a year later but exactly, I played Najdorf before but didn't really understand why a6, I just saw it as theory and didn't question it at all, now I understand
Best of Schrantz' lectures so far! He seems to have found more comfort as a lecturer and shows more of his personality and sense of humour than in the earlier ones (which were still useful and knowledgable, but less entertaining). Truly great stuff, thanks! PS: I might be a bit biased since I'm trying to understand this very opening. PPS: I'd really like a lecture on the Dutch stonewall variation by Schrantz.
MrMelon247 a4 is not part of any opening theory it’s just well into the middle game. This structure is new because of the novelty that Carlson played with bc4 or something
This is a (small) drawback of computers, they have to calculate a concrete line to justify their moves, a longterm positional move like a4 doesn't lead to immediate tangible advantages that a computer can justify. Carlsen of course is a genius, but this move was not him calculating so far ahead, he was using his judgement and intuition.
Thank you. Within the first two minutes (and the first of those is just presentation) i found the explanation i needed for why every line of the Sicilian begins with the same nine moves and what the purpose of those moves is.
Great lecture. I usually just watch Finegold and Seirawan (simply being familiar with them); however, Schrantz is a great presenter. Loved the coverage of this opening!
14:19 It is very important to name the pieces and squares correctly when doing a tutorial. The kid is right. It might become confusing quickly. That being said, it is a good tutorial. Thanks Schrantz. Very good!
Great lecture Jonathan. I always had an habit of focusing in on your throat clearing during your speeches. I only head it like twice with is almost non existent (for 45 minutes). Keep up the good work, it's noticed and appreciated. Note* I give a lot of public speeches and like you tend to be high energy (fast talking, hand movements). What really flipped the script is when i stopped mouth breathing during my talks. It does slow you down a little, but the info can still be delivered quickly. It may sound like a critique, but you have a lot of information to give. You are clearly a smart guy who knows what he is talking about. It just feels like you personality is being hidden behind a wall of tension. I think your breathing would be the key to improving you talks. Nicholas Boothman has written several book on the subject of interactions and proper breathing techniques are at the heart of all his teaching. Best of luck to you sir.
05:47 There's an interesting forced draw that'd happen if white plays Qh5 instead of retreating back with Ng3. Black's best move is to take the knight on e4. White proceeds with Qg5+, Kh8 is forced for black, Qf6+, Kg8 is forced, Qg5+ and no other option than to repeat.
As much I enjoy the lecture I like his interaction with the kid LOL. "You learned from us" (calling the knight as bishop) and then "You play better than the world champion" HAHAHA he's a nice lecturer :D
Great lecture, keep up the good work. In the last position where you talked about mating in the right number of moves, I think the move Rc2+ is leading into a 3 moves mate.
25:49 Why Ne5 isn't also winning? this is much more complex after something like Ra7! Qe6 d:e5 Qc8+ Ke7 Rd5 but it supposed to be winning too. Am I wrong?
It's perhaps worth noting that at 27:20, Nd4 was Carlsen's 40th move, so he was probably short on time -- otherwise it would be somewhat surprising that he didn't play the much better Nxc5.
I've seen more than a few grandmasters and IMs - even some who regularly play Najdorf's variation - who, by evidence of their superficial explanations, clearly do not understand the purpose of 5...a6, missing the clear strategic and tactical points that Jonathan Schrantz elucidated completely at the beginning of this video. I don't know whether Jonathan is a scholar of chess history or has had access to some rare modern source that I have not seen, but congratulations for setting the core idea of the opening straight!
@@vit9480 I agree, it is surprising. What is your counter hypothesis, then, to explain the fact that so many of them say nothing more than that 5...a6 can be useful in keeping White's pieces (usually specifically mentioning knights) off of b5? There is a very clear, specific reason why 5...a6 became a standard move, mentioned in this video, and all of the old GMs and masters clearly understood that, while no other modern source on the subject of the Najdorf displays evidence of that same simple understanding.
JL Conn Idk which references you’re suggesting but most nadjorf videos I watched do mention the purpose of a6 is to avoid the annoying bishop check and bishop trades to be used to white’s advantage, also to prevent the knight pin in the rossolimo attack variation.
@@vit9480 It's not that they don't mention it; it's that they don't provide the true reason for it, opting instead for vague ideas that you just repeated. The Rossolimo is not an issue at that point, that opening was impossible since Black's second move. The Najdorf 5...a6 is a specific move in a specific position, not ...a6 in general; it was adopted in that specific position with one specific goal in mind, and that has nothing to do with vague ideas, but about a concrete calculation and strategic evaluation. Black wants to play 5...e5, but cannot because of 5.Bb5+, when either variation chosen by Black gives up control of the light squares, as explained in this video, and not in your comments, and not in any other resource I've seen aside from every single reference to it by the old (Fischer era and before) masters. That is the one and only reason for 5...a6, everything else good about the move is a side effect, not a reason to play it. I was merely noting that this video should be congratulated for providing the clear truth about the reason for the existence of the move that defines the opening, because that is rarely if ever covered nowadays.
Your lessons are excellent Jonathan. How about some of the B openings with venom in there, not seen at top level but what club players can have a go at. Thing's like the Grob g4 or the Polish b4. Another one I'd like to see is The French Defence, Milner Barry Variation for White and the Grunfeld, Exchange Variation for Black.
At the 38:40 question, is Knight to f6 also a valid move? It again opens the way to the rook, and if pawn takes the knight, the bishop also gets in the game.
For 4:50 can't they just play Nxe4,Qxf4, and Nxe6+? After the trade of minor pieces, black cannot take the pawn on c2 because e5 would be hanging and the position is superior for white
5.02 „Where is black gonna castle“ When I learned chess, my teacher told me that you cannot castle anymore after you have been checked . (3.05) Is that wrong?
in amatuer leve black doesnt play d4 in 5th move because afraid of exchange. in most videos about sicilian defence this part has not been covered .whats your suggestion for white in this situation. thanks
+Justin Santos You can castle when youre rook is under attack. The only time you cant castle is when the king is in check or if the square where the king lands after castling is under attack
Justin Santos When you castle, the king moves 2 squares in the direction of the castle, king or queen side, and the rook goes on the other side of the king.
At 5:04: When you're playing the Najdorf as black, your goal is to play d5 to get rid of your weakness? I'm confused about how the move d5 gets rid of the d5 weakness. You don't win any more control over that square with the move.
whenever i try 2 play sicillian..usualy my opponent starts relentlessly attacking the f7 pawn...whats the best defence against this ??white will usually bring out the light squared bishop, the queen and the knights and try 2 get me 2 make a mistake defending that square..
Robert Lukens pawns are stuck on the same color as the bishop, limiting its reach. Also the bishop cannot control the weak square in front of the D pawn. However if the bishop made it to the a7-g1 diagonal, it would actually be a good piece because it would be active and much less restricted. But even then a white knight on d5 would probably be slightly superior
I rarely see 3. ..... D6. More often I see Italian open when I play a sicilian. I think ive never seen the main line played by white. I wish there was a video where another move was played instead of D6?
I've got an opening for you: 1. e4 d5 2. c3??! As a sacrifice in the Scandinavian, with pawns to play f3 (White), trade off the pawn for an advantage of the semi-open f-file! Then castling short or bringing rook to f1 and controlling 'f7' for some kind of counterplay/advantage. In one of my games black counter sacrificed by pushing e3 so I played d4! with plans of Bxe3 and I don't have to open the d-file.
At my elo (500) whites second move is almost always fBc4 or qh5 lol almost aways. I dream of getting to play a najdorf. Instead I usually enter a dragon which tends to bully the italian players.
@bermansam6 what is your threat here? ...Ka6 would return White to the same position of being able to capture the pawn on c3 (therefore no better a position for white than currently seen) and ...Kc7 creates more uncertainty and no additional advantage for White.
i love how he explains the ideas behind the moves rather than just listing the moves and moving on. great lecturer.
a year later but exactly, I played Najdorf before but didn't really understand why a6, I just saw it as theory and didn't question it at all, now I understand
Thank you TheBossMinecraftPvP for the request
Very cool
@@epicdragonone3015 🎶🏆🎶
Lmao
Not to mention Paul Morphy
That's what I'm saying
I like this guy explaining. He's making it pretty understandable imo.
ROFLd when he said "TheBossMinecraftPVP". so out of place
I know, right? I'm surprised he didn't make laugh at that or make a crack at Paul Morphy.
SAME LOLOL I WAS JUST ABOUT TO SAY THAT
I dont think he knows about minecraft
Hahaha yeah I just couldn't stop laughing
If it was Ben Finegold there, he would have killed it.😂😂
Best of Schrantz' lectures so far! He seems to have found more comfort as a lecturer and shows more of his personality and sense of humour than in the earlier ones (which were still useful and knowledgable, but less entertaining). Truly great stuff, thanks!
PS: I might be a bit biased since I'm trying to understand this very opening.
PPS: I'd really like a lecture on the Dutch stonewall variation by Schrantz.
+japphan totally agree. it was almost an act before but now he seems totally relaxed and comfortable in his own
Also agree, other RUclipsrs take notes! Pedagogy is incredibly difficult and important to viewers. And this guy gets it.
Yes he did a lot better in this video.
japphan i
well if Paul Morphy requested this, the absolutely I want to watch
I love Morphy's games
+Daniel Manahan hahaha... ;)
+Daniel Manahan Indeed i did
and ThebossminecraftPvP!
Daniel Manahan cf
Thank you
Is very pleasent to hear this guy. 10/10 prepared. COngrats.
Another enjoyable watch Mr Schrantz. I really enjoy your work and look forward to seeing lots more.
OH MY GOD LOOK he woke up from his grave
Big fan Mr Morphy
So you're the one that wanted to know how to play this opening.
Mr Morphy can you please explain my you died surrounded by women's shoes in a bathtub
r/beetlejuicing
“The computer doesn’t find this move till it’s on depth 45”. Did Carlsen calculate 45 moves? No, he’s just a fcking genius.
Or Carlsen has a depth 60 stockfish when he's exploring and studying openings
MrMelon247 a4 is not part of any opening theory it’s just well into the middle game. This structure is new because of the novelty that Carlson played with bc4 or something
This is a (small) drawback of computers, they have to calculate a concrete line to justify their moves, a longterm positional move like a4 doesn't lead to immediate tangible advantages that a computer can justify. Carlsen of course is a genius, but this move was not him calculating so far ahead, he was using his judgement and intuition.
i don't think you can find moves that deep, unless it's some sort of theoretical preparation.
TheBossMinecraftPVP my man be beating people in Minecraft as much he beat them people on the board, a true idol.
Thank you. Within the first two minutes (and the first of those is just presentation) i found the explanation i needed for why every line of the Sicilian begins with the same nine moves and what the purpose of those moves is.
nice tempo and analysis.
Great lecture. I usually just watch Finegold and Seirawan (simply being familiar with them); however, Schrantz is a great presenter. Loved the coverage of this opening!
I have been studying the najdorf for 8h straight with my friend now. Great video
14:19 It is very important to name the pieces and squares correctly when doing a tutorial. The kid is right. It might become confusing quickly.
That being said, it is a good tutorial. Thanks Schrantz. Very good!
Great lecture Jonathan. I always had an habit of focusing in on your throat clearing during your speeches. I only head it like twice with is almost non existent (for 45 minutes). Keep up the good work, it's noticed and appreciated.
Note* I give a lot of public speeches and like you tend to be high energy (fast talking, hand movements). What really flipped the script is when i stopped mouth breathing during my talks. It does slow you down a little, but the info can still be delivered quickly.
It may sound like a critique, but you have a lot of information to give. You are clearly a smart guy who knows what he is talking about. It just feels like you personality is being hidden behind a wall of tension. I think your breathing would be the key to improving you talks. Nicholas Boothman has written several book on the subject of interactions and proper breathing techniques are at the heart of all his teaching. Best of luck to you sir.
I dont get it, are you an ancap or the typical liberal left of today?
the only video i have seen covering sicilian Najdorf so good
I enjoyed the speaker greatly. Very energetic and engaging.
05:47 There's an interesting forced draw that'd happen if white plays Qh5 instead of retreating back with Ng3. Black's best move is to take the knight on e4. White proceeds with Qg5+, Kh8 is forced for black, Qf6+, Kg8 is forced, Qg5+ and no other option than to repeat.
the Najdorf is one of my personal favorites
As much I enjoy the lecture I like his interaction with the kid LOL. "You learned from us" (calling the knight as bishop) and then "You play better than the world champion" HAHAHA he's a nice lecturer :D
nice and efficient thorough coverage of openings without all the boring banter
reminds me of Dereque Kelley's opening videos
I love your way of explaining, FINALLY learnt Sicilian all thanks to you,
THANK YOU, PLS CARRY ON
Great lecture, keep up the good work.
In the last position where you talked about mating in the right number of moves, I think the move Rc2+ is leading into a 3 moves mate.
this is the best chess video i have ever seen
25:49 Why Ne5 isn't also winning? this is much more complex after something like Ra7! Qe6 d:e5 Qc8+ Ke7 Rd5 but it supposed to be winning too. Am I wrong?
Excellent Understanding and Commentary , Thanks a lot.
at 4:50, doesnt Nxe4, Qxf5, Nxd6+, Bxd6, Qxd6 look good or is there some kind of trick im missing here?
That vid where Jonathan bumps to the music in the intro is still the best one 😂
It's perhaps worth noting that at 27:20, Nd4 was Carlsen's 40th move, so he was probably short on time -- otherwise it would be somewhat surprising that he didn't play the much better Nxc5.
Can we get a whole series on this please
I've seen more than a few grandmasters and IMs - even some who regularly play Najdorf's variation - who, by evidence of their superficial explanations, clearly do not understand the purpose of 5...a6, missing the clear strategic and tactical points that Jonathan Schrantz elucidated completely at the beginning of this video. I don't know whether Jonathan is a scholar of chess history or has had access to some rare modern source that I have not seen, but congratulations for setting the core idea of the opening straight!
GM not knowing the logic behind a6 is too far fetched, you need tons of study to be a GM.
@@vit9480 I agree, it is surprising. What is your counter hypothesis, then, to explain the fact that so many of them say nothing more than that 5...a6 can be useful in keeping White's pieces (usually specifically mentioning knights) off of b5? There is a very clear, specific reason why 5...a6 became a standard move, mentioned in this video, and all of the old GMs and masters clearly understood that, while no other modern source on the subject of the Najdorf displays evidence of that same simple understanding.
JL Conn Idk which references you’re suggesting but most nadjorf videos I watched do mention the purpose of a6 is to avoid the annoying bishop check and bishop trades to be used to white’s advantage, also to prevent the knight pin in the rossolimo attack variation.
JL Conn The fact that they don’t mention it might be due to nadjorf being an advanced opening and most tutorials out there are made for beginners.
@@vit9480 It's not that they don't mention it; it's that they don't provide the true reason for it, opting instead for vague ideas that you just repeated. The Rossolimo is not an issue at that point, that opening was impossible since Black's second move. The Najdorf 5...a6 is a specific move in a specific position, not ...a6 in general; it was adopted in that specific position with one specific goal in mind, and that has nothing to do with vague ideas, but about a concrete calculation and strategic evaluation. Black wants to play 5...e5, but cannot because of 5.Bb5+, when either variation chosen by Black gives up control of the light squares, as explained in this video, and not in your comments, and not in any other resource I've seen aside from every single reference to it by the old (Fischer era and before) masters. That is the one and only reason for 5...a6, everything else good about the move is a side effect, not a reason to play it. I was merely noting that this video should be congratulated for providing the clear truth about the reason for the existence of the move that defines the opening, because that is rarely if ever covered nowadays.
I love your videos very much
Your lessons are excellent Jonathan. How about some of the B openings with venom in there, not seen at top level but what club players can have a go at. Thing's like the Grob g4 or the Polish b4.
Another one I'd like to see is The French Defence, Milner Barry Variation for White and the Grunfeld, Exchange Variation for Black.
Thank you so much for sharing.
16:22 I had the exactly same position as that and the game went likes this: 1.Nbd7 g4 2.b5 a3 3.Nb6 g5 4.Nh5 Na5 5.Rc8 Kb1 6.Qc7 Nd5 7.Nxd5 exd5 8.Bd7 Rg1 9.g6 Bd3 10.Bd8 Nb3 11.a5 Be4 12.Re8 h4 13.Kh8 Rg2 14.a4 Nc1 15.Qb7 Nd3 16.Rc4 Rh2 17.Bb6 Bxb6 18.Qxb6 c3 19.Qd8 Rg2 20.Kg7 Re1 21.Qc8 Nb4 22.Rf8 Rgg1 23.Bf5 Nc6 24.Nf4 Ka1 25.Bd7 Nb4 26.Bf5 Nc6 27.Qd7 Qe3 28.Kh8 Qb6 29.Rc8 h5 30.Rc5 hxg6 31.fxg6 Rh1 32.Qc7 Qxc7 33.Rxc7 Rh6 34.Rd7 Nb8 35.Rf7 Nc6 36.Bxe4 fxe4 37.Rc4 Re3 38.Nh5 Nd8 39.Rf1+ Ka2 40.Rc7 Ne6 41.Rcf7 Rh3 42.Kg8 Rh2 43.Re1 b3 44.axb3+ Kxb3 45.Rxe4 Rb2 46.Rc4 Ka2 47.Rb7 Rb3 48.e4 Kb1 49.e3 Kc2 50.e2 Rb1 51.Re4 Kd2 52.Re5 Nd4 53.Rbe7 Re1 54.Rxd5 Rxe2 55.Rxe2+ Kxe2 56.Rxg5 Ke3 57.Re5+ Kd3 58.Kg7 Rxh5 59.Rxh5 Kd2 60.Rd5 Kd3 61.Rxd4+ Kxd4 62.h5 Kd5 63.h4 Kxd6 64.h3 Kd5 65.g5 Ke4 66.h2 Ke3 67.h1=Q c4 68.bxc4 Kd4 69.Qc6 Kc3 70.g4 Kd2 71.Qf3 a4 72.g3 a5 73.g2 a6 74.Qd3+ Kc1 75.g1=Q+ Kb2 76.Qgb1# ***. ( those are the moves after we reach the position)
Thanks for this video, i was waiting for this one. You re doing great job !
lmfao TheBossMinecraftPvP
How about a6 at 26:24? Black can't take it because of 2. Qxc5 dxc5 3. Rd8#
Thank you so much for this variation.. Would it be possible to do a video on Sicilian Mengarini variation?
I think second game was played by Vishy. Pretty brilliant by black.
I like Vishy
thanks alot jon ur a great dude and awsome teacher learning a ton from your videos
Nice lecture! Thanks!
Why would 3. ...Nf3 force white to play 4. Nc3? Can't white just play 4. Bd3?
I really enjoy your presentations
Please make a video on QGD TARTAKOVER variation
36:40-there's one explanation missed out during the video, that he said that Nxc2 would be better,, not Qxc2.
43:03 - W: Q x f7, not pxf7.
At the 38:40 question, is Knight to f6 also a valid move? It again opens the way to the rook, and if pawn takes the knight, the bishop also gets in the game.
2:20 4:23 6:17 8:39 9:23
10:54 11:37 !! 14:13 .
For 4:50 can't they just play Nxe4,Qxf4, and Nxe6+? After the trade of minor pieces, black cannot take the pawn on c2 because e5 would be hanging and the position is superior for white
Do you mean Nxe4, Qxf5, then Nxd6+? Can't do that because Bf8 defends d6.
Hmm perhaps you pasted the wrong timestamp? There's no attack on the pawn at c2.
@@AaronWoodrow1 it's when the queen takes f5 if Nxe4
@@AaronWoodrow1 also the queen is also guarding the knight so it would be way better for white
@@AaronWoodrow1 cause N x d6 + , Bxd6, Qxd6, and you have more useful lines and open files than black does.
I spent three hours after this vdo... It's great
thanks.
very nice video Jonathan
plz analyze different branches of sicilian
So glad I found these videos. Thank you!
5.02 „Where is black gonna castle“
When I learned chess, my teacher told me that you cannot castle anymore after you have been checked . (3.05) Is that wrong?
46:35 : Me when entering a club
Jonathan is a great instructor. I love watching your movies.
How can I show yours type of board
Amazing my dear ❤️ thanks for sharing 💕💕
thanks. great video!!
Which chess software you are using
in amatuer leve black doesnt play d4 in 5th move because afraid of exchange. in most videos about sicilian defence this part has not been covered .whats your suggestion for white in this situation. thanks
7:46 so you can castle even tho you rook is under attack???
+Justin Santos You can castle when youre rook is under attack. The only time you cant castle is when the king is in check or if the square where the king lands after castling is under attack
Brian Kim how about if the square where the rook will land after castle is under attack/covered?
Justin Santos
Brian Kim: also if a square where the king has to pass through to castle is under attack, castling is not possible
Justin Santos When you castle, the king moves 2 squares in the direction of the castle, king or queen side, and the rook goes on the other side of the king.
Skip to 8:44 for him to start talking about the najdorf
Jacob Heller thx
could you do one on the (real) Rossolimo? Thanks
Just curious, why do most people in the chess world default to using he/him for theoretical players?
I love u so much, thanks to you I play a national.
Love from México ♥️
Without coach? Because i dont have enough money to get a coach:
@@electrickettle6141 playing with my ex hahahahahaaha
@@disavillada6758 holy cow
Can you cover the legendary Machuka rook game?
Hey can you do a lecture on the Nakhmanson gambit? I saw a youtuber play it once
TY nice explanation,
what is the name of your software?
Will there be a tutorial series on how to cheat...I mean...play like Hans Niemann?
At 5:04: When you're playing the Najdorf as black, your goal is to play d5 to get rid of your weakness? I'm confused about how the move d5 gets rid of the d5 weakness. You don't win any more control over that square with the move.
Oh wait, dumb question. I guess d6 is the new weakness in that position.
10:30 Thanks, I'm a SuperGM now
whenever i try 2 play sicillian..usualy my opponent starts relentlessly attacking the f7 pawn...whats the best defence against this ??white will usually bring out the light squared bishop, the queen and the knights and try 2 get me 2 make a mistake defending that square..
Tal played e6, it shuts down attack from light bishop
35:10 How is the bishop trapped? C4 square is free
26:43 why not c4 attacking queen and taking bishop
Black's b pawn can take white's c pawn by en-passant.
fairly new at chess here. why is the dark square bishop considered a bad bishop in this position 04:20 and what makes a bishop bad??
Robert Lukens pawns are stuck on the same color as the bishop, limiting its reach. Also the bishop cannot control the weak square in front of the D pawn. However if the bishop made it to the a7-g1 diagonal, it would actually be a good piece because it would be active and much less restricted. But even then a white knight on d5 would probably be slightly superior
5:43 what happens if bishop takes at h6?
Nf6, forking the queen and the king so you earn a queen
Why white did nxc2 why not Qxc2 in move 19 in the second game?? Please answer.
How do you play against e4 c5 nf3 d6 e5😅😅
wow a super video was explained
I like how he calls chess club 'the club'
Thank you Jonathan!
Are the pgn files available?
14:19 interesting bishop....
Happy Christmas.
I rarely see 3. ..... D6. More often I see Italian open when I play a sicilian. I think ive never seen the main line played by white. I wish there was a video where another move was played instead of D6?
Which Software is used in this lecture
I've got an opening for you:
1. e4 d5 2. c3??!
As a sacrifice in the Scandinavian, with pawns to play f3 (White), trade off the pawn for an advantage of the semi-open f-file! Then castling short or bringing rook to f1 and controlling 'f7' for some kind of counterplay/advantage.
In one of my games black counter sacrificed by pushing e3 so I played d4! with plans of Bxe3 and I don't have to open the d-file.
30:35 e2+ Ke1 Ra1+ How does white stop this?
nvm white would take the pawn
what if in 1:52 .. bishop move to d3 to defense the pawn???
what is the name of the music at intro?
Watching from Brazil here!!!
its to dificoult to show Najdorf defence from black perpective?
what about this line. 6.. Nc6, I see that move a lot at a beginner level
At 26:53 White could play Nd4 why didn't he play he is giving check at the same time he might give a check
At my elo (500) whites second move is almost always fBc4 or qh5 lol almost aways. I dream of getting to play a najdorf. Instead I usually enter a dragon which tends to bully the italian players.
What's the name of the tactical move on 5:24?
Desviación.
13:41 bishop takes!
"Zug's-Wane" 31:04
29:10 doesn't queen d5 have a winning combination?
@bermansam6 what is your threat here?
...Ka6 would return White to the same position of being able to capture the pawn on c3 (therefore no better a position for white than currently seen) and ...Kc7 creates more uncertainty and no additional advantage for White.