THIS HIPPO CHESS GAME WAS CLOSE!!!! | 2022 Pacific Coast Open!

[@TheChessGiant]

My 6+ Hour Hippo Course! thechessgiant.gumroad.com/l/hippopotamusdefensecourse

[@yesyes300]

Can you please make a video after the tournament, about positional chess? There is a lot we viewer can learn from you.

[@TheChessGiant]

Yessir! Are there certain themes you'd want to see covered?

[@yesyes300]

@@TheChessGiant I would like to see video about pushing the pawns, when to push them. A lot of time when you play the hippo, you often push the c and f pawns, and I don't understand why. In this position (on lichess) 4r1k1/pp2pp1p/2bp1npQ/q2N4/4PN2/5P2/PPP5/2K4R w - - 0 1 I would never found e5, even tho I know how to solve puzzles/studies (Imagining what is the best possible position that I can get, and how I will checkmate my opponent, if everything will go perfect). I don't know which pawn push can make enemy king weaker, and when it's good idea to do so, and when It's waste of time.

[@FloatingSunfish]

Another great Hippo video, Mr. Solomon! So proud of you for playing it in a tournament! Hope you win more games with it in the future!

[@TheChessGiant]

Thank you my guy. And yes, I am planning to play nothing but the Hippo until I become an NM!

[@FloatingSunfish]

@@TheChessGiant Same here! Although I have no dreams of getting a title myself, I just love playing the Hippo so much that it's all I ever play for both colors. 😄

[@TheChessGiant]

@@FloatingSunfish Totally! I hadn't even heard of it up until 2 years ago but gosh is it good!

[@edmundhilgen3795]

Thanks for sharing the hippo tournament game .I will watch the whole series of games.

[@TheChessGiant]

You got it Edmund! Hope you enjoy the series!

[@skyeruddell3196]

So cool you stepped back into tournament play and played the hippo the whole way through.

[@TheChessGiant]

Thanks! Ya people often assume the Hippo is bad due to the name but it's not! Very underrated chess opening for black and white! Fun for beginner chess players too.

[@skyeruddell3196]

@@TheChessGiant your videos are for sure showing case it can be a fun option.

[@TheChessGiant]

@@skyeruddell3196 That's awesome you are enjoying it. Let me know if you play it sometime, and let me know how the Hippopotamus Defense goes for you if you do!

[@yveslarochelle101]

Really really interesting game. Don't happen often that I don't fastforward at some point in a full game replay, but here I was just spellbound all along!

[@TheChessGiant]

Glad you enjoyed it Sheriff!

[@HiAmDre]

GG! Hippo is a really cool openneing and you utilize it pretty well

[@TheChessGiant]

Thank you bro!

[@mcronrn]

Great stuff! Love these OTB Hippos!! 👏👏

[@TheChessGiant]

Hey M Cron, thank you!!

[@fanoflanguages7278]

Another instructive Hippo game. At 19:05, you suggested the move Nf5. I think White is still winning, after Rxa7 Rd4+, Kf3 Rxd3+, Kg4. Of course in time pressure anything can still happen, but White is clearly better in this position.

[@TheChessGiant]

Thanks! And ya totally, white is still sitting very comfortable here.

[@Factsnotfox]

A nice win. I think my big problem with playing the Hippo is that positions seem to fluctuate between slow defensive buildups and quick attacks.

[@TheChessGiant]

Thanks Dennis, and totally! Ya the challenge is balancing out all the ideas. I haven't mastered it yet, but trying to get closer each day. The Hippo is flexible and often has the same ideas available, but picking which option to go with is where the challenge begins.

[@johnybalohny]

Nice one Solomon, I like these videos where you are explaining the reasons behind the moves. And once again it's nice to see the Hippo beating people up. Hope your future games in the tournament are good ones too.

[@TheChessGiant]

Hey Johny, thank you bro I'm happy you enjoyed the game. The Hippo is often hated on but I'm not sure why when you actually look at the opening. The name often makes people think it's a joke but far from it!

[@joejoe-ds8xr]

congrats!! crazy question: do you do the broadcast for XM satellite radio covering sports..your voice is identical if not

[@TheChessGiant]

Thanks! And no I'm not! I will have to check it out haha

[@TipsyFlipper]

great game with Hippo! I am inspired! Please keep us up to date on your tournament games. break a leg

[@TheChessGiant]

Hey Dwight, thank you brotha! Glad the Hippo is sparking your interest. It might just be the best animal chess opening out there!

[@TipsyFlipper]

@@TheChessGiant hahahaha you remembered my love of animal named openings. I am beaming. Thank you for your videos bro and knock some more opponents around with that "rope a dope" style opening. "staying on the ropes is a beautiful thing with a heavyweight, when you make him shoot his best shots, and you know he's not hitting you" - Muhammad Ali

[@TheChessGiant]

@@TipsyFlipper Yep! You're the first to come to mind when I think of animal opening content. And ya glad you're enjoying the videos. And nice quote from Muhammad Ali! Boxing is a fascinating sport to watch.

[@banzaiburger]

Love the Hippo content and congrats on the win! As Black recently, I've been playing either the Hippo or the Modern Gurgenidze. I kinda don't know for sure until after g6 and Bg7 😄

[@TheChessGiant]

Hey Danny. Ya man, the Hippo is top notch - glad you are enjoying the videos. And nice hahaha, ya sometimes those g6/Bg7 systems blend together super closely

[@brao3102]

Nice game! I can't imagine anyone is prepared for the hippo.

[@TheChessGiant]

I doubt it! I mean I've played in over 100 OTB chess tournaments and haven't seen it once. Heck, I did not even know what it was until a couple years ago.

[@clear.5999]

do you construct these games straight off your memory? I thought they were already prerecorded. impressive!

[@TheChessGiant]

They were recorded! However, in this particular one, I got so low on time I had to stop annotating. But ya, I think every other game besides this one I have fully recorded.

[@clear.5999]

@@TheChessGiant ahhh ok. still, very nice! I love your videos too. keep it up! :-)

[@sagestseeker]

Way to win. Let's go!

[@TheChessGiant]

Yessir!

[@hareldavidson738]

gl at hitting NM

[@hareldavidson738]

also Just wanted to say I don't' like spoiling the result in the thumbnail but maybe others do idk, maybe do a poll on that or something

[@TheChessGiant]

Thank you bro!

[@m42orion12]

Why have i missed this video?????? Wow,that was harsh....B3,alekhine and leningrad dutch and im sticking to them to get good at them....A narrow repertoire,but why not.Hate main line to grind a game and lose by a sharp sicilian or a draw....

[@TheChessGiant]

Well hey glad you found it! And totally. Great thoughts thanks for sharing as always.

[@JacksAnimations]

gg, full support, gl!

[@TheChessGiant]

Thank you my guy!

[@billi9230]

Double Hippo oh no I getnightmares from that if you continue that

[@TheChessGiant]

Hey Billi, I'm apologize for the Hippopotamus nightmares!

[@MrInalbert]

Full Hippo Tournament All The Way^^

[@TheChessGiant]

Yup!

[@OregonMikeH]

Huge Thumbs Up with thanks Pal! ... Mike

[@TheChessGiant]

Thank you Mike!!

[@jackyjoseph5143]

Best of luck for reaching national master

[@TheChessGiant]

Thank you my guy!

[@perreaultnicolas3670]

what is your name on lichess? i want to follow you

[@billi9230]

Oh God, you have white just play the Ponziani or something

[@JacksAnimations]

ponziani 😍

[@TheChessGiant]

lolol trueee - next tourney I'm leaving my Hippo and hopping on other stuff.

[@billi9230]

@@TheChessGiant from NM to FM then