When Hikaru ‘Sacrificed’ His Queen 6 Times...

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The Best Game series continues with the epic game between Hikaru Nakamura and Boris Gelfand from 2010. The game features a glorious sequence of 'sacrificing' the queen in a Kings Indian Defense.
[White "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Black "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O Nc6 8. d5
Ne7 9. Nd2 Ne8 10. b4 f5 11. c5 Nf6 12. f3 f4 13. Nc4 g5 14. a4 Ng6 15. Ba3 Rf7 16. b5 dxc5 17. Bxc5 h5 18. a5 g4 19. b6 g3 20. Kh1 Bf8 21. d6 axb6 22. Bg1 Nh4 23. Re1 Nxg2 24. dxc7 Nxe1 25. Qxe1 g2+ 26. Kxg2 Rg7+ 27. Kh1 Bh3 28. Bf1 Qd3 29. Nxe5 Bxf1 30. Qxf1 Qxc3 31. Rc1 Qxe5 32. c8=Q Rxc8 33. Rxc8 Qe6 *
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[@GMHikaru]

Thanks man!

[@ericji8632]

Not first

[@newguyfrmblocka6304]

its the man himself

[@Ultrabeast-ok2ou]

Da bongcloud mastaa

[@pawa7714]

No problem, man!

[@mande7203]

Hikaru's comment has more likes than the video itself

[@ajl4878]

Hikaru: Sacrifices queen 6 times Me: *Sacrifices all my pieces and my king*

[@Mati-zc2ym]

@@blackscreen1920 at a cost of 14 rating points

[@googleenpassant]

@@Mati-zc2ym and a lot of humiliation 😂

[@Scientist93]

Speaking of sacrificing all pieces, I hope Gotham covers Serper-Nikolaidis soon!

[@sil5521]

what, like put ur king into a illegal square and then leave the table?

[@cursivebobcat8964]

@@sil5521 Isn’t that how you play chess?

[@TheMuffinMan]

After these grandmaster analysis games I always come out like "looks easy. I could do that" then lose a 900 rated match.

[@arg7380]

boris still had a chance though if he didnt resign. QUEEN TO C-4 Forks the Queen and king with no piece to defend the queen therefor queen takes C-4 queen then boris rook takes the queen. Then the tables are turned. If only boris didnt gave up early...

[@randomrandom316]

@@arg7380 I too was wondering the same is that such a lost case? Does not look as bad to me, sure Hikaru has material advantage in the endgame but there still is some chess to be played I think, but Boris is a Grandmaster surely he must have something you and I don't.

[@arg7380]

@@randomrandom316 I think he's just tilted and doesn't want to continue the game cuz pretty sure the move that i mentioned is pretty obvious

[@vik_5461]

@@arg7380 I feel like Boris probably saw how hikaru could take that down, he’s a gm, you really think he would resign needlessly?

[@rohank4373]

@@arg7380 queen trade would actually be a horrible move on boris’s part. I think you’re thinking that if they were playing at a lower level then it wouldn’t be a lost cause. However, these are grandmasters, and even one being up a knight is a huge advantage. Once queens trade Hilary takes the hanging pawn and uses his pieces to promote. It truly was a lost cause for Boris. Grandmasters don’t make mistakes at this level

[@toastedwheat624]

"Which piece is most important here?" "The right bishop" "It's the right bishop" me: *i have ascended beyond the mortal plane, bow down to me peasants*

[@9o1ybius]

"But why?" *idk just felt like it*

[@toastedwheat624]

@@9o1ybius it was a complete guess lmao

[@amberhernandez]

@@9o1ybius I was so proud when I saw the line of black pieces there and then he pointed out the exact path.

[@hakai1488]

I paused and thought about it for a bit and picked the right bishop. I can now say that I am "Speaking the language of the gods"

[@cooki3crumbl3]

I had the same thought and then he was like "why?" and I didn't know why, it was just a feeling

[@wsemenske]

"Oh no my queen!" -GMHikaru

[@dlg1970]

sir, that is not allowed, Eric Rosen has copyrighted that term. you are going to jail

[@idonoy661]

"Oh no my sentence"- IM Eric Rosen

[@shuaishuai7132]

well IM Eric Rosen already said that.

[@idonoy661]

"Oh no my joke" - some random guy on KZbin

[@natalialivshits9439]

He learned from eric

[@0ne_Hundred]

“Take my queen.” “Wish I could!” “Take my Queen!” “I CAN’T!” “TAKE MY QUEEN! DO IT!”

[@ninjanape]

Thank you for the sacrifice

[@sjegannath6295]

Just do it

[@danielyuan9862]

Oh no, my queen!

[@Ceejnew]

Like Arnold in Predator. "Do eet! Keel me now!"

[@vxn_gxance]

@@sjegannath6295 lol yea JUST DO IT

[@uxie2454]

Hikaru be like: "kay so takes, takes, takes, check, takes, mate" "oh wait... *my queen was under threat this whole time* " lmao

[@projectkandi6150]

Me in every game, I never realize my queen is in danger till it’s taken

[@J215J]

...ehhhh this is too much for me, im just gonna castle :(

[@arg7380]

boris still had a chance though if he didnt resign. QUEEN TO C-4 Forks the Queen and king with no piece to defend the queen therefor queen takes C-4 queen then boris rook takes the queen. Then the tables are turned. If only boris didnt gave up early...

[@thukim9293]

@@arg7380 the rook was blocking the king lmao

[@arg7380]

@@thukim9293 look at 12:18 before boris resigns. Take a lopk to at the white Queen. The best move should be Q-C4 Then The Black queen is stuck to protect its king unless he takes Q-C4 and if he does that Rook will just take Black Q-c4 but if he doesnt take it White queen will takes

[@beefy5731]

This all seems to make sense in my head until I actually step into a chess game and blunder my queen in 5 moves

[@prakharanand5760]

Which is why it's such a unique game, all doesn't go as you had previously prepared for, the opponent may go a completely different route, according to which you have to change your stratergy

[@thinspread9037]

Hikaru: "Call an Ambulance!" "But not for me!"

[@Hariomxo]

😂

[@sanyin3615]

summary of the game lol

[@lancesfoodreviews423]

times 6

[@darrenlin7943]

As Botvinik said... “If Tal sacrifices his queen, take, then think. If I sacrifice my queen, think, then take. If Petrosian sacrifices his queen, resign.”

[@darrenlin7943]

If anyone didn’t get it, Tal was one of the the greatest tactical players of all time, Botvinik was one of the most positional players of all time, and Petrosian was one of the most defensive players of all time, so if he sacs his queen, you have done something bad

[@giulyt.3095]

And if Botez sacrifices her queen, take, then thanks

[@larry-ny5yr]

@@augustgreig9420 if you live in 1850 and play against morphy step 1: resign

[@securuslol]

@@darrenlin7943 In the case of Tal he was probably referring to the fact that not all his Queen Sacrifices were sound, a lot of them weren't. But of course, saying they weren't sound with computers today and actually finding the correct answer to them over the board in those times is a completely different thing.

[@jonathanandrianavalona5384]

@@securuslol Well as Tal said : "There are two types of sacrifices : sound sacrifices and mines". There were a lot of Tal's sacrifices that were unsound but often, he and his opponents made them work, somehow.

[@matthew74115]

This is definitely the best match breakdown I've ever watched. It feels very rare to find somebody who understands the technical brilliance so well and also is able to describe it so poetically. Cheers.

[@TheRealGuywithoutaMustache]

Hikaru: "The hardest choices require the strongest wills"

[@Razorcarl]

Indeed

[@user-st5wn1wz9n]

So you like chess too

[@not_pockchan3418]

dude how are you in EVERY comment section

[@mjhaloweenninja2919]

@@not_pockchan3418 because he is another commoner like us

[@unliving_ball_of_gas]

Waiit.. you changed ur pfp?

[@josiahbrush4324]

“That’s why the King’s Indian defense is, in its essence, unleashed beautiful violence” Nice

[@piyushgalav6483]

replace king's indian defense with Tarantino movie and it will still sound correct lol

[@nucelarworker7569]

I have been playing this opening because i thought i invented it and it was very good opening i called it the gustav canon Now i found out i havent invented it sadly

[@MeatBunFul]

Tarantino defence

[@callmeqt1269]

@@nucelarworker7569 it’s too late to invent a good opening. Any viable opening has already been “invented” before.

[@pokemonmaster42000]

@@callmeqt1269 Variations still exist though. Have you heard of the Tennison Gambit, Intercontinental Missile Variation?

[@BigDolton]

ive spent my entire life thinking "chess is so boring", "why do people like this game so much?" "just get a real game lol". You and you alone have ignited a new passion for this game for me. i thank you for showing me the beauty in this game.

[@user-sn7jv2gm5x]

Lowkey edgy but yea tru

[@benji0054]

And then you realised you play league, which is 10000 times worse.

[@secdeal]

Gothamchess, Hikaru, and Anna made me like chess, I loved Pogchamps, I started playing in the summer, and now I am getting close to 1200 rating!

[@legueu]

You are not alone!

[@jiyuetpro4027]

Critikal checkmating in 6 move made me love chess

[@albertmillar1117]

"Laser beam" "Someone's getting knocked out" "Knight double attack!!!" Don't know if it's just me, but I'd be down for a chess anime.

[@rbdel]

Hikaru Bongcloud sounds like a great enemy

[@amberhernandez]

There have been a lot of JoJo edits of chess pieces, and they're AMAZING! I'd recommend "Chess - Pawn - Requiem" for a memey edit; it's great wwww

[@zoda5898]

March Comes In Like A Lion? I mean shogi is just Japanese chess.

[@dafl00]

There's agadmator's chess manga project

[@humpydumpi]

I think someone made a vid about that

[@comms4179]

Me: *doesnt understand a thing about chess* "Ah yes the wood horse is moving"

[@zaok529]

XDD

[@rgderen88]

@Jayden Tan So what you're saying is, if I get a pawn to the back rank I can get a queen, but if I get a knight to the back rank I can get 8 more pawns?

[@unliving_ball_of_gas]

@Jayden Tan Ahh...nice reference

[@unliving_ball_of_gas]

@@rgderen88 No, it's just a joke referencing the trojan horse

[@rgderen88]

@@unliving_ball_of_gas You have been whooshed by my pretending to be whooshed

[@kevinspurs]

Me against hikaru: Me - d4 Hikaru - d5 Me - I RESIGN

[@mrnobody5763]

Just saving some time 🙂

[@thecodedmastergeodash8807]

Keep the likes at 999 plz I'm resisting SO HARD not to press that button right now

[@arianna8093]

@@thecodedmastergeodash8807 welp

[@thecodedmastergeodash8807]

@@arianna8093lol

[@penguinflames707]

Or with the black pieces... Hikaru: d4 You: d5 Hikaru: Kd2

[@sam1yoo0ell0]

I love how poetic Levy’s commentary is. Appreciate your efforts and talent mate

[@SweetBrazyN]

3Head

[@klash3532]

@@SweetBrazyN I don't think you know how to use that emote

[@yunoiarey]

Reminds me of Charli lol

[@ZachTheHuman]

801st. I destroy, balance, I am an agent of chaos!!

[@farisfaikar_r]

Hikaru's queen: "I eat danger for breakfast"

[@electrikal_shok588]

"The bishop that doesn't move for the duration of the game" *sad b pawn noises*

[@quirkasaurussaurus2896]

love it. ME: imagining the sound of chess pieces crying as they are pushed into bad positions.... ( waaaah waaaah widdly waaah wooo.... )

[@FlareiOS]

@@quirkasaurussaurus2896 bro what

[@lilysthapit2222]

Hello it's not the b pawn it's the f or g pawn

[@electrikal_shok588]

@@lilysthapit2222 objection the board is from Hikaru’s POV so the letters have been flipped Meaning instead A - H being from left to right It’s H - A from left to right Can’t argue against the C pawn not moving but it didn’t exist at the end of the game so yea that was my logic

[@arcadeplayer9804]

Gelfand : lets attack his queen and scared him a bit Naka : hehehe

[@mingyichen5335]

How does this have no replies?

[@Blu3Dud3]

Idk

[@hufuhufu]

Hehehe

[@dr.modfehm2040]

@@hufuhufu hehehe

[@ShigaruFR]

extremely good narration, even tho I started chess 2 weeks ago I understood most of the moves and this high level of playing is just worth a movie

[@thisisisabella3634]

Congratulations on becoming a cool chess player.

[@jaylyn1471]

Watch the queens gambit on Netflix it's about chess its really good

[@thisisisabella3634]

@@jaylyn1471 I haven't yet.

[@Pachyo]

@@jaylyn1471 I've had the biggest of goosebumps, when the move "The Queen's Gambit" was mentioned. I wish there were more scenes with the Janitor 😭😭😭

[@christianolsson2898]

Before mentioning engine lines I'd like to see their clocks; watching a chess game without the time on display is like watching 50% of a chess game. Engine lines can be ridiculously convoluted to the point where they're useless in a time crunch. Overall a very satisfying game from Hikaru; watching anyone destroying a turtling king is wonderful.

[@jamesxiao8950]

The way he describes chess is so nice. It’s literally a great way to truly teach chess. Thanks so much’

[@cortezthekiller4605]

"Unleashed beautiful violence." Love it!

[@simon9978h]

Last time I was this early I didn't know the Traxler counter-attack...

[@redataoussi]

That's what she said

[@sussus410]

@@redataoussi what

[@reasonablerob6220]

@@sussus410 THATS WHAT SHE SAID

[@SuhasPai]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/gpimlnWmhdSjpLs Y'all ive been on the grind for so long and reaching 1k subs has been my lifelong goal, i have 775 subs rn, please help a brother out? I appreciate all the support, I make chess content regularly

[@ImEverythingYouCrave]

last time I was this early my wife left me

[@erichedengren2003]

This is an art. I love the descriptions of the board that turn simple pieces into battle fronts. I love your commentary over battles

[@maugod6972]

This game is probably one of the best chess matches that ever occured in chess history since every single move could have been fatal for both players, amazing!

[@karthikraj8092]

Hikaru took "Oh no! My queen!" to another level

[@OwinBlazer]

He went "Oh right, my Queen!"

[@rafaelfene]

This is the first video I watch from this channel. I'm amazed by how epically he describes the game. He shows what Chess really is about, a breathtaking strategic battle!

[@cymbalization9443]

Hikaru: tries sacking the queen. The queen: **Chuckles** “I’m in danger”

[@vortexshift5146]

the quality and effort that went into this video is awesome! I like how different lines and perspectives were explored, along with all of the general intricacies and ideas

[@arnaudleroij3996]

Levy, your narration skills are the reason I study chess every minute I have time. I'm not good, at all even, but so far I managed to climb 150 elo points and I notice I'm still underrated because of the knowledge I gained due to your opening videos, gaining insights in high level games on danger levels, forks,...

[@averageguy4602]

Exactly my thoughts

[@AbhishekKumar-uu4uj]

Already seen this game on other channel but gonna watch it again because of Levy's awesome commentary

[@lazarpeuraca9618]

Gelfand's pawn: attacks the queen. Hikaru's queen: *You have no power here*

[@JWZombies]

This genuinely blew my mind. This was enticing and thrilling. Thank you for sharing this game with your analysis, and thank you Hikaru for sharing your genius.

[@CompleteShift]

Man Levi is incredible at explaining these positions with enthusiasm.

[@joyoussithole5659]

(In thanos voice)" Sacrifice the queen" "But sire " "Just do it!!"

[@atasaeedmonir8073]

I watched hikaru’s “levy missed queen sacrifice 6 times in a row” and youtube suggested this to me lmao

[@BossuJmek2k18]

"This may look strange" Me, a noob at chess, during the whole video: I like your funny words magic man

[@JudeYoungMusic]

Incredible grace under fire. Zwischenzug repeatedly until your opponent resigns . . . Thank you for sharing the beauty of this game!

[@elliotardouin-nesbit5657]

Here to boost the algorithm

[@adamwoods6373]

As am I!

[@das2560]

The sun never sets on the algorithm empire.

[@ImEverythingYouCrave]

NL stans rise up

[@renatugaming5730]

Been watching your videos recently and it's been really fun, nice and concise helps :)

[@srireddy23]

You frame the narrative of the game and of the decisions throughout the game extremely well!

[@3b00d321]

The amount of calculation behind every one of the six moves is crazy. My head hurts just thinking about it

[@jonahamvs7229]

This was so engaging that i completely forgot this was supposed to be teaching me something

[@evanbeckett6216]

The commentary is so amazing! You do such a good job of explaining why these guys are grand masters and why these moves are insane

[@Nivangelo]

Great content. You've got a great way of explaining matches. Keep going bro.

[@ICantThink0fAnything]

Eric Rosen: "Oh no, my queen!" "Dah! My queen!" "Oh no, my queen is hanging!" "Oh no! my beautiful queen!" "Oh no, the bishop can take my queen!" "Dah! My queen is hanging!"

[@denizakin5645]

I can never get tired of this game. Have probably watched like 4 analysis on it already, but it's different when your fav chess KZbinr analyses it!

[@benjaminj4535]

Levy about to say what move is the money move: me: *says the move first* me: Maybe I could beat magnus carlsen

[@brianconlogue1302]

I just wanted to say thank you Levy.. my dad has played chess for over 5-0 years but I never really got into it.. after watching your videos I am hooked.. I’m learning opening lines.. making tons of mistakes but love every minute of it..Thanks for the great content!

[@syk2973]

The narration of the mr. broadcaster truly immerses me into feeling the emotion of such a beautiful battle. Thaekns for sharing mr. gothiches

[@TheDelarch]

I love how you describe these matches like they're epic battles from a time long past, makes it so engaging and exciting

[@bluelighting2659]

That level of chess i just can’t imagine HOW can they think that DEEP

[@sockscav]

Ikr

[@boymanwamen]

They have a very good working memory in order to memorize and anticipate what their opponent’s most potent moves would be.

[@tejaskarthickthangaperumal9530]

It is 2 things 1. Practice 2. Being an alien

[@hurricane3518]

pattern recognition

[@spoogle621]

Wow... I've never thought of chess this way, i love how your explanations are like telling a story. For once youtube algorithm brought me something worth watching. Subbed

[@kurokasaki6884]

the amount of calculation and trust that the sequence would unfold exactly as he planned... so this is the power of Hikaru... wow

[@kodzukent8013]

So I am here after Levy failed to sacrifice his queen 6 times

[@ceePx]

hikaru: "DO IT!" boris: "It..it's not the jedi way.." hikaru: "DO IT!!!!"

[@giannivandyck1746]

I don't know much about chess but the way you narate these battles. Truly astonishing just to hear you speak, keep it up!

[@GuidoHaverkort]

Hikaru be like: "Oh no! Anyway..."

[@yourbestfriendtm2668]

This guy is the only man who could go like: "oh no, my queen!" 6 times in one game, what a legend

[@bobbygarcia7543]

This was incredible. The commentary was outstanding as well!

[@johntucket9221]

I've watched maybe 50 of your videos so far and this is by far my favorite.

[@paulhk2727]

"If at first 'Oh no my Queen' doesn't succeed, you always have to try again" ~Eric Rosen

[@lancemcque1459]

I've watched this game in 4 different places. Ginger GM. Hikaru himself. Agadmator. And now on GothamChess. It's like watching a really good fight from 4 different perspective. Awesome each time. Oh the pure savagery and beauty is unmatched. I have to see it again.

[@miracles05pty]

You just earned a new sub. Very nice explanation. You just turned a "normal" chess game (at least for me that plays chess ocasionally) into a whole passionate story ♥️. I'll keep watching your videos.

[@alexband7207]

This is one of the best games I have ever seen! Thank you

[@FrancescoInfurna]

You're so good at commentating, I don't even play chess but I'm mesmerized

[@jimmyramirez7377]

Crazy how invested people can get into chess, I’m just starting out

[@viliaxas]

This is so good, your voice is not annoying, thank you for the content, man!

[@woodstoney]

Very nicely analyzed!! I enjoy your detailed "what-if" scenarios.

[@hitrapperandartistdababy]

There is something about a game of chess where one pushes queenside and one pushes King side with a nice pawn chain as the border thats just beyond satisfying.

[@raleraly2599]

Hikaru: doesn't give a f about queen Me: protects queen with the king

[@soversetile]

lmao seriously

[@rayvaasatlotld9357]

Relatable comment

[@AgentArcadia]

Your content is exceptional man. I know nothing beyond the basics of chess and watching The Queen's Gambit, but you make this SO interesting

[@Proclifo]

Your commentary is very captivating and makes the game easy to follow. I like this!

[@Pratik-Kedar]

What a game! Hikaru once stated "i fear player who played 1 opening 1000 times rather than 1000 different openings!" Same reflected !

[@detectivemarkseven]

9:03 "Ill give you one insane engine line..." Im dissapointed Levy, it should be "disgusting engine line". 😔

[@JC201039]

Just getting back into chess and I appreciate the videos! You make it really to understand what's going on

[@nedimayvaz6536]

You explained the game very well. I loved it!

[@Yash-ql7vn]

Love your energy buddy!

[@kaeljadondavis2779]

Finding Qd7 single handedly boosted my elo back to 0

[@13booli]

This video is amazing, one the most interesting games I've ever seen. Thank you :)

[@andrewsnape1705]

Thank you. Your commentary really brought it to life as I don’t see the moves otherwise. Ace.

[@otto7848]

This game is so beautiful! The commentary made it 10x better, a cherry on top!

[@user-or8ql3fe5v]

And then Levi completely forgets his own video.

[@erikfrykberg6526]

Really excellent and entertaining analysis! Love the metaphors :)

[@Brian_Jones]

You explain things in such a way that anyone could understand it. Great video!

[@GaussianEntity]

13:41 "And how do you protect this?" *Insert Tom shrugging meme*

[@xclutchyxmcgeex6383]

Hikaru: tactfully offers Queen Northernlion: Let’s get weird

[@dlucas2331]

In retrospect, one of best videos you've made Levy.

[@arasgunando4245]

Only been to chess for the few past week and this one video of yours trully showed me the beauty of chess 👌👌👌 Keep up the good work mate

[@waterbrojoe7344]

Talk about "Oh no my queen!!"

[@dlg1970]

Eric Rosen: hey wait stop that’s my thing

[@thisisisabella3634]

@@dlg1970 dah!

[@religious5948]

I didn't expect this to be so entertaining. I watched the whole thing!

[@Noobface]

Your commentary is great, you make a game of chess so exciting lmao

[@AdeebHamad]

So I've been using the kings indian after watching your openings for beginners video and love it. It's really the best for beginners as it works against any white opening.

[@mana24]

When you forget your own video. feelsbadman

[@krishnapandit8190]

"King's Indian in it's purest form is unleashed beautiful violence" -Levy 2020

[@DrakGamestein]

Amazing breakdown. Still at an early intermediate level (maybe late beginner) and these are really fun to watch. Hope I can pull off some of these crazy moves one day.

[@andybud1983]

That is one of the most incredible games I've ever seen. Beautiful