@@walgekaaren1783 Yes, mating by long castling may be seen as more imressive than Kd2. But perhaps some people (like Lasker himself) are of the opposite meaning. (Edward, not the world champion, Emanuel)
By definition, checkmate is when one king is attacked (put in check) and there is nothing that can be done where he won't still be under attack (does not have to be the same attack). The rook scored the checkmate (by discovered check leading to mate) when. the king moved out of his way.
In your second example of a fun and rare checkmate, you explained how Morphy would often play with a piece removed to even-up some games and make them more fun, but you accidentally put the rook back that you had intended to take off.
@@jesusthroughmary Yeah, it was a pretty minor complaint about a pretty minor goof, that had no real effect on the video. And I'm not convinced he can do anything about it now anyway. But was a little frustrating to me, because he had it gone for a second there before it reappeared and he kept mentioning Morphy being a piece down, but couldn't seem to notice that the rook was still there. A little OCD, maybe, but just thought I'd mention it; and maybe it'll make him more careful in the future and prevent some bigger mistake.
7:56 There are no "never" rules in chess...except for never believe an exception doesn't exist for any rule in chess. If an attack can't be subverted by an offensive initiative, a purely defensive move is quite acceptable...even if it involves un-developing a piece. Bishops returning to offer strategic defense of b2/7, g2/7 are fairly common...and SF approved. But, yes, in general it's wise to rely on forward momentum.
@@edwardgoodson7628 Thanks for raising this. The game is so old individuals dispute some of its lines. During research, I learnt different narrators have different variations for the opening part of the game. Nevertheless, great game. It stood the test of time.
It's a discovered attack (the attack came from the rook, when he the king vacated the file), completely legal and devasting. It's not rare when i play (because im terrible) but grandmasters tend to avoid it this early.
Saying the move is "almost illegal" was his funny way of saying that the move is as spectacular as an actual illegal move. It's a bolt of lightning that you would never expect, like a piece appearing out of nowhere, or a rook moving diagonally. And we saw something like that in the Morphy game where he gave up his queen without a care and soon checkmated the enemy king that looked pretty safe. Also, doing something like marching your opponent's king from his own natural rank all the way across the board to your own side in a series of forced moves, and then checkmating him by moving your king is so disrespectful and humiliating to the opponent, perhaps it should be illegal on moral grounds. You see a similar use of terminology used in baseball when a pitcher throws a pitch that is so good it is almost un-hittable. In such a case you might call the pitch "filthy" or almost illegal -- even though it's really none of those things. In basketball, too, there are moves so good that such terms are used. The opponent had no chance or perhaps even fell down trying to stop it, so the move "should be illegal." It's a compliment in the end.
f4 instead of h4 is also a forced mate, that can end with the white king delivering checkmate by castling (king side), or with a semi-smothered mate by the knight to the black king in h3. I wonder if Lasker calculated all these variations, from the Queen sacrifice?
The video title is a bit misleading, since you cannot literally checkmate with a King, and there are no "almost illegal" moves. Moves are either legal or not. What you can do is make a King move that sets up a discovered check on a file or diagonal, or you can castle and create a check on a rook file.
01:20 _One of the rarest games in chess history._ Well, most that turn up do so just once - but, ok, I know what you mean! Still, I find myself wondering, seriously, what is the literal _commonest_ chess game in history? Scholar's mate, perhaps? [Edit] Or, maybe, 1 e4 1 0 Black didn't arrive. ;) Cheers :)
Having spent some time looking at Morphy's style and comparing it to the various computers playing these days, I think his intuition and thinking would clash with the modern desire to use Stockfish. He makes me think more of how AlphaZero (and now Leela Chess Zero) play. Would he have developed in the same way in this environment? Maybe. And I would disagree on chess being "solved" by computers. Watching Leela and Stockfish play made me realize that there's still a LOT of room based on your objectives. Stockfish is playing to win, and is willing to throw away a draw for a chance at victory. Leela is playing to not lose, and is happy to accept the draw. But there have been a few cases where Leela offered a draw, and Stockfish refused to accept it. And Stockfish wound up losing because of that. Which is why I like watching those two play, especially when I know Leela is going to win. Because those are usually the most interesting to me. Leela vs Stockfish is the closest we're going to have to Morphy vs Fischer, though Leela still has a ways to go yet.
at 4:55, why didn't Queen take knight on F6? that knight is hanging and black has both the Queen and Rook available to take it. And I cannot see an attack on the Queen anywhere.
Oh, you said discovered attack on black's king, it thought I hear discovered attack on Black's Queen, which I could not find anywhere. ok. I understand why knight wasn't taken.
Plagiarism. Original post: th-cam.com/video/Apbs8auwPl0/w-d-xo.htmlsi=J4fH7ROlmMOebBG6 by GothamChess. This video was posted in 2025. The link I have provided here is for the original video that was posted on March 23, 2021. The 2 TH-camrs’ analysis of the first game are too similar to say that the TH-camr from this video didn’t use the script from the first video to make this video.
Which Checkmate was better??? Like for Morphy; Comment ❤ for Allan Thomas
King walk
king moving from end to end of the board, just to die at the hand of the other king
He should have castled. 0-0-0x
@@walgekaaren1783 Yes, mating by long castling may be seen as more imressive than Kd2. But perhaps some people (like Lasker himself) are of the opposite meaning. (Edward, not the world champion, Emanuel)
That knight in the corner checkmate is a thing of beauty
White should have ended the game by O-O-O instead.
Why?
@@mskarp Because castle mates are so rare.
My thought exaclty.
White could have ended the game 3 moves ago with Be4 instead of Be2.
I was just about to ask when I watched it: doesn't white still have castle available? That would've been a helluva flair for the finish.
First game should have won by Castling.
"these guys were moving the pieces, and the pieces were moving them"
!!!
By definition, checkmate is when one king is attacked (put in check) and there is nothing that can be done where he won't still be under attack (does not have to be the same attack).
The rook scored the checkmate (by discovered check leading to mate) when. the king moved out of his way.
That first one was like a cowboy lassoing the king and dragging him all the way back to their side
No way, that second game was insane. Checkmate with a knight, using it to bait the king in with a bishop sack.
Great video and I love your enthusiastic and appreciative commentary of those beautiful games. A true chess lover! ♥
Thank you so much for posting these. Definitely two of the most interesting games I’ve ever seen.
Glad you liked them!
Wow king travelled to the other country for vacation in the first game
This Gm playes like Grandmaster Mikhail Tal
In your second example of a fun and rare checkmate, you explained how Morphy would often play with a piece removed to even-up some games and make them more fun, but you accidentally put the rook back that you had intended to take off.
@@polarvortex3294 thanks for the feedback
The guy has 300 subs, I assume he doesn't have the highest budget for graphics.
Not to mention that the game ended so fast that the rook wasn't in a position to be relevant yet even if it was on the board.
@@jesusthroughmary Yeah, it was a pretty minor complaint about a pretty minor goof, that had no real effect on the video. And I'm not convinced he can do anything about it now anyway. But was a little frustrating to me, because he had it gone for a second there before it reappeared and he kept mentioning Morphy being a piece down, but couldn't seem to notice that the rook was still there. A little OCD, maybe, but just thought I'd mention it; and maybe it'll make him more careful in the future and prevent some bigger mistake.
I don't think either that they would think a random youtuber would review that game, since youtube wasn't invented yet.
7:56 There are no "never" rules in chess...except for never believe an exception doesn't exist for any rule in chess. If an attack can't be subverted by an offensive initiative, a purely defensive move is quite acceptable...even if it involves un-developing a piece. Bishops returning to offer strategic defense of b2/7, g2/7 are fairly common...and SF approved. But, yes, in general it's wise to rely on forward momentum.
I have seen that first game before but in my grandfather's book the last move was recorded as castle queenside.
@@edwardgoodson7628 Thanks for raising this. The game is so old individuals dispute some of its lines. During research, I learnt different narrators have different variations for the opening part of the game. Nevertheless, great game. It stood the test of time.
9:25 is mate in 1 for whoever has the move
Great video, that first game was so sick marching the king all the way down the board
Couldn't agree more
Thank you! Great games to share
One of the most underrated channel for good games. Thanks, please keep up the good work.
In the first game, it would have been nice to play O-O-O++.
Great video and commentary, but I don't understand the title or the thumbnail. What move was "almost illegal?"
It's a discovered attack (the attack came from the rook, when he the king vacated the file), completely legal and devasting. It's not rare when i play (because im terrible) but grandmasters tend to avoid it this early.
Saying the move is "almost illegal" was his funny way of saying that the move is as spectacular as an actual illegal move. It's a bolt of lightning that you would never expect, like a piece appearing out of nowhere, or a rook moving diagonally. And we saw something like that in the Morphy game where he gave up his queen without a care and soon checkmated the enemy king that looked pretty safe. Also, doing something like marching your opponent's king from his own natural rank all the way across the board to your own side in a series of forced moves, and then checkmating him by moving your king is so disrespectful and humiliating to the opponent, perhaps it should be illegal on moral grounds. You see a similar use of terminology used in baseball when a pitcher throws a pitch that is so good it is almost un-hittable. In such a case you might call the pitch "filthy" or almost illegal -- even though it's really none of those things. In basketball, too, there are moves so good that such terms are used. The opponent had no chance or perhaps even fell down trying to stop it, so the move "should be illegal." It's a compliment in the end.
f4 instead of h4 is also a forced mate, that can end with the white king delivering checkmate by castling (king side), or with a semi-smothered mate by the knight to the black king in h3. I wonder if Lasker calculated all these variations, from the Queen sacrifice?
Nice video, great games, thank you!
Glad you like them!
He missed a mate in one though. bishop to e4 @5:28
Black would answer that with bishop b7 takes e4, ending white's manipulation of the black king.
You know on lichess you can edit the board to remove the extra rook. That would have made a bit more sense than leaving it there for no reason.
The ending of that first game was so gross (in an impressive and scary way). Also, Morphy was so cruel... dear Lord..that checkmate.
Just curious why you are putting an add for 'Huel' at the beginning of your video but you _have_ _not_ disclosed a sponsorship?
I don't think it's an ad, just a quote that applies to chess.
The video title is a bit misleading, since you cannot literally checkmate with a King, and there are no "almost illegal" moves. Moves are either legal or not. What you can do is make a King move that sets up a discovered check on a file or diagonal, or you can castle and create a check on a rook file.
The King of clickbaits... Shut the CHESS up!
Technically, another piece always delivers the check and mate besides the king, even during a castle.
01:20 _One of the rarest games in chess history._
Well, most that turn up do so just once - but, ok, I know what you mean!
Still, I find myself wondering, seriously, what is the literal _commonest_ chess game in history? Scholar's mate, perhaps?
[Edit] Or, maybe, 1 e4 1 0 Black didn't arrive. ;)
Cheers :)
Interestingly I play this same Nc3 line against the Dutch in several tournament games.
Emmanuel Lasker was the first world champion. He held the championship for 27 years, the longest it's been held.
Second champion*
Very nice video thanks!!!!
Wonder what's more rare, mate with simple King move, or mate by castling?
Great video thanks
Having spent some time looking at Morphy's style and comparing it to the various computers playing these days, I think his intuition and thinking would clash with the modern desire to use Stockfish. He makes me think more of how AlphaZero (and now Leela Chess Zero) play. Would he have developed in the same way in this environment? Maybe.
And I would disagree on chess being "solved" by computers. Watching Leela and Stockfish play made me realize that there's still a LOT of room based on your objectives. Stockfish is playing to win, and is willing to throw away a draw for a chance at victory. Leela is playing to not lose, and is happy to accept the draw. But there have been a few cases where Leela offered a draw, and Stockfish refused to accept it. And Stockfish wound up losing because of that. Which is why I like watching those two play, especially when I know Leela is going to win. Because those are usually the most interesting to me. Leela vs Stockfish is the closest we're going to have to Morphy vs Fischer, though Leela still has a ways to go yet.
I have the achievement. It's not so complicated.
Long castle would have been too filthy
at 4:55, why didn't Queen take knight on F6? that knight is hanging and black has both the Queen and Rook available to take it. And I cannot see an attack on the Queen anywhere.
Oh, you said discovered attack on black's king, it thought I hear discovered attack on Black's Queen, which I could not find anywhere. ok. I understand why knight wasn't taken.
How is that movie Almost Illegal? I don't understand how a movie in chess can be "almost illegal". Either it's legal or it's illegal.
I recently got Kf2#
I hear that engagement comments help out...
Nice video, I agree fully, best of chess is in the past!
Thanks a lot!
i was here before he was famous with 250k+ subs rn he has 323
Who is the guy speaking at the intro of the video
@@Cossax Bill Beswick.
A psychologist and former basketball coach.
You are doing a great job brother. Please always encourage your viewers to subscribe to this channel
I don't even like chess but I have to comment and like this video since it's interesting and well made
fun games for sure.
O-O-O also checkmates.
*punched in face*
310! 😉
I like it!!
Plagiarism. Original post:
th-cam.com/video/Apbs8auwPl0/w-d-xo.htmlsi=J4fH7ROlmMOebBG6 by GothamChess.
This video was posted in 2025. The link I have provided here is for the original video that was posted on March 23, 2021.
The 2 TH-camrs’ analysis of the first game are too similar to say that the TH-camr from this video didn’t use the script from the first video to make this video.
The quality of your videos doesn't match up to your subscriber count. You should actually have a lot more. Make a logo.
🔥
The Morphy mate was artistry! I've never seen that before. Thank you, great video! ♟️ ♟️