Eric in almost every video: "I need to watch my time more" Also Eric in almost every video: explains every single move burning 7 minutes in the first 3 moves :D (Obviously exaggerated) I honestly love how he plays chess or at the very least how he plays in this speedrun/in his videos. It's got an absolute abundance of knowledge and fundamental basics, but also many going off on so many tangents for "more entertaining moves". It's a really well-balanced mix of clear cut and no mercy chess while allowing fun to shine through as well. It's been so many episodes and he still explains things like it's the first one and I appreciate that. You can show people just about any random episode of this speedrun to referrence something and it's not like they needed context for previous videos, feeling an obligation or pressure to have watched it all to draw from it. Idk if that makes sense, in my head it does lol.
It's a bait for rook b2, eric is master at baiting opponent, from then it is calculating move on follow up the best course from rook b2. The reason why he knows the opponent will do rook b2 is because high level players generally agree that rook is strong at second rank of opponent king
Watching these videos makes me reflect on my own behavior and that of other players in the 1000-2000 rating range. We often play quickly to avoid time pressure, but Eric takes his time as early as move 11 (in game 3), carefully considering all possible lines. His opponents in this series typically find themselves in a losing position before their clocks drop below 9 min. This really makes me think about how I should start approaching my games if I want to improve.
This is by far the most fascinating way of learning about chess moves and the various levels of expertise involved. The first thing I do everyday is look out for another speedrun episode. Absolutely love it!
ahh beaten, just posted the same thing: IM Eric introduced the 'pork', now this spring coming to a screen near you, a blockbuster move scaring many opponents into resignation, THE CORK!!
7:40 Qg5+ looks like it either leads to mate or winning a knight in the end. Eric showing off a flashy tactic that loses most of the advantage to win 1 pawn hahahah, couldn't resist forking. Ofc its always easier to see when youre not the one playing
Hi Eric, just want to say thank you so much for these videos over the last few months. Have been going through a bad breakup and your soothing and calm videos have really helped me with my anxiety as well as being super instructive! Thanks again ❤
I'm only an 800, but I have no difficulty at all following your 1800 games because your commentary is so clear, friendly and humorous. Looking forward to the remainder of the series!
Very interesting and instructional, I'm glad I found your Speedrun. I've watched all of them now, and a few of them twice. Also it has improved my rating from 1200s to 1300s. I agree on hoping for another speedrun. And thanks Eric!
I just reached 2000 elo !!!! This speedrun and all your content has helped me a lot, so thank you very much for that ! I did reach 2000 before you tho 😈
This is the best chess video ive seen in 2024, that second game is also the best game ive seen in 2024. Even better than Magnus beating Fabi or Pragg beating Hikaru
The combinatorics are so astronomical that it's basically a small miracle how the mind can sometimes see these things. Being able to predict 6-7 moves ahead in your mind's eye is just remarkable. I've tried doing it, but I get lost after the first 3-4. So most of us, most of the time probably play on a wing a and prayer. :)
Danya posted a video a while back refuting the Stafford titled: “Snuffing the Stafford Gambit | Busting the Gambits with GM Naro” it’s very instructive
this kind of artistic once in a lifetime plays come in other games as well, the current incarnation of hearthstone battlegrounds in duos is quite fun as you have a teammate to communicate and revel in the artistry with. I would really enjoy seeing you and vampire chicken lol jonathan, playing some hearthstone battelground duos
First God bless you for uploading another episode. Second, yes the long castle mating idea you got was sick. You know what was even better than that? The fact that you saw it. It's why you are an IM and I am not. 162 game win streak? Insane. I wish I could binge-watch this 12 hours a day.
Hello Eric - I have watched every episode and love your series. You are entertaining and extremely helpful. I love hearing your thought processes. Finally we got to see an Alekhine defence....which is one of my favourite defences as Black. Can you please play this as black in one of your games? would like to see your thoughts on it. Good luck and thanks for making this series.
I'm sure that there are a lot of players on the site with Elo above mid 1800s who are hoping for the chance to try to be the one to end Eric's impressive streak. He's had some close calls, but so far has always pulled through it. I was just watching a video on the Gotham Chess channel about best openings for different levels, and when he brought up the Stafford Gambit, he mentioned it being a favorite of Eric's. In game 2, after Eric plays Qd2 to block the check from the queen at b4, instead of Qxd4, I think the right move was Rxd4, which defends the queen. If white trades queens on b4, then the rook winds up on d4, eying the b2 pawn as well as the d4 pawn. After the exchange on c6, white will be able to grab one or the other of these pawns. After 1... Rxd4 2. Qxb4 Rxb4 3. Bxf6 gxf6 4. b3 Rxe4, white has gone from being 3 points up to being one point up, and both of his center pawns are gone, and white's remaining bishop is pinned. I think that is a clear gain for black.
You enjoy playing beautiful chess just like the Kaissa (Gorean chess) master in a Gor novel. He was mad at himself because he went for the easy win instead of playing a more desirable, aesthetically beautiful game.
Me: *starts video but then wanders off to do other things* Also me: Alright, now where we? *press play* Eric: E4. Me: Ah, yes. Thanks, Eric! That little coincidental interaction between my thoughts and the video made me chuckle.
Dear Eric, could you please play a few games of Italian (with Black and White) at this level (1800-1900)? I would be very interested in your middlegame ideas. Thanks for all explanations!
25:12 the castleling here was a move out of this world congrats ;) The last opponent played amazing up to a certain point- the 1 when he almost hanged his bishop with his pawn. While I was watching I really thought he was cheating , he was making those excellent moves every 5-10sec. He may have been cheating , I used to do that up to a certain point and then play along by my self. That or his engine might have crashed after he made a wrong move while copying your moves. Or he was that good
Can you imagine playing poker with Eric? If I had won 159 games in a row, I'd be crowing like a rooster. But look at Eric. That's just his regular face. No tells at all.
24:00 - "I don't get it. What's white playing at? Isn't that just a free pawn? White could... But no, that wouldn't work... Huh. Well, I'll just take the pawn and... What?? White can castle?! But the other pawn... Oh. Ohhhh...."
