6887]

That is why your proposal for QGD is very welcome

[@ethan_anthem]

Hey Alex! Thanks so much for the great chess content. It's informative and entertaining. Question though: You recommend learning "only" two openings to improve, but also you say that the Caro is only useful against e4. What black opening do you recommend against non-e4 starters? Edit: I'm guessing the answer would be King's Indian, possibly with Caro ideas.

[@kenkur27]

King's Indian is a completely different animal. Try 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6, the Slav defence.

[@water-9]

Your videos are helpful and I love the Caro-kann. Thanks. 👍🧡✝️🇺🇸🧡👍

[@Satisfiedcupcake]

I tricked my opponents with the fishing pole when they kick my bishop in the exchange .

[@mariuszpudzianowski8400]

Ahh classic. Shame that people stopped falling for that around 1k elo :(

[@Satisfiedcupcake]

@@mariuszpudzianowski8400 I am 1000 blitz .

[@AlexBanzea]

What’s that?

[@mariuszpudzianowski8400]

@@AlexBanzea you tried to get it in one of the games, when not castled and pinning a knight, you support the bishop with a pawn - then let them take your bishop, recapture with a pawn and your rook is aiming at open file in front of their king leading to very strong attack

[@chessoptics]

This is beautiful content love your sense of humor

[@Dirtxbc]

Awesome video man. I Love the commentary too!

[@astronemir]

I want you to cover mid game tricks and goals for caro positions that are not the Tartakover. I’m unsure of pawn breaks or how to get an advantage without being super defensive

[@AlexBanzea]

Check out the rating climb!

[@Chessandfun]

Excellent teaching sir thankyou ❤️

[@jeroen3657]

I learned two things: - Caro-Kann is for e4 - Saunta Claus does not exist I do refute your lipstick on a pig argument. Red lipstick goes a long way.

[@dionysschub5350]

If I play against Caro-Kann I usually play the accelerated Panov attack. Most Caro-Kann players don't know how to deal with it.

[@darn0k1]

I love Caro Kann thanks to you, what you recommend against d4?

[@wellutopia2237]

I go into the exchange always against the Caro. D5 gets pinned to the uncastled king very often and i have landed a knight there often.

[@theyugijoker5856]

Love your Videos. Keep Up the good Work 😊 If you do a sicilian Defense introduction I'd be very interested! Didnt really find good AND Entertaining Videos yet and i Just enjoy how you commentate😁✌️

[@mariuszpudzianowski8400]

For sure, but it would take forever to cover every important variation there (not that you need it at lower elo, people only play Acc Dragon)

[@ChristianSoschner]

Excellent video. Thanks for sharing

[@Shoeless45]

This kid makes some good videos

[@themagician3094]

thanks for this really helpful guide

[@Wryyyyyyyyy21]

Day 2,third video watching his Caro Kann simplified playlist,not kuch to say cuz i learnt most of them with his gameplay. However,it should have been my first video to watch before starting this playlist

[@yannlegoff8669]

great explanations, many thanks !!

[@kilocesar]

love your content congrats man!

[@JamesJingleheimer]

That was the first time I've heard the word perspicacity spoken aloud!

[@renesoftware1622]

Thank you for this great video!

[@Dearbornification]

Thank you so much. Great video

[@JanRoldanOriendo]

Great lesson!! Thank you!

[@blazingblitzen]

Thanks for the instructive video:)