My personal experience with the Hippo is that I gain a sense of "control" over the game that I never felt I had with other openings and defenses I attempted. Getting to move 10, 12, or even 15 with a real solid sense of what's happening doesn't guarantee me a win, but it makes me feel like I can better assess the opponent's responses and I can begin looking for the tactical motifs that make the Hippo so much fun. It is more than an opening or defense. It's actually a strategy. And that's one of the hardest things to teach chess players. *My experiences and opinions are my own. Your ELO may vary.... Thank you so much for making this material available because playing chess with a strategy makes chess enjoyable again for me.
I'm glad to hear that the Hippo has made chess enjoyable for you, as it has done for me. I totally agree with feeling like I have control over a chess game. Many other openings (almost all of them) can fizzle out into something nobody has ever seen before in the first 5-10 moves. The Hippo, however, has so many similar themes and ideas and strategies, which really helps with not just the knowledge of the opening portion but the middlegame (especially) as well. Thanks for tuning into so many videos and leaving great thoughts. Appreciate you 🙏🏽🦛
… & by the way I am half Malawian, lots of hippos there so I just knew this had to be my opening, man, just had to be. If you can take it to 2200, and Hansen can take it to 2600 on his recent speedrun not to mention Nakamura playing it, it has to serve me well for the rest of my mad chess addiction, long May it continue😊
WHEEZE HONK!!!! Just thought I'd stop in to say hi. To the whole Hippo Army please read Solomons description of this vid. Never have I felt something so heart warming and truthful before going to try and destroy someone with your methods! Love ya brother. Hey what happens when I push f5 too soon? A Hippopota-mess!
Many thanks for sharing your top Hippo games so far, Solomon! As a former King's Indian, Pirc, and Catalan player (I prefer setup-based openings), I am simply in love with the Hippo and the positions it gets me. Much like the London and other unpopular openings of the past, I'm sure the Hippo will eventually get the respect it deserves. Here's to more instructive Hippo videos in the future! 💪🏿🦛
I'm glad you enjoyed the games! I know you've already seen them all too which I appreciate! And ya I sure hope the Hippopotamus Defense eventually gets the respect it deserves... people still call it a bad opening/troll opening/timid opening etc etc. I just can't believe my ears when I hear it lol. And sure, I used to think the same thing - but I've obviously evolved in my views on the system through studies, games, and tournament experience + watching high level players lose to it over the years!
THANKS i purchased your coarse , and i've played thru these games and learned a lot. i'm trying to write down all the moves but it's very difficult even when i slow you down . wish i could find the moves written out somewhere . but if not it's worth the effort !
@@lorenzozorrer i have been playing the hippo for 20 years with much success . i thought i knew all the tricks . i have many books on the hippo . but solomon showed me many tricks i didn't know . and his style of teaching is the best ive seen in my 65 years of serious chess.
Ah for sure Freddy! Email me that you want the game notation and I will email you the pgns to these games! Hope your liking the course - thanks for investing in it!
So, is there much difference with white hippo and black hippo? In black you say you tend to fianchetto the king side bishop. Do you always want to start with the king's side defence, and is this a strategic or tactical decision? Thanks heaps
Of course! Although I'll be honest in that I'm not sure I'll play in competitive OTB classical tournaments in the future. They take time, energy, nerves, preparation, and a full weekend if not more. I'm kind of happy not playing at the moment.
Nice video. Got a tad distracted by the bisexual lighting (not sure if it was intentional, just made me chuckle). I do wonder if I want to learn the hippo on the long run.
Wow if you get distracted by the "bisexual lighting" perhaps there's other things you should be wondering about. If you want a solid opening then Learn the Hippo!! Ain't no better Hippo player than Solomon to learn from
@@sweaterkev "perhaps there's other things you should be wondering about" I have no clue what you're insinuating. What should I be wondering? I'm not bi if that's what you're asking.
