The fact that we have free access to the top chess players in the world giving detailed lessons about how to play while still making it accessible to people of any level is amazing
Yes we know, this channel is great but honestly, does this need to be the top comment on every single video? Dudes click as fast as possible to pump this comment out
@@UprightCaucasoid Just what I was thinking. Like yes dude, it’s great we get this kind of content for free. You don’t have to say it 20 times on every damn video
I thought so too, but maybe it didn't matter? He may have planned to bomb out the light square bishops at the first opportunity nomatter what. Still a good thing to tie the defense together.
I am so grateful for Danya's speed run videos. I was stuck at my rating for about 3 years. I only started to get better when I committed to seriously studying the game. The two most important things that helped me? Studying pawn structures, where you begin to truly appreciate piece placement and long-term strategy. And these videos, where a GM plays games and explains his rationale behind even the simplest of moves. My advice to you? Every time Daniel asks his Twitch chat what he should play, pause the video and really think about what a good move would be and why. It's incredibly rewarding when you not only find the move, but you play it for the same reasons he did.
@@WillyToulouse There are several good books to get started. Two classics are Soltis's Pawn Structure Chess and Kmoch's Pawn Power; the former is more suited to beginners, the latter is more for intermediates. One downside to the latter is that it's also in descriptive (rather than algebraic) notation, but if you don't mind learning descriptive notation (it's not that hard IMO) it's a great book. A more modern book I've heard good things about but haven't read is Hickl's The Power of Pawns, but it seems more targeted at beginner-intermediates. If you use Chessable, I know Sam Shankland's two books on pawn play (Small Steps to Giant Improvement and its sequel Small Steps 2 Success are) are both on there. I generally find Chessable more conducive to learning than reading/studying books because of the interactive nature. Downside is they're also more expensive on Chessable, but you get your money's worth IMO. Finally, once you get a good grasp on the fundamentals, Rios's Chess Structures is a more advanced study on how grandmasters take advantages of pawn structures to gain an advantage in the middlegame.
9:30 that callback was a surprise to be sure, but a welcome one! Never forget the impact of the memetic madman Charlie on Naroditsky's life. He coined "the Prophet" and sent many, many players to Danya for guidance
I’m reminded of something Finegold said. I’m paraphrasing here, but it was basically that it’s not that grandmasters ALWAYS make the best move, but they rarely play a mistake. Non-GMs will eventually fumble and then GMs capitalize on that critical moment. The result is the rapid collapse that we see here and in many other of Danya’s games.
when I was 1700 Fide, I played this position a lot with the move h5. Since stopped playing the sicillian and started to play the caro-kann defense, I gain a lot of rating points and now I am 2187 fide. For me, this video is a cool reminder of my thinking process when I was 1700. +1 llike ;)
@@adeshkantha7034 the pronunciation of Scheveningen is notoriously difficult for non Dutch speakers, so most people use the German pronunciation which is strictly speaking wrong
It's actually not so difficult to say it correctly. Most people just don't. Same with Zugzwang, Zwischenzug etc., which are pronounced similar to Tsugtswang and Tswishentsug
as always best teacher on earth, i watch many other people doing speedruns on youtube and you are the best by really really far. You put concepts into words that are very useful during actual games. I started playing the 4 knights scotch thanks to you and would love to see a few more games with it at the higher level when people actually know the opening. Thank you sensei, much love to you
6:25 I love the lesson Danya gives here, about undermining the e4-pawn. This idea would not have been among my candidate moves before this explanation, but now I'm going to move this stratagem up a few places in my positional arsenal. Thanks Danya!
By 8:45 the opponent had only used 1 minute of time in a 15 minute game and already their entire center is collapsing. I find it funny when people play long time controls, blitz out moves, and only begin to think when their position is lost.
I love chess, so your lectures have double value for me. Double - because even if I didn't play chess, I would still simply admire your talent for explaining things. The way you cover the whole thought process, present the chain of consequences, how you phrase your thoughts - it's just top notch. And not just on the chess tutoring scale. You're one of the best teachers I've seen across the board. Keep it up Sensei!
This is literally how I like to develop my pieces as black in the Sicilian. One additional reason for the queen on c7 is that you get pressure on the c file which is occasionally relevant
I love how you put in title of the video what happens without any clickbait, some other people might title it something like “THIS 2100 Chess player LOSG to THE BONGCLOUD!?”
One thing I’m curious about- if you don’t like the Bd3 lines in the Kan, but you’re ok with playing against the Nc3 lines, is it worth learning those lines and playing 2…e6 in the Closed Sicilian (if that’s supposed to be the best line) to meet 3.Nf3 with 3…a6?
Oh my lands we handsdown just got the fastest intro to Sicilian Playstyle in the post-game analysis. Wow, i see why people lean to naidorf vs the other 3 most popular variations, NICE!
Well, most people don't touch the Najdorf because theory is so complex. Even at top level, very few play it (MVL is top practitioner right now if memory serves)
@@Arthas30000 MVL is most known for it but Nepo also plays the Najdorf. And actually GMS around 2500-2600 play alot of the Najdorf it's just that at the top it's almost guaranteed to be a fully planned out game from the start without much creativity
The setup that Danya was playing is actually much more reminiscent of the Kan Sicilian, which is a line that I play and is known for being very aggressive
12:30 what if he didn’t even take the pawn with the queen and instead just takes again with the pawn threatening to make another queen after rook slides in front then he just takes
I was thinking the same but after white fxg7 black can take a rook on f1 with a check, this way gain a tempo and not allow to make another queen. after that black is up a rook and basically winning a game
*Ode to the Sicilian: The Mainline Variations* In the kingdom of chess, where battles unfold, Lies a defense, both daring and bold. The Sicilian's path, so rich and wide, With many a route where strategies bide. First, the **Najdorf** rises, with its poisoned pawn, A warrior’s choice at the break of dawn. Sharp and fierce, it strikes with might, Demanding precision in the fight. Next, the **Classical** stands, with structure strong, A melody ancient, a tactical song. Knights and bishops weave their dance, In this steady, rhythmic, balanced stance. The **Accelerated Dragon** breathes its fire, A swift attack, with pace to admire. Fianchettoed bishop, a venomous spear, Striking at foes who come too near. The **Kan** emerges, flexible and sly, A quiet approach, but do not deny- Its pawns may shift, its pieces sway, Ready to strike in a dynamic way. Behold the **Taimanov**, balanced and wise, A master’s tool, with no disguise. Versatile, shifting, it holds the line, Preparing for battles through the opening's spine. Then comes the **Scheveningen**, with fortress built, Its pawns a wall, unyielding, firm in guilt. A bastion strong, yet ready to strike, Unleashing counterplay, powerful and quick. Each path unique, each trail untold, The Sicilian’s secrets, in moves unfold. For those who dare to walk this road, A chessboard's tale, in timeless code. Author: ChatGPT 4o
I started playing chess last summer, I didn't even know the rules. Just reached the goal of 1100 rapid. I wanna give all the credits to you, just by watching your videos I have improved so much, thank you Daniel!!!
FWIW, some (many) of your potential audience may not have the time or inclination to memorize lots of opening variations. So, some nice instruction would be on the how to play the opening and middle game well just by good chess intuitions, ideas, principles, patterns, etc., maybe a series entitled, How to Play Openings well without Massive Memorization. Anyway, thanks for all you outstanding work.
Great thanks for the video again! I tell you what; whenever you come over to the Netherlands for the Tata Steel Tournament, you come over at my place for coffee, only 20 minute drive, . I will teach you how to pronounce Scheveningen correctly 😉 and you teach me the Scheveningen variant! Kind regards Mike from the Netherlands
Wait the e6 Sicilian is actually called the Scheveningen Variation! I was totally convinced that the ‘Sveningen’ was a different line due to the speedrun
If a position allows me to not castle and just shove both sides of the board forward thats my favorite type of position. When i do that i either get checkmated or checkmate and its a very tense and fun position either way.
About the opening discussion, you could play 2... Nc6 and disallow the Open lines entirely: 3. Nf3 e5 (known equalizer) and 3. Nge2 Nd4 (Very energetic, I've analized this to equality too). Both options should be more straightforward than transposing to the Open Sicilian!
I dunno bro, at 5:26 im thinkin 🤔 D5 and taking advantage of that knight and bishop pin. Orrrr...... im pushing B4, castling king side, and building a battering ram on the A and B files.
Question as a Sveshnikov player as you were mentioning at 24:25 with the move Nc6--what's your recommendation after white plays Nf3? If I play Nf6 white has e5 there which leads to more complications. Obviously I could play e5 myself, but that heavily discourages the move d4 and we're getting into some strange territory where black has a massive hole on d5. Just curious what your suggestion was, but thanks for the great video!
Love Danya's commitment to chess. He has supplanted Bobby cHess as my preferred commentator. He just finished a 4+ hour stream with Danny Rensch, and here he is giving us this lesson. Love it.
Naroditsky, could you try playing the c4 sicilian as white next time facing the sicilian? Would be awesome to see your thought on the positions arising ❤️
I stopped casting so much when I started playing more sicilians, in the closed positions the engine just loves to coordinate the pawns and pieces first since there's no real threat in the centre but potentially a large attack on the kingside
I’ve been watching your videos like it’s church, but this is my first time commenting. Just wanted to thank you for sharing your wisdom to us mere mortals. You have a gift in chess, but even a greater one in teaching. You articulate complex ideas so clearly and make it so easy to understand even the most daunting concepts. I think I speak for everyone when I express gratitude and admiration to the Prophet. Stay healthy and keep doing your thing.
Hey Daniel, big fan of you!! Could you explain if it's passive(or weaker against possible Na4) when b pawn goes to b6(similar to hedgehog structure in Kan variation) instead? Can b6 pawn prevent white's a4 pawn push, making queen-side castling a bit safer for black?
