Well apart from the fact that he usually plays tricky gambits and trap openings, he's a very good and educational content creator. Still, I would suggest him to increase playing sessions with other mainline openings to be honest.
That format really helps not only to learn the moves but also to understand the common ideas of the opening. Eric does really well in explaining those things. One of the best on RUclips
A suggestion: quit playing blitz. Only play 30 min+ games. Gives you time to think and calculate and improve on those parts (maybe u already do this, but it helped me a lot!)
Thank you, Eric! I really like the Ponziani. I recently joined a chess club and registered for the club championship. The first game I played against my (1500) opponent went downhill pretty quickly after 1.e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. c3 Bc5 4. d4 exd4 5. cxd4 Bb4+ 6. Nc3 d6 7. d5 Ne5 8. Qa4+ (so the exact same position Eric shows at 2:40 !) Credit to you, Eric! For first introducing me to this opening
@@ldgaming4213 If I had been playing with black I probably wouldn't be very happy about it, considering I lost a piece. And I wouldn't play Bc5 against the Ponziani since it's just an inferior move, as conveyed in this video.
I have played chess for 20 years, and this short lesson on the Ponziani was so intuitive. Ideas that I see in many games, often against me! I feel clearer about my game now than before this video. Thank you
A very fun line that black can try is the Vukovic Gambit which goes 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. c3 Nf6 4. d4 Nxe4 5. d5 Bc5! I’d be interested to see Eric’s analysis of this line. Black sacrifices at least a piece in the main continuation but gets a good attack against the white king.
Hi Eric! Just wanted to say thank you for this amazing video! I've been studying it and using in online games for around a year, with quite some success. And last week I took part in my first OTB tournament. It didn't go that well because of poor time management, but in my last game I finally got to play the Ponziani and absolutely crushed my opponent. Felt reeealy good! Thanks again for all the efforts, looking forward to new great lessons!
This is actually a really great trap / opening for white because of the many forcing variations this opening has. Most people don't know counterplay against these lines. This opening will surely help me improve as a chess player. Thank for the opening!
Can you make a playlist for all of these openings tutorials, i watched your beginners guide to stafford gambit aswell and it was great, would be cool to have them all in one convenient place
Came here for the cool info from eric, then realized he's teaching Fundy and enjoyed it even more. Really fun seeing 2 of my favorite youtubers have the most unexpected collab
Nice! I needed another e4 opening to learn. Been using the Bishop's opening and usually going into the Italian game with relative success, but I'm kind of a one trick pony as a result. More strings to my bow are needed.
@@ouro4279 perhaps in another language, but the English expression to add more strings for your bow is in the case of an archer's bow-string breaking, they have a back up.
@@ouro4279 I've never heard of longbow strings breaking more frequently than other bow-strings. I do believe you're reading a lot more into what is simply a turn of phrase than is necessary.
The real reason why everyone who plays 1.e4 must learn the ideas in the Ponziani... The ideas Eric shows underlie the positions in a great many double KP opening positions which are merely the Ponziani decorated with additional piece placements. The "traps" Eric shows are underlying latent ideas in similar positions to be aware of even if they don't work like the Ponziani proper. And, from the Black side... If you play a double KP opening, it's a way for White to play simply without memorizing vast amounts of Ruy and Giucco theory, so it's not as though White wouldn't play the Ponziani against you... But, you should also be happy to see that White is not choosing to pose the most difficult and complex problems to you by choosing to play the Ponziani. Avoid the tactical traps and you should gain equality with natural play.
i just figured the name of the opening i've been playing as white for the past couple months and the lessons ive learned on this video filled me with gratitude really thank you so much man
19:56 The only move I'm worried about here is Qb6 from black (I was going through this with an engine), it's still supposed to be crushing for white, but the follow ups (that the engine suggests at least) seem less intuitive for me to play as a new player.
I mean it works the best against beginners and if you can get all the variations committed to memory, you'll probably play like 25% of your games in this system even in the quadruple digits. I think I gonna look into this and try to learn it.
You are a great player and teacher Eric. thank you. Funny I cant remember playing this opening for over 10years. I Appreciate it. Great to have another trick up my sleeve.
You are the best Chess content creator out there. I love your videos Eric. Following your speedrun journey has been so education - I’m on the Ponziani episode (ep ~22) which lead me here. I hope to meet you one day if you’re ever in the UK!
1)e4 e5 2)Nf3 Nc6 3)c3 Nf6 4)d4 Nxe4 5)d5 Bc5!! with a very powerfull attack for the black side ! What is the way to deal with that irritating variation ?
Just finished watching one of Fundy's mc videos and then switch to this but I can still hear Fundy, thought I was going mad XD Another fantastic lesson I don't know what I would do to learn chess without these thank you Lord Eric!
I tried playing this when I saw a five minute video. Didn't work. Watched this, more depth and lines. Played it again for the first time and won with ease! Thanks from a two month experienced Chess player.
These are excellent, do you plan on doing more of these? I just finished the stafford one, I had my board up as you guys went through it and done the same with this video.
I went from 70% to 100% wins as white since I started to grasp the theory behind the Ponziani. I’d really recommend this opening to anyone up to at least 1000 ELO.
Hi i'm a new player at around 900 right now (I was 700 before watching that video so this single handedly got me +200 in just a couple weeks) BUT I find myself struggling when people at this level often never move their D7 pawn and I'm too trash to figure out a way to take advantage of it
I'm confused. At 11:56, the white pond moves to the empty d6 square, but the pond behind it disappears. And what's stopping their bishop from taking the pond?? Confused. :(
@@seyitgoktas8241 Oh, it is legal. It's called enpasante which in french means in passing. It is legal. I'm still learning more about chess of which we probably all are. :)
ERIC, IF YOU EVER SEE THIS COMMENT COULD YOU GO THROUGH THIS LINE IN A VIDEO AT SOME POINT PLEASE? I feel it would be very entertaining and instructive coming from you! The line I analysed is Nxe4 on move 4, lichess suggested that black hangs their Knight and a Bishop for a very messy position with white unable to castle having their King on e2 and Rook on g1 and black temporarily down two pieces but a castled king, yet it's equal according to the computer evaluation. Here's the line up to move 13: 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. c3 Nf6 4. d4 Nxe4 5. d5 Bc5 6. dxc6 Bxf2+ 7. Ke2 Bb6 8. Qd5 Nf2 9. Rg1 O-O 10. cxb7 Bxb7 11. Qxb7 Qf6 12. Na3 e4 13. Nc4 From here there are a couple options, I thought you might have fun going through the possibilities in this line and I'm sure your viewers would have fun watching. 😎
What's the safest opening for beginner players? I want something I can play every time to get the game going. I'm clueless about openings, but good at mid-game.
Please a video on the vukovic gambit! After 3 ... Kf6 and 4 d4, black takes the pawn on e4, and after 5 d5, black gambits the knight on c6 by playing Bc5
22:26 after Ng6 I'm surprised Eric didn't show Bd3, because there's a well know trap after the natural desperato Nxf2 where you sac your queen and either mate or end up up a piece. Seems like a very Eric move to play.
These scheme is quite clever. However, if I may make a suggestion. Ponziani is quite a mouthful for a lot of people so I may just shorten it to Ponzi going forward.
Eric said the ponziani is great for beginners but even engines think it’s very sound, especially since it’s so rare it’s very good for much higher levels than that.
At 21:32 after you play d5 attacking the knight, what if black plays 5. Bc5? Setting up a check or potential fork on f2. Seems like good counter play. Is there a way to punish this?
The move opponent always plays is Bd7 and it blocks the attack. I dont see that line in any video but its seems to be the one that comes up Everytime. How do you address?
I am still considering wheter to play this opening because I don't like move 3.c3 so much. Can you explain why it is a good opening against beginners specifically? That makes me think that the opening really isnt that good. I have the same issue with the London system, people say its not good for high level chess.
What I really like is e4,e5,Kf3,Kc6,c3,Kf6 and then white just develops the bishop to the passive Be2. In blitz a LOT of players just go on and grab your pawn on e4 and then lose the Knight because of the famous Qa4-fork.
Eric at his best: super educative, calm, and entertaining.
The chess teacher everyone wants.
Amen. He gets it.
You forgot Alpha Male Giga Chad
Daniel Naroditsky
Well apart from the fact that he usually plays tricky gambits and trap openings, he's a very good and educational content creator. Still, I would suggest him to increase playing sessions with other mainline openings to be honest.
And then there’s Eric Hansen and the botez sisters lol
Okay, I've watched this video. You can now delete it and hide it from my enemies. Thanks.
Best comment ever 😂😂
Most realistic
😂😂😂 sooper statement
😁
🤣🤣🤣
Black’s Responses:
1. Bc5: 1:45
2. d6: 2:55
3. d5: 5:55
4. Nf6: 10:00
One of your best educational videos. I would definitely watch more content in this format. Also, I'm a fan of your work and personality.
Same, I've been playing since January and I find Eric's videos really helpful. The meme ones and the serious ones :)
That format really helps not only to learn the moves but also to understand the common ideas of the opening. Eric does really well in explaining those things.
One of the best on RUclips
This is really, and i mean REALLY nice. I love it when the openings can be explained as: if they *dont* do this you always do this
I have been playing ponziani for a few months and this video covers all the main moves, it's great for beginners players like me, thanks!
I’ve been playing chess on and off for more than 4 months now. I’m not so good with the calculations but I love watching vids like this.
A suggestion: quit playing blitz. Only play 30 min+ games. Gives you time to think and calculate and improve on those parts (maybe u already do this, but it helped me a lot!)
also, if you play online and wanna play irl chess, stop using arrows to calculate because ur gonna struggle a lot.
Same here
I am a beginner too man... what's your Id ?
@@ChessReviewer393 This is such a good tip. I've not been using Arrows but have been considering it. Now I wont! :)
Eric is an insanely good openings teacher, and he can teach to complete beginners as well as titled players
Thank you, Eric!
I really like the Ponziani. I recently joined a chess club and registered for the club championship. The first game I played against my (1500) opponent went downhill pretty quickly after
1.e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. c3 Bc5 4. d4 exd4 5. cxd4 Bb4+ 6. Nc3 d6 7. d5 Ne5 8. Qa4+ (so the exact same position Eric shows at 2:40 !)
Credit to you, Eric! For first introducing me to this opening
What colour were you?
@@ldgaming4213 If I had been playing with black I probably wouldn't be very happy about it, considering I lost a piece.
And I wouldn't play Bc5 against the Ponziani since it's just an inferior move, as conveyed in this video.
@@jopi8138 I see
I have played chess for 20 years, and this short lesson on the Ponziani was so intuitive. Ideas that I see in many games, often against me! I feel clearer about my game now than before this video. Thank you
😊😊😊😊$😊QZ
I tried this as soon as I watch the opening sequence and it worked so well. Just amazing
Seriously the best chess education you can get. Thanks brother.
A very fun line that black can try is the Vukovic Gambit which goes 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. c3 Nf6 4. d4 Nxe4 5. d5 Bc5! I’d be interested to see Eric’s analysis of this line. Black sacrifices at least a piece in the main continuation but gets a good attack against the white king.
Eric saying "Oh no, my ____" is my happy place.
The Ponziani is one of the most underrated chess openings out there!
And that's a good thing because not everyone will know a way to fight against it
Yesssss I started playing this from Eric's videos and always wanted a full video on it! Perfect
Hi Eric! Just wanted to say thank you for this amazing video! I've been studying it and using in online games for around a year, with quite some success. And last week I took part in my first OTB tournament. It didn't go that well because of poor time management, but in my last game I finally got to play the Ponziani and absolutely crushed my opponent. Felt reeealy good! Thanks again for all the efforts, looking forward to new great lessons!
This is actually a really great trap / opening for white because of the many forcing variations this opening has. Most people don't know counterplay against these lines. This opening will surely help me improve as a chess player. Thank for the opening!
Wonderful trap! Have played it so many times successfully.
Yes
If you like playing the trap, you can also play it in the Alapin Sicilian. I played the delayed Alapin and this trick comes up pretty often!
I'm an 1200 rapid 800 blitz & I've NEVER gotten any of those traps
Can you make a playlist for all of these openings tutorials, i watched your beginners guide to stafford gambit aswell and it was great, would be cool to have them all in one convenient place
Best Ponziani video on RUclips. Thank you so much for the class
Eric is reading my mind, I just started playing Ponziani few days ago, thanks Senpai 😍
Came here for the cool info from eric, then realized he's teaching Fundy and enjoyed it even more. Really fun seeing 2 of my favorite youtubers have the most unexpected collab
You should try playing the chess on coolmath games…
Why?
@@felixmeshach638 Because there are a lot of beginners there.
App?
They're all so bad lol
it was actually pretty fun
Nice! I needed another e4 opening to learn. Been using the Bishop's opening and usually going into the Italian game with relative success, but I'm kind of a one trick pony as a result. More strings to my bow are needed.
@@ouro4279 perhaps in another language, but the English expression to add more strings for your bow is in the case of an archer's bow-string breaking, they have a back up.
Wtf
@@ouro4279 ??? English - the language. What on earth do English bows and how much the string was pulled have to do with anything?
@@ouro4279 I've never heard of longbow strings breaking more frequently than other bow-strings. I do believe you're reading a lot more into what is simply a turn of phrase than is necessary.
More ‘arrows for your quiver’ seems to hold together as a metaphor.
I've been waiting for this. Btw you're my fave chess player
The real reason why everyone who plays 1.e4 must learn the ideas in the Ponziani...
The ideas Eric shows underlie the positions in a great many double KP opening positions which are merely the Ponziani decorated with additional piece placements. The "traps" Eric shows are underlying latent ideas in similar positions to be aware of even if they don't work like the Ponziani proper.
And, from the Black side...
If you play a double KP opening, it's a way for White to play simply without memorizing vast amounts of Ruy and Giucco theory, so it's not as though White wouldn't play the Ponziani against you... But, you should also be happy to see that White is not choosing to pose the most difficult and complex problems to you by choosing to play the Ponziani. Avoid the tactical traps and you should gain equality with natural play.
Thank you Eric you are making me REALLY enjoy my chess learning experience right now. You are doing everything right. Much love from Canada
i just figured the name of the opening i've been playing as white for the past couple months and the lessons ive learned on this video filled me with gratitude really thank you so much man
Make this a new series!!
1. Bc5: 1:45
2. d6: 2:55
3. d5: 5:55
4. Nf6: 10:00
19:56 The only move I'm worried about here is Qb6 from black (I was going through this with an engine), it's still supposed to be crushing for white, but the follow ups (that the engine suggests at least) seem less intuitive for me to play as a new player.
What an amazingly instructive video - thank you!
Ponziani: Makes this for GM's
Eric: Lets teach it to begginers!
I mean it works the best against beginners and if you can get all the variations committed to memory, you'll probably play like 25% of your games in this system even in the quadruple digits. I think I gonna look into this and try to learn it.
Wow! Such a great lesson, thanks Eric!❤
Excellent class!! I love the chess content. I would love to see more content like this in the future.
You are a great player and teacher Eric. thank you. Funny I cant remember playing this opening for over 10years. I Appreciate it. Great to have another trick up my sleeve.
You are the best Chess content creator out there. I love your videos Eric. Following your speedrun journey has been so education - I’m on the Ponziani episode (ep ~22) which lead me here. I hope to meet you one day if you’re ever in the UK!
Been here for 3 times to memorize these main lines. Thank you so much!
So helpful, the ponziani truly is VENEMOUS
Used this tool recently. My favorite opening now.
I do really like your videos. I gained like 100 ELO points in just a few weeks, thanks to your stafford gambit. Keep going! :)
1)e4 e5 2)Nf3 Nc6 3)c3 Nf6 4)d4 Nxe4 5)d5 Bc5!! with a very powerfull attack for the black side ! What is the way to deal with that irritating variation ?
I analysed this now and engine is going completely crazy.
I am also curious. I found out it is called Ponziani, Fraser defence
black f6 -> queen h5 black g6 white knight g6 and then you forked the bishop and the rook and if he retakes you can take the rook with the queen?
I love the lessons where the person you are teaching isnt an idiot, this guys is sharp
Just finished watching one of Fundy's mc videos and then switch to this but I can still hear Fundy, thought I was going mad XD
Another fantastic lesson I don't know what I would do to learn chess without these thank you Lord Eric!
@19:01 is white playing C7 wrong here with a discover check and also attacking the opponents queen? 👑
I tried playing this when I saw a five minute video. Didn't work. Watched this, more depth and lines. Played it again for the first time and won with ease! Thanks from a two month experienced Chess player.
These are excellent, do you plan on doing more of these? I just finished the stafford one, I had my board up as you guys went through it and done the same with this video.
My favourite opening with white thanks to Eric, not many people know exactly how to defend against it (until now).
Oh no my opening.
I went from 70% to 100% wins as white since I started to grasp the theory behind the Ponziani. I’d really recommend this opening to anyone up to at least 1000 ELO.
Hi i'm a new player at around 900 right now (I was 700 before watching that video so this single handedly got me +200 in just a couple weeks) BUT I find myself struggling when people at this level often never move their D7 pawn and I'm too trash to figure out a way to take advantage of it
Great Lesson. Thanks Eric
It is probable that I will never play chess, yet Eric’s demos and games are so very entertaining.
I recommend to trie playing chess online!
5:29 that's cool . Yeeeeah
Lmao
seen this session several times. I just started chess a month ago currently rated 800s".
Thank you.
I'm confused. At 11:56, the white pond moves to the empty d6 square, but the pond behind it disappears. And what's stopping their bishop from taking the pond?? Confused. :(
Yeah same i think this move is not legal in chess
@@seyitgoktas8241 Oh, it is legal. It's called enpasante which in french means in passing. It is legal. I'm still learning more about chess of which we probably all are. :)
@@donovancaldwell3872 thanks m8
But this is not in every online chess game
So this means that many of these chess games dont have the right rules
I just started using the ponziani and it helped me break my losing streak, thank you for sharing 👍
Excellent lesson Eric, good stuff
YES I LOVE THIS OPENING
eric: u start with e4
that student : wow yeah
The Nemo resigning trap! My first game trying it out I won the material using that baited pawn
ERIC, IF YOU EVER SEE THIS COMMENT COULD YOU GO THROUGH THIS LINE IN A VIDEO AT SOME POINT PLEASE? I feel it would be very entertaining and instructive coming from you!
The line I analysed is Nxe4 on move 4, lichess suggested that black hangs their Knight and a Bishop for a very messy position with white unable to castle having their King on e2 and Rook on g1 and black temporarily down two pieces but a castled king, yet it's equal according to the computer evaluation.
Here's the line up to move 13:
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. c3 Nf6 4. d4 Nxe4 5. d5 Bc5 6. dxc6 Bxf2+ 7. Ke2 Bb6 8. Qd5 Nf2 9. Rg1 O-O 10. cxb7 Bxb7 11. Qxb7 Qf6 12. Na3 e4 13. Nc4
From here there are a couple options, I thought you might have fun going through the possibilities in this line and I'm sure your viewers would have fun watching. 😎
What if the blacks f pawn plays f6? How do you move the queen and checkmate then!?
After watching this video today I played Ponziani and got the Pawn d6 (Blunder) variation and Won the match 🥳🥳🥳🥳.
Thank you so much Eric Sir.
This lesson is amazing Eric
What's the safest opening for beginner players? I want something I can play every time to get the game going. I'm clueless about openings, but good at mid-game.
watched it three times now thanks a lot Eric
Love the video format. Great teacher bouta play this haha
Can you play the ponziani with black?
I loved this, thank you!
Very much enjoying your videos, deep and thorough explanation of the traps and lines.
What software are you using?
Would you only recommend this for beginners? Or is this good for intermediate and advanced players too? Or is this refuted in higher level?
19:02, why dond you move to C7 with the pawn? Isnt that stronger?
You lose the pawn anyway
You’re the best opening teacher ever
Please a video on the vukovic gambit! After 3 ... Kf6 and 4 d4, black takes the pawn on e4, and after 5 d5, black gambits the knight on c6 by playing Bc5
i want you as chess teacher, there is no better one!
12:30 black takes d pawn with Bishop and then castles after white knight takes knight, threatening to pin the Queen if you move the knight
22:26 after Ng6 I'm surprised Eric didn't show Bd3, because there's a well know trap after the natural desperato Nxf2 where you sac your queen and either mate or end up up a piece. Seems like a very Eric move to play.
Its because the knight isn't lost, black can move it to e6
These are your best videos.
These scheme is quite clever. However, if I may make a suggestion. Ponziani is quite a mouthful for a lot of people so I may just shorten it to Ponzi going forward.
Thank you. This was awesome 👌
Thanks Eric!
Eric said the ponziani is great for beginners but even engines think it’s very sound, especially since it’s so rare it’s very good for much higher levels than that.
Very nice, but I’m still in doubt in what to do if black responds with pawn to d4. Did I miss it?
Im stuck in 1600 because of vienna and spanish not working for me. Now trying to learn pawnziani. I hope this works
Cover the volcic counter gambit in the ponziani
Just tried this opening, super solid ^^
At 21:32 after you play d5 attacking the knight, what if black plays 5. Bc5? Setting up a check or potential fork on f2. Seems like good counter play. Is there a way to punish this?
You can play against sicilian too (delayed alapin)
The move opponent always plays is Bd7 and it blocks the attack. I dont see that line in any video but its seems to be the one that comes up
Everytime. How do you address?
I am still considering wheter to play this opening because I don't like move 3.c3 so much. Can you explain why it is a good opening against beginners specifically? That makes me think that the opening really isnt that good. I have the same issue with the London system, people say its not good for high level chess.
Thank You your video
It is very helpful for new chess players
What I really like is e4,e5,Kf3,Kc6,c3,Kf6 and then white just develops the bishop to the passive Be2. In blitz a LOT of players just go on and grab your pawn on e4 and then lose the Knight because of the famous Qa4-fork.
Lot of king moves there
Actually no part of that works
@@G1stGBless Night, not King, sorry
0 dislikes, man with the golden heart❤❤❤❤❤
This Gem has been sitting here? For free??? Wow. Thanks a lot!!!
I have a question, i'm new to chess. If black don't move the Knight (Nc6 i guess), we can't use Ponziani anymore?
Incredible video. I'll play the Ponziani from now on. I wasn't familiar with it before that, but great lecture from Eric.
Terrific