The Smith-Morra Gambit Lecture by GM Ben Finegold 

Can confirm Ben's ~9% Dragon prediction. In 1105 Blitz games on lichess, I've had black 555 times. In 328 cases, White opened with 1.e4, and in 118 cases, this led to the start of the Dragon after 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6: that's 118/1105=0.1068 or 10.68%. Can also confirm that I have mental problems

"My opinion on the Smith-Morra is different than what I think about it..." I can only imagine the face Ben made here.

The sheer contempt Ben has for van Wely's arrogance in walking into a line that he surely knew Esserman to be a true expert in is delightful.

If you're wondering where GM van Wely went wrong, it appears that 15.Qf6 is the blunder. The position is "equal", but the play has been essentially forced, for both sides, for the last four moves. To keep things equal, play continues to be forced for at least another seven moves, for a total of ELEVEN. Forcing lines that long are pretty rare in opening theory. In the game, after 17...Qxg5 the engine announces mate in 14.

'Knife f5' is a sharp move.

Analysis begins at 9:04

I can confirm what Ben is saying about coaches and openings. When I was a youngster (about 2000 ELO) my coach told me to play the Spanish exchange. He wanted me to give up my kings bishop in the 4th move. Incredible! I loved my king's bishop and I still do, many years later. I would never ever play the Spanish exchange or similar variations in the Sicilian, where I'm supposed to give my king's bishop for an ugly knight. The only way my opponent will ever get it, would be a sacrifice on h7 or f7. I had a few.

I liked this video because Ben told us who wan't Ben, and I appreciate that sort of thing.

This reuploads are very suspicious...

Now that's a fun opening. I'll gonna study a bit and try it online in blitz and bullet!

I appreciated the free pawn joke from the student at the end

Ben Finegold is from Michigan....so he always plays D12?

Came for the analysis and barely got any. But I stayed because how hilarious this guy is... Also it was fun to learn thanks to Ben that ~2700 rated players have lost to it. Made me nostalgic of the times I still cared to chek 1.e4 theory, about 10 years ago, when the peak of this opening success conssited in games from the 90s. Like Kasparov with black almost getting lost position against much lower opponent and several GM Matulovic games... This opening is immortal even in these computer days... Also, damn I am getting old

Aah yes, while im about to have my second lunch Perfect

Interesting stuff Ben. Funny and eye-opening also

The only thing a Super GM always keeps IS HIS PRIIIIIIDEEE!

"Everybody's banned": nice Esserman reference!

Amazing, thank you!

I would love to purchase Ben's book, but shipping to Europe costs 170€! Is there an electronic version for 25 dollars or so?

Yee it's Ben! Go Ben. Great lecture.

Thank you so much! I finally understand why the Spanish doesn’t work very well for me!

Great video sir.

Thank you.

Would love to see a lecture with the refutation!

Any reason why Morphy gambit after 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nf3 isn't played more often? It was quite a surprise for me to face that... expecting the Smith-Morra

so ho many opening do i have to learn to have complete repertoire for every game ?

so there is no actual tempo where you get the pawn back

A woman came up to me and said "I'd like to poison your mind With wrong ideas that appeal to you Though I am not unkind" She looked at me, I looked at something Written across her scalp And these are the words that it faintly said As I tried to call for help There's only one thing that I know how to do well And I've often been told that you only can do What you know how to do well And that's be you, Be what you're like, Be like yourself, And so I'm having a wonderful time But I'd rather be whistling in the dark Whistling in the dark Whistling in the dark Whistling in the dark Whistling in the dark Whistling in the dark There's only one thing that I like And that is whistling in the dark A man came up to me and said "I'd like to change your mind By hitting it with a rock, " he said, "Though I am not unkind." We laughed at his little joke And then I happily walked away And hit my head on the wall of the jail Where the two of us live today. There's only one thing that I know how to do well And I've often been told that you only can do What you know how to do well And that's be you, Be what you're like, Be like yourself, And so I'm having a wonderful time But I'd rather be whistling in the dark Whistling in the dark Whistling in the dark Whistling in the dark Whistling in the dark Whistling in the dark There's only one thing that I like And that is whistling in the dark There's only one thing that I know how to do well And I've often been told that you only can do What you know how to do well And that's be you, Be what you're like, Be like yourself, And so I'm having a wonderful time But I'd rather be whistling in the dark Whistling in the dark Whistling in the dark Whistling in the dark Whistling in the dark Whistling in the dark Whistling, whistling Whistling in the dark Whistling (whistling), whistling (whistling) Dark (dark), Dark (dark) Whistling (whistling), whistling (whistling) Dark (dark), Dark (dark) Whistling (whistling), whistling (whistling) Dark (dark), Dark (dark) Whistling (whistling), whistling (whistling) Dark (dark), Dark (dark) Whistling (whistling), whistling (whistling) Dark (dark), Dark (dark) Whistling (whistling), whistling (whistling) Dark (dark), Dark (dark) Whistling (whistling), whistling (whistling) Dark (dark), Dark (dark) Whistling (whistling), whistling (whistling) Dark (dark), Dark (dark) Whistling (whistling), whistling (whistling) Dark (dark), Dark (dark) Whistling (whistling), whistling (whistling) Dark (dark), Dark (dark) Whistling (whistling), whistling (whistling) Dark (dark), Dark (dark) Whistling (whistling), whistling (whistling) Dark (dark), Dark (dark)

27:31 31:41

5:30 funniest part of the video was him talking about how there's no finegold defense

Qd3?

Ben, I'm concerned about too much emphasis on opening theory. Remember: opening theory ruined tic tac toe. Don't let that happen to chess.

So. I don't know any Sicilian Theory so I tried to dodge it by playing a kind of Scandinavian with white in response to the Sicilian... so far so good, can't complain, managed to survive half the time! Came here cause I figured out I should learn more about this opening (lichess says I play the Smith-Morra) but nothing to do, I don't see 1.e4 c5 2.d4 cxd4 3.Qd4. lol... anybody plays it like this??

g4?

I'm having a wonderful time, but I'd rather be...

grandmaster Benjamin Finegold, sir, with all due respect, are you still gonna watch the whole chess world's decline into the chaos and corruption? i mean, seriously, you are the face of modern chess for anyone who studied beyond 2. Nf3 Nc6. plz do something

I watched a video plagiarizing this one, by another "GM Ben Finegold", few years ago. This original is much better.

Always comment.

mock

MILLIMETER?

I've noticed that in Europe, the names of openings will often be changed to refer to their places of origin rather than the people who pioneered them (Spanish instead of Ruy Lopez, Volga instead of Benko, Russian instead of Petrov)... To me, this just seems disrespectful to the masters of the past. Here in America, we give our predecessors some respect!

Re-upload.

esserman would beat anyone at tennis? poor spassky!! he can't catch a break

why tf is he wearing a gaming headset lmao

Mental defect 😭

I'm not?

I play the O'Kelly Sicilian as black, I'll beat anyone