Ultra-Aggressive Sicilian Dragon, Yugoslav Attack - Chess Openings Explained

Jonathan Schrantz activates the R.O.G. 4000 to choose the topic for this week: the Sicilian Dragon! See two games featuring the Yugoslav Attack, the Dragon's "ultimate test."
2015.12.14
Sergey Karjakin vs Teimour Radjabov, FIDE Grand Prix (2008): B78 Sicilian, dragon, Yugoslav attack, 10.O-O-O
Magnus Carlsen vs Teimour Radjabov, Bilbao Grand Slam Chess Final (2008): B78 Sicilian, dragon, Yugoslav attack, 10.O-O-O

[@roguerook]

Jonathan, your voice suggests that you're struggling with nerves. Let me tell you, from one coach to another, you're AWESOME. You have zero reason to be nervous. You are doing an amazing service for kids and adults everywhere and I wish nothing but the highest success. Keep doing what you're doing. Thank you.

[@RobertKaucher]

I had only watched his videos from late 2016 up to this point and wow what a difference a year makes for his confidence in presentation. He's truly doing an amazing job.

[@robertserban2008]

At 29:08 how not white won???

[@alexting827]

+robi robert what do you mean?

[@robertserban2008]

at that scenarion white won .. Black cant exchange his pawns to a queen because the rook was there

[@DeathIsPlanC]

White can only sit there and wait. Rook needs to stay on 1st rank to stop pawn queening. Black will push pawn to f3.

[@allanmanaged3187]

Unboxing chess openings. I suppose it was inevitable.

[@tharindanimnajith3525]

Thanks for choosing my suggestion Jonathan!! Great lecture! PS: Actually you did pronounce my name well.. :)

[@AT-qm8gv]

I only checked the comments to see if you were here. Back to the video now...

[@tusharghude15]

^lolz same >_

[@David-fx3kv]

Tharinda Nimnajith lol 😂 I see u are here didn't know that well worth looking for it

[@aryashetty3924]

That was perfect pronunciation indeed

[@anishnehete]

💪🔥

[@longcastle4863]

I'm surprised there are any "non-enthusiastic" responses. These chess club videos are very helpful - and whatever they cover, whether openings, defenses, gambits, traps etc, the lecturers are always well prepared and give interesting and thorough presentations.

[@younis24de]

12:46 "How to Train Your Dragon"

[@Heliflopters]

I stumbled across this video and my first thought was "wow he sounds super nervous for some reason compared to how smooth and confident he normally is" and only then did I realize that this was 7 years ago and that it's a different channel. It's crazy how time changes people. He's my favorite teacher!

[@snippletrap]

At 19:00, the winning move for black is Nc4, which nets two pieces for the rook.

[@renhoek3851]

Where can I purchase the ROG 4000? I've tried amazon and ebay but they don't stock them.

[@Skjedeo]

I tried making my own but it would only spit out the Scandinavian. Sadly I had to burn it

[@Bigassboya]

ren hoek They do stock WITH them

[@wiscatbijles]

I've got a ROG 3000 if you're interested. It's got all the features of the ROG4000 but way cheaper.

[@catalin-rares3179]

@Russel Shakleford nice one! :))

[@bpaultas3167]

Lol republic of gamers

[@fisher00769]

This is one of my favourite openings from both sides. Great explenation, I'm hoping to use this theory in my games, thanks a lot!

[@robmorr23]

InStinct a grandmaster said he had to give up the Dragon because he would lose in 20 moves or squeeze a 70 move draw a pawn down. I use to play the Dragon and loved it. white memorizes pawn on g2, f3, e4; h2 , h4, h5, bishops on e3, c4. queen on d2, 0-0-0 and kb1. This is easy to memorize and is problematic for black.

[@robmorr23]

InStinct a grandmaster said he had to give up the Dragon because he would lose in 20 moves or squeeze a 70 move draw a pawn down. pawns on e2,f3,e4. h2,h4, h5. bishops on e3, c4, queen on d2. bishop- -h6. 0-0-0, kb1. This is east for a lower player to memorize and win.

[@IngTomT]

I love to pla it too with black as well as white. It is just so exciting and rushes your adrenaline. The main thing is to keep calm and don't overreact and try too hard to defend but just focus on your attack and try to do the bare minimun to keep your own king safe. It's usually the first who gives in to his anxiety and shifts his attention too much from attack to defense that loses.

[@Guckeezy]

This video is not only informative but god damn hilarious. Subbing instantly 😂😂

[@cslon]

I'm rather late in discovering your lessons, but they are very good and you are an excellent instructor. Well-paced, at a level that works for me. Thank you.

[@XieQiu]

Thank you for posting this. These opening videos help me a lot.

[@CraigPendlebury]

Great video, I picked up more about the Yugoslav attack from that video than anything I've read to date.

[@dgm7826]

I’m 10 and I’m state chanpion

[@filipubovic8868]

@@dgm7826 nobody cares

[@leventeadamszabo1914]

Very good lecture. Thanks Mr. Schrantz!

[@SeriousPoo]

Brilliant opening, that ROG gambit.

[@aesaehttr]

Lol

[@TremendousSax]

Queen's gambit accepted from black's point of view. Or the Grunfeld

[@leandrodutra329]

yesss man, thanks a lot for exploring the opennings, pls do more. Thanks a lot!!!!

[@bernardpollara8161]

You're an extremely competent lecturer you've taught me so much. I only wish I could attend in person

[@gtrmusic69]

Super good video. At last. More of Jonathan please.

[@Entropy03021990]

18.00, the move behind black lack of fear is: knight x f3, sacrificing the quality and a pawn have a massive initiative and a powerful passed pawn

[@MrMartinmozz]

Really enjoyable! It took me about two hours to go through it but i think I understood most of it! Tyvm :)

[@Sc2greenst]

Thank you so much for these videos

[@jean-danielriopel1440]

Thanks GM Schrantz, always interesting :)

[@aravindgundakaram1830]

18:08 Nc4! from black wins a whole knight after Nxc8 Nxd2+ Kc1 Rxc8 Kxd2 Bxd4, (or) it gains the initiative after Nc4! Bxc4 Rxc4 Ne2.

[@aravindgundakaram1830]

There is actually also the incredible move Rc4!....for the analysis, you will have to consult an engine. I am too weak a player to give a complete analysis of that move.

[@ethan073]

Great video, thanks for sharing!

[@CarlosRodriguez-ru8em]

just came across your chess club seminars love it!

[@TheGreatWaldoPepp]

thanks for speeding it up at the end

[@bgb702]

Oh geez here comes the ROG 4000 again. Loving the videos!

[@luketufts6827]

So excited to learn this one!

[@adrianmarcagan1036]

this is what i need. thanks for your detailed explanation.. hoping to see more videos from you soon God bless

[@miteshgupta1831]

I really love your videos regarding chess openings....Can you do Queen's Gambit accepted and declined opening

[@vishvajitsinhkosamiya7154]

Great video. Really enjoyed it. Great job.😊 dragon is pretty interesting.

[@violetayapur6499]

great channel thank you so much

[@drewkavi6327]

Very well done could you do a longer in depth of the Sicillian and Yugo-Slavian , keep it up John

[@CBrennan1989]

Phenomenal series!

[@lozmusic4421]

great video! love that opening!!

[@smit930]

Defending this attack what if I bring out my Knight at C6 and Bishop to C5? Would it be a better idea?

[@chessassassin4062]

Thanks again. I will compare your lesson in this video with A. Dgebuadze vs M. Fedorovsky , Sicilian Dragon game in year 2008, At the Neckar Open in Deizisau tournament.

[@Aswin923]

I am really new to this channel and Chess, and i find this channel really great helpful. Could you please let me know, the chess client on the computer, that is being used to educate the audience.

[@OregonMikeH]

GREAT STUFF BIG J ... Thanks Pal & Blessings from Oregon! ... Mike AKA Chess Barron

[@reynoldvillalon8953]

i really like your teaching sir, God bless you.

[@jollyblume9006]

backk at some unreeber move number when black was threatening rook-rook-queen checkmate and white answered with a3, if the black bishop takes the e knight, could you look rxb2? with the knight's protector off the board and c2 still closed, it seems like there is a mate there. (and thank you for your awesome videos)

[@creativekingchess9947]

21:45 - a strange and unusual variation, although it can be used for blitz. :)

[@JoseRodriguez-jt4ve]

Love these videos

[@Thjarkvaldur]

Your videos are the best. I would love to see how to fight the grandprix. E4, c5, nc3, g6 and then d4, thank you :D

[@sakules]

very good and interesting lesson!

[@danni8191]

similar to 20:55 knight e5 to f3 was played against me. didn't stop the Yugoslav, but it bought her dozens of more moves, and she was almost able to draw. a 14 year old girl....

[@tusharmeshram5708]

Thank you sir just because of u I won the chess tournament in my college☺️

[@hritwikranjan2198]

Can you do one on the Smith morra gambit or the Dutch defense ?

[@inkredableone8029]

I really like your format

[@dantheman4421]

Can you guys do a video of the top 10 most common openings using E4, with a little synopsis of each, as well as the best possible defense for black to play versus each? That'd be great! Thanks!

[@vincentscott7435]

Thank You the Sicilian is my favorite.

[@luaghingatyou]

I love the break down, thank you. The nervous energy, makes for kind of an annoying delivery of the information you're trying convey. Just take a deep breath and relax.

[@javiacedo3679]

Nice video,excellent.

[@Yearofthebows24]

What analysis and program do you use where you can draw all those lines and get computer grading on the position?

[@tusharghude15]

gr8 video GM :) question: at @12:00 if black wants to trade knight (onC6) with white's bishop on B3 why not just Knight to A5 i know... knight on d rim... but if you just want to exchange why not

[@orgroman6541]

There are sever more good options for white: 1. Super ultra sharp Yugoslav, going on directly with h4-h5 attack before castling long. This may force black to play h5 which in other variations black may avoid, in the one you demonstrated I allow white to play h5. I play the dragon variation and the idea is after exchanging white light sqaure bishop and removing the pin I can play fxg6 followed by rock to f7 to cover my king. Lot's of different options...

[@TheBrammiej]

Have you all ready done qgd? Also can you please put all your opening vids in a playlist?

[@TheBrammiej]

Great video by the way

[@thedarkcrazycyborg1812]

id like a video on the kings indian specifically the saemisch variation or maybe the sicilian kan or taimanov or id even like one on the slav defence main line with 4. dxc4

[@ldeans5620]

This was an instructive and entertaining discussion, and I think some of it will stick (at least for a little while)

[@jamespappas9532]

Great video! You guys are great. I'd love a video on the Polish opening.

[@duperre46]

I'd like to know how the reti opening is any good. I've played it for a while and my games went 50/50

[@jagroopchhabda9713]

Such a good lecture

[@i_i8924]

At 41:48.. does the queen sac work Qxa5, bxa3, Rxa3+, Ka2, c3!? or does black give up too much material? Feels like a Tal move lol, wondering bc of the Bishop on E6

[@DavidEmerling79]

I would like to see a detailed analysis of the Wilkes-Barre Variation of the Two Knights Defense.

[@SuperSaniyat]

came across recently English Opening: Anglo-Indian Defense.Zviaginstev-Krasenkov attack (A18) 5.g5 looks interesting...

[@maxpower477]

I would love to see an explanation of the Kopec System for White to play against the Sicilian.

[@Rtoizzae]

I would love if Yasser would go into the Bronnstein-Larsen variation and/or show a game or two of his in it.

[@Mr100JUMPS]

Dear Mr.Schrantz,I always loved your lectures.They made me so much better.At position 9:31 what if Nxd5.Whats the compensation for the pawn..

[@chinmayaprakash]

I am sorry I am six years late to your query. Black does have compensation for the isolated d pawn after Nxd5 cxd5. It gets semi-open b & c files to attack the white king castle. After bringing Rb8, it has two attackers eyeing the b2 pawn. And should White capture the isolated pawn with Qxd5, Black has Qc7 avoiding the queen-rook battery and Black can hold the position without problems. And after something like Bf5, the queen and the light-squared bishop can put pressure on c2 pawn as well.

[@enamulhaque928]

thanks a lot

[@frankohero]

I would like a lesson on the "Birds Defense" - the original, not variations like dutch f.e. This is one of my favourite openings for white (IF black doesnt go for e5 on move one). I also like me a good b3 opening (Nimzowich-Larsen-Attack), or a Colle-Zuckertort-Variation. Ehem, is it "Nimzowich" or "Nimzowitsch"?

[@KKsKrissvs121]

I’m suprised you managed to get Chris Evans for this video.

[@jotto0420]

At 24:00 the knight moves to F6, as anticipated by our teacher. I was surprised that it wasn't knight to G3 though. This would threaten the same pawn, but also the rook at H1. Am I missing something obvious that makes this a worse move? Thanks!

[@TheLvbowler]

seems like a solid move, i would just worry that H1 to H3, G3 to E4, then you have E2 move to H2 stacked rooks and a potentially dangerous open H file again.

[@janovesakkestad7097]

Analysing positions is good learning

[@reza6718]

good job thanks.

[@xXneonJAhrXx]

At 8:40, from my experience it is also common to play Bh6, forcing black to lose his bishop and effectively "removing the dragon's tooth", so I learned to play 7. ...Re8, so in case of Bh6 Black can play Bh8. Any thoughts on this variation?

[@flightyavian4580]

? in this case that would hang a knight.

[@andysnyder7607]

actual discussion of the sicilian dragon starts at 2:59, save 3 minutes and go straight there

[@rishabhb4800]

Thanks

[@longcastle4863]

Why not go for the bishop exchange immediately here (08:35) with Bh6? After all we are wanting to capture that bishop eventually...

[@courtinbaptiste5232]

I think a video on the Berlin would be well received :p

[@e-commerceyoutube5947]

Hi may I ask, what chess computer program do you use?

[@Alpacalypse-ro8tn]

At 20:57, couldn't you play Nf3 with a fork? On Nxf3 you could respond with Bxf3 with tempo on the rook. If Bishop gets in trouble, he could always go back to g4 and if not, he becomes a very active piece.

[@chinmayaprakash]

After Nf3 Nxf3 Bxf3 Rh3 you have managed to voluntarily trap your own bishop. Congratulations!

[@Alpacalypse-ro8tn]

@chinmayaprakash brother I made this comment 7 years ago. Thank you for responding tho

[@chinmayaprakash]

@@Alpacalypse-ro8tn and I appreciate your courtesy. In hindsight, I could have made the point more softly.

[@areschi1]

Can you do the Sicilian najdorf or the rut lops with a6

[@raaaaaaavi]

Very informative video Please make video on kings indian samisch variation

[@husamismail4717]

Please what the name of the song in the vedio begining please answer me

[@Manwlatsi]

Could you do a video on the King's Gambit?

[@adamskadanek2526]

in the spirit of dragon, can you do hyper accelerated dragon and maroczy bind?

[@missjessgem]

I would really like to see a lesson on the Bongcloud. 1.) e4, e5 2.) Ke2..

[@jandejong6858]

dont think he will do it honestly

[@missjessgem]

Jan De Jong neither do i... but one can hope

[@kjshreeman7833]

May I know why during 4.05 when black plays knight f6 why can't black play pawn e5 and threaten the white knight in d3?

[@AndrewIsbell]

The Modern Benoni!! :D

[@tickchaparro8316]

After using dragon defense what if bishop check king? What is the best move then?

[@MasterEyason]

Hilarious Intro!!

[@renateschueller3248]

lunar2017

[@Ctrekt]

Just curious could one combine the nidorf and the dragon just wondering

[@user-qk5df7ef9j]

Called the dragondorf see Simon Williams channel he plays it occasionally

[@pjrutkowski]

Najdorf English attack, specifically Be3 Ng4 sideline :)

[@bankshot21]

So what happens if c5 is not played in the beginning, but instead something like e5? Can we still use the yugoslav attack?

[@AXELRAPUNZEL]

this is so good :D

[@matjazstaner]

great game!

[@DowJonesDave]

@41:47 Black King to F7 to protect B and P @ e7, Followed by Black Kn x P (if still feasible after white response). If white Kn x Kn, Q x Kn grabbing the lost Bishop diagonal. Whites Rook attacking Q doesn't cost you E7 pawn which is protected by King. Or you can do it without moving king and eventually have to protect stuff anyway later.

[@paul_bliven]

I'm not a chess expert so... What if after 3. d4 black plays Qa5 (check) how do you respond as white so as not to be on the WTF defense?

[@andrepalmatier2616]

I have been wanting to add the Sicilian to my repertoire as black in case I ever need to win a game with the black pieces or if I am against a weaker opponent and I should be playing for a win. I have been debating playing the dragon variation or the Najdorf but the general consensus in the chess community seems to be that the Najdorf is the way to go and that the dragon is slightly dubious with Hikaru Nakamura saying that "if you want to play the Sicilian at the highest level you have to play the Najdorf." With that being said Hikaru has played the dragon several times in the US championship most notably. Would anyone like to share their thoughts and opinions with me? It would be much appreciated.

[@anonymous-xm9qz]

Thanks for this vedio