Closed Sicilian Deconstructed | Sicilian | GM Naroditsky’s Theory Speed Run 

The tactics at the end are so sick. Sacking the bishop when the whole point had been to set up Bxd4 is so beautiful

When Danya played c4 allowing bxc4 and then pushing through with b3 allowing cxb3 to set up a mating sequence involving a quiet king move to a8, instead of automatically playing Bxd4, it blew my mind.

I get a dopamine spike every time Danya uploads a speedrun

I took a break from chess and just watched and took notes on Danya’s lessons. Went back and all of a sudden I was playing well above my level so consistently. Holy cow you are amazing

i posted this on another video, but, as a complete beginner to chess, i want to thank you for uploading such insightful gameplay and commentary. i want to doubly thank you for taking the moves of beginners just as seriously as you take the moves of intermediate or advanced players. of course, beginners blunder often, but instead of ridiculing them, humiliating them, or using it as a way to boost your ego, you explain the reasoning behind the moves and why they don’t work. it’s that level of compassion, empathy, and appreciation for the opponent just as much as the game itself that makes you a great teacher to have.

14:58 "How do you use the knight in the smartest possible way? You sacrifice it" IDK why but I burst out laughing cos of the unintentional knight roast

4 brilliant moves by Danya in this game 🤯

This game was absurdly instructive. I learned so much. And btw I have never studied Chess with anything but solely your speedrun Videos and I reached 2000 Rapid the other day. So I will just say that I sincerely believe that there is no better way to study chess than to just watch his Videos and hammer down every single concept that he highlights. Maybe find alternative ways and positions to use it etc. For example the concept the explained in the Sicilian actually helped me a lot as a Kings Indian player. Because I hadnt realized that the common response to a3 is a4 to stop them from recapturing with a pawn. I played a lot of Kings Indian and I dont think thats a move I have ever played and I was always a bit annoyed that they can eventually jusr trade open the A file and I have nothing.

Dang that mate at the end though. 4 brilliants almost all in a row, nice Danya.

The way he destroys such high rated players with insanely good attacking intuition is so enjoyable to watch!

Daniel - I have been addicted to your youtube site for some time now. As a former 1700ish player (2300 postal pre-internet & pre-engine) as a kid, I have not played for decades but do look at chess (chessbase news and a game or two) a bit every day. Your video explanations are terrific and I am glad to see that your pedagogical bent, demonstrated very early, has blossomed into what you are doing now. In addition to offering my thanks for what you do, I will also opine that you should not change a thing about your typical 15 minute game formula. What that allows you to do -- deconstructing what comes instinctually and, for moves that don't, explaining your calculation pathways -- is priceless. I also would prefer that you do not change openings from your recommended lines to, for example, the separate universe of the Najdorf, just because opponents are now at the 2200+ level. In reality, the base of games in recommended lines is not that extensive to begin with. Perhaps some opponents at higher levels will be able to reach an even middlegame with best play, but (a) that remains to be seen and (b) learning how to play those equal positions is valuable. (I appreciate, of course that the this pits doctrinal content against your personal competitive instincts.) Another observation on what you have done in the speedrun thus far: the one thing I always do is go through the first round games of major open tournaments, and I maintain that games with huge rating gaps are the MOST instructive, at least if one has a critical mass of them. The speedrun to date is a great repository of this type. I also love the endgame videos and hope they continue periodically too. (Some endgame concepts as you explain them -- pants! -- stick in my mind like never before.) For me, you are the best chess resource on youtube by far. Indeed, it is remarkable how much chess content is out there that is superficial and the chess equivalent of empty calories from junk food. The nourishment you provide instead is most appreciated.

From 900 to 1250 and still improving. Thanks a lot Danya. You are the best teacher❤

I think I did a big mistake by telling my friends how I improved so rapidly at chess..now everyone started watching you and they’ll start beating me again soon.😂

Hey Daniel, you are already doing so much that the viewership does not deserve, but if I may ask one more undeserved blessing from you, would you be willing to make grandmaster level puzzle solving videos a regular thing on your channel? I learn so much from everything you do but especially from them as they really give us a chance to witness your analytical prowess. Love your brain and your content and can’t wait to see more. -a big fan

Danya I started playing chess during 2020, and along with managing a busy job and hectic schedule, I was able to garner a rating from 400 to 1700 ; and you are probably the most important reason. Thank you for being a messiah, and most importantly a messiah for the busy chess players out there!

I think for your next speedrun series it would be awesome if you did a highly aggressive/unprincipled themed series. Either do highly aggressive/offbeat openings and show how to win games when you put your opponent on defense the whole match, or maybe sac a piece in the beginning of the game and show how to handle making comeback wins after going down a piece (I know you’ve already done that a few times but those have been some of my favorite vids). I know that’s not your style as much but it would be interesting and exciting to watch you play more of those types of games. I’ll tune in regardless though because I love your content, but I was just thinking that would be a cool idea for a speedrun series.

Danya explaining his moves with such depth makes watching this so darn satisfying.

This man is the only GM I can think of where 100% of the instructive OTB examples given feature himself. Lol, so humble

Mr. Prophet, I can’t believe how much watching your speed runs have helped me improve my chess. I started playing chess after watching XQC play, and I really had a lot of fun watching you teach Charlie. Watching you play bullet and time odds chess is so much fun, surprisingly instructional. I just beat an IM yesterday in blitz and would like to give you a big thanks for helping me do something I would have never thought possible!

the tactics which you found in last was jaw dropping it was so difficult

Hello sir danya, its currently 2 am and I was not planning to sleep anytime soon. So the release of your video is the most perfect thing that happened to me today, as I was in the mood for studying chess.

A fascinating, very complex, multi-faceted game, with Danya's trademark excellent and thorough commentary throughout. I learned a ton!

Was just watching another Danya video when I got the notification for this one. Let's gooooo

I loved learning the najdorf for the majority of people to play a closed Sicilian, so thank you!

Cheers Danya👍👍

I feel like an addict! I get withdrawal when there is no new Danya videos! Then it is such a high when one is dropped! Thanks Danya, we want MORE! I think, like Levy, you have an online style that just works! Unlike Levy, you are a MASTER at teaching chess. Levy is an entertainer.

Daniel the Cook Narodisky back at it again

You can tell he was tired making this one 😂 Thanks for the amazing content chief!

These are phenomenal! Insanely instructive! Keep it up...and thank you so much!!

This was a fantastic lesson in tactical thinking. The combinations at the end of the game were crazy.

beautiful game. i been maining the sicilian with black recently and really appreciate this! ty danya

Thanks so much for making these, they're definitely my favorite and the most educational chess content along with your usual streams

I don't even play the Sicilian with black, but I watch all Danya's videos and enjoy them so much. Thanks a lot as always!!

he just made it to look so easy for us guys💯🔥,hats off for you sensei

What a fun game! That opponent was very creative. Great defense and attack Danya!

Finally a Closed Sicilian game and the tactics were amazing!!!!

Great game. I’m just happy I saw nd3 in the end. Amazing finish.

It's uncanny how you always post JUST as I decide to go to sleep. I'll still watch now but move to Europe homie. The Motherland calls you 😂

Daaaaaaamn, that checkmate was BEAUTIFUL!!

Thanks again always instructive and I play the Najdorf so this one very helpful in particular.

This was extremely instructive! Thanks Danya ❤

Keep up the great content Danya!

So very interesting with your insights shared, thank you!

We need more of these content

Did not know Danya read some Jacques Derrida. Nice deconstructing, bro!

stop playing chess for a month, watching Danya, taking notes (!!!) and keep playing puzzles felt like taking PEDs when I went back to play. No losses, accuracy

Thanks for the videos. While the 10 minute format has its educational weaknesses, when compared to 15 minutes, I do find them slightly more entertaining. I think it has to do with my level of chess understanding being pretty low, and your verbal thought process being a few moves shallower than in 15 minute games.

Wow this is the one right here. 💯🔥😤🙏🏾

...Nh5! - Fischer played a move like this against Petrosian in 1971.

It felt like a game where Danya all along was saying to his opponent "you want to attack me? don't you know who I am? I am Daniel 'the one who attacks' Naroditsky motherf***r" 🤣

That was unbelievable

that was a beautiful ending Danya master

Love the speedrun! Would love a speedrun recap of your suggestions against main openings (caro, sicilian, french etc) at 2200/2300+

Thanks!

I like the faster pace for a change.

As always amazing stuff

We all think that Danya is this wholesome, kind, genteel chess player and then he uncorks absolute filth in 28....Nc4!

Classic Daniel style :D

Blasting through with C-4, classic

15:00 thoughts on Ng4 here instead? obviously it loses the knight multiple ways, but it prevents Be3 and in the event that he goes Bc1 like he did in the game to prevent the corner mate, you would then have a beautiful triple fork with the knight moving to f2. if he wastes a tempo taking the knight then you can do Bxd4 and then the only way to stop mate is with c4 as far as i can tell or give material back with interest and the king is then absolutely wide open with threats that cannot be stopped. best case scenario the white king has to go to the center of the board and it's basically a wrap after Rg3 and/or Rc8 with the other rook. Im probably missing something though, anyone care to weigh in?

Would be very interested to see a game on how you approach playing the A4 Najdorf as white is that is something you do

New mic is great

Superb!!!

Always dropping the video when we start missing them bad

Amazing finish Can only lead to gains

nice one naster. master busting unsound ooening alvin counter gambit im d4 player master.

One thing Danya says in this video that doesn't make sense to me is saying trading off the light square bishop in the Grand Prix isn't ideal. Daniel King has a video with ChessBase that recommends taking the knight on c6 with that bishop to prevent that knight creating problems for white instead of moving the bishop to the diagonal of death w/ Bc4.

I would love to see you do a course on the Sicilian!

Man what an amazing finish

nice game as always

What a game

Loved that endgame damn

Waiting for the next speedrun. 😊

Game review says that c4, b3, Ka8, and Bxd4 are all brilliant moves 😮

I think I enjoy the 15 minute games at the earlier levels and the 10 minute games at later levels since higher elo players are less likely to run out of time.

What a beautiful game

38:20 What about an immediate g5 before retaking the pawn? Isn’t the knight forced to retreat?

That was a crazy game yo 😮

latest sub, denial naroditsky lol

this game was tactically insane

Very nice

Jeepers, what a spectacular game this one is.

17:35 Nooooo. Don't give into Hikaru's words, don't let him win.

Major

Great

44:26

Hey Danya what is the time of your live on Twitch???in Bangladeshi times?

Can you please do a video on the evans gambit🥺

A lovely Moscow variation

YO DANYA VOCAB GUY. ADD "FRENETIC" (5:25)

How do you remember these moves from games you played in 15 years ago?

You should have 3M subscribers

Which ratings rapid do you all have?

Why don't you publish a course on the Sicilian like you did with the Jobava London?😢

Wait, I always trade the light squared bishop and then play the grand prix against the Sicilian I don’t remember who recommended this

Woah! :)

Danya, what do you think about 2. a6 after Nc3, avoiding all the bishop checks and forcing the opponent to play the open sicilian or leaving the bishop worse options?

Please can you do a queen's gambit one

W

Opponent played well. Maybe it's true that you play up to your opponent.