The strangest thing is that this, one of the best if not the absolute best videos on TH-cam on meeting the Catalan, has only 8000 views. We'll, the remaining 8B people don't know what they are missing. Thank you, Tony.
Great video Tony! Love this "suggested opening line and analysis vs a specific opening" theme. Much better than just playing a blitz game and commenting on it! Much more instructive and interesting to watch too. Keep it up! Cheers!
Tony Rotella that's quite a good idea! The Semi-Slav would be very interesting to analyse as well as part of the 1.d4 d5 repertoire since it is very rich. I am talking about the move order 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 c6. Or even through the 2...c6 Slav move order (or though the Nimzo move order with 3.Nf3). Just a suggestion. Cheers!
Beautiful video, well-structured showing and sorting out how lines of play can diverge at different points in the game. Very useful as I'm trying to build a black repertoire against 1. d4 around the Nimzo, and the Catalan is one of the anti-nimzo lines.
Hi great video! While doimg my own research on the line im curioud about what you would do in response to d4 d5 c4 e6 g3 nf6 Bg2 Bb4+ Bd2 Bd6 the line reccomended I think runs into serious problems after Nc3 and with e4 coming I dont see any way black can get equality and white practically looks much better. It would seem at that point we might have to rely on Be7 which I hooe is not the case. What line do you think we should play as black there?
If I get some time in the next few weeks I'll take a look at it - what line do you specifically think is the problem after 6.Nc3 O-O for instance? 7.Qc2 or something else?
After 6.c6 white has e4 which obviously we dont want and after 6.0-0 taking winning d4 seems to leave black with a bad position becuz the lack of developement. I analyzed some of the variations and I dont believe it is as bad as I initially though but a well prepared opponent could definetly get a bigger than usual advantage as white.
I was looking something for suggesting to my students! I think your recommendation suits excellent to us, the only concern i have, is the Reti move order where white always delays d4. I don't know if i could transpose in my main repertoire against 1.d4 at all. Anyway Thank you!
Awesome! Might give this variation a try... Btw, does white have any additional option if he delays Nf3 and first goes 3. g3 and 4. Bg2 - or will that always transpose back into the "main line"? And if white does have some independent lines there, what would you recommend for black against them?
Yeah this move order is a good point - I think the only place where it really makes a huge difference would be when White blocks with Nd2 - in that case our plan with a very early ...b5 isn't possible. If I get the time, perhaps I can add on another snippet to cover that. Great catch! ;)
Hey Tony! That's a good one! I love the "lab" videos. How about you cover the other main alternative in the QGD (i.e. the 4.Nc3 line instead of 4.g3)?? That would be great! Cheers!
Excellent video Tony on the Ukranian Variation. Could you please tell me now or in some later posting what you would do if confronted with 6 Nc3!?. This ,move has been recommended by the Romanian Gm Mihael Marin in the second volume of his Catalan repertoire series for Modern Chess Databases. I would be very interested to hear how you would play against this slightly atypical like Catalan response by White. I am starting to get the feeling that 6 Nc3 might be fairly critical for the evaluation of this interesting, and not well known, chess line. Thanks so much, Everett
Hi Tony, excited to see some more QGD stuff! How are you liking it compared to the grunfeld? I also have a few questions about move orders: I noticed in your study you favor 1...e6. Can you clear up why? I'm guessing its to avoid the exchange QGD maybe??? After 1. d4 e6 2. c4 d5 3. Nc3... what are your plans? Secondly, why not 1... Nf6 and 2...e6 to get into QGD via (1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 followed by 3... d5) which seems more flexible to me.
It has it's ups and downs compared to the Grunfeld. Easier on the brain and more solid, but occasionally hard to generate the imbalances. The move order with 1...e6 is a convenient way to avoid some stuff if you also play the French and you're ready for 2.e4. For instance, against stuff like the London/Colle/Torre, I'm not necessarily committed to plans with ...d5. If I didn't play the French I'd use the standard move order or the one you brought up, which also allows a Nimzo if you're so inclined. Against the 1.d4 e6 2.c4 d5 3.Nc3 I have always gone 3...Nf6, and if 4.cxd5 I have been using Kramnik's favorite lately, the Semi-Tarrasch. I'd rather not go into the Exchange QGD - not a huge number of chances there for Black to really mix it up.
Awesome video! I try to follow ' Playing d4.d5 A Classical Repertoire' from Ntirlis as much as possible but I find his dxc4 Catalan system a bit too complex as a low level club player. This looks more easy to learn! How does it hold up after two years and do you still play it? I was also wondering what you play against the English?
Also have the Ntirlis book, agree that his choice against the Catalan was not very practical. Especially since the Catalan is not played all that often at amateur level.
Usually I'll use a database first and map out the main variations and critical positions, I'll analyze them a bit by myself, etc. Then I'll check everything with an engine, try and generate new ideas. Lastly, I'll check all the books I have on stuff, add variations, subtract, update assessments, etc. I used to use books first, but I like trying to figure everything out for myself first, and only then comparing with others who've looked at the same positions.
Hello, Tony: Thank you for your hard work both here at TH-cam and at lichess.org. I would love to see more educational videos! There are, frankly, too many "let's play" videos and not enough educational content. With your knowledge of chess, you could most likely produce high quality opening, tactics, middle-game, and end-game videos. You understand the fundamental core of opening theory, but are not esoteric in how you go about explaining it. Some of the most watched chess videos are related to basic opening theory and tactics from thechesswebsite.com, who--by the way--is complete garbage because Kevin, the owner of thechesswebsite.com, has no understanding of chess and just blatantly reads engine evaluations. With the powerful tools on lichess.org and the possibility for you to create high-quality educational content, I believe that chess can go far without companies squeezing every penny from the game of chess.
Much appreciated Andrew! Certainly the "let's play" videos take a lot less work, but no doubt also have less community impact. Thanks for your kind words, there will be more instructional videos soon! ;)
I should be the one thanking you. You mentioned that you create the lichess.org's database, right? Did you have to individually import and edit two million games?
The strangest thing is that this, one of the best if not the absolute best videos on TH-cam on meeting the Catalan, has only 8000 views. We'll, the remaining 8B people don't know what they are missing. Thank you, Tony.
You don't know how much that means, thanks SO MUCH! I tweeted your response on Twitter - very touching, thanks!
Great video Tony! Love this "suggested opening line and analysis vs a specific opening" theme. Much better than just playing a blitz game and commenting on it! Much more instructive and interesting to watch too. Keep it up! Cheers!
Thank you, glad you like! There will be more, possibly just filling out the 1.d4 d5 repertoire for Black. :)
Tony Rotella that's quite a good idea! The Semi-Slav would be very interesting to analyse as well as part of the 1.d4 d5 repertoire since it is very rich. I am talking about the move order 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 c6. Or even through the 2...c6 Slav move order (or though the Nimzo move order with 3.Nf3). Just a suggestion. Cheers!
love ur videos Tony, high quality as always! please do them more often though!
Thanks, workin' on it! :)
Beautiful video, well-structured showing and sorting out how lines of play can diverge at different points in the game. Very useful as I'm trying to build a black repertoire against 1. d4 around the Nimzo, and the Catalan is one of the anti-nimzo lines.
Glad you dig it, thanks for watching!
Hi great video! While doimg my own research on the line im curioud about what you would do in response to d4 d5 c4 e6 g3 nf6 Bg2 Bb4+ Bd2 Bd6 the line reccomended I think runs into serious problems after Nc3 and with e4 coming I dont see any way black can get equality and white practically looks much better. It would seem at that point we might have to rely on Be7 which I hooe is not the case. What line do you think we should play as black there?
If I get some time in the next few weeks I'll take a look at it - what line do you specifically think is the problem after 6.Nc3 O-O for instance? 7.Qc2 or something else?
After 6.c6 white has e4 which obviously we dont want and after 6.0-0 taking winning d4 seems to leave black with a bad position becuz the lack of developement. I analyzed some of the variations and I dont believe it is as bad as I initially though but a well prepared opponent could definetly get a bigger than usual advantage as white.
@@JerjisChessChannel It looks like I've already added some notes regarding 6.Nc3 to the study - do you have any disagreements with those?
I was looking something for suggesting to my students! I think your recommendation suits excellent to us, the only concern i have, is the Reti move order where white always delays d4. I don't know if i could transpose in my main repertoire against 1.d4 at all. Anyway Thank you!
Awesome! Might give this variation a try...
Btw, does white have any additional option if he delays Nf3 and first goes 3. g3 and 4. Bg2 - or will that always transpose back into the "main line"? And if white does have some independent lines there, what would you recommend for black against them?
Yeah this move order is a good point - I think the only place where it really makes a huge difference would be when White blocks with Nd2 - in that case our plan with a very early ...b5 isn't possible. If I get the time, perhaps I can add on another snippet to cover that. Great catch! ;)
this is amazing... could you include a link to the vid in the study as well?
As a triangle player the Catalan and the anti-noteboom gambit are the bane of my chess existence.
Hey Tony! That's a good one! I love the "lab" videos. How about you cover the other main alternative in the QGD (i.e. the 4.Nc3 line instead of 4.g3)?? That would be great! Cheers!
Eventually I hope to get around to it, yes! ;)
I like playing the catalan and I like playing against the catalan as well, it gives such an exciting games
Watching this as a catalan player, I actually think that watching "countering" your repertoire is a great way to improve
Glad it's helping you, I agree!
Excellent video Tony on the Ukranian Variation. Could you please tell me now or in some later posting what you would do if confronted with 6 Nc3!?. This ,move has been recommended by the Romanian Gm Mihael Marin in the second volume of his Catalan repertoire series for Modern Chess Databases. I would be very interested to hear how you would play against this slightly atypical like Catalan response by White. I am starting to get the feeling that 6 Nc3 might be fairly critical for the evaluation of this interesting, and not well known, chess line. Thanks so much, Everett
Hi Tony, excited to see some more QGD stuff! How are you liking it compared to the grunfeld? I also have a few questions about move orders: I noticed in your study you favor 1...e6. Can you clear up why? I'm guessing its to avoid the exchange QGD maybe??? After 1. d4 e6 2. c4 d5 3. Nc3... what are your plans? Secondly, why not 1... Nf6 and 2...e6 to get into QGD via (1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 followed by 3... d5) which seems more flexible to me.
It has it's ups and downs compared to the Grunfeld. Easier on the brain and more solid, but occasionally hard to generate the imbalances. The move order with 1...e6 is a convenient way to avoid some stuff if you also play the French and you're ready for 2.e4. For instance, against stuff like the London/Colle/Torre, I'm not necessarily committed to plans with ...d5. If I didn't play the French I'd use the standard move order or the one you brought up, which also allows a Nimzo if you're so inclined. Against the 1.d4 e6 2.c4 d5 3.Nc3 I have always gone 3...Nf6, and if 4.cxd5 I have been using Kramnik's favorite lately, the Semi-Tarrasch. I'd rather not go into the Exchange QGD - not a huge number of chances there for Black to really mix it up.
thanks for taking the time to reply! Love your vids! keep it up!
I would really be interested in a Semi-Tarrasch video.. Anyway, this was a great one, keep it up!
i saw the vid on my feed and i was hoping you didn't cover the open catalan *thumbs up*
I aim to please, thanks for tuning in man! :)
Does this work from a semi slav move order like d4 d5 c4 c6 nf3 nf6?
Very good video, hope you're still enjoying Chess, wherever you are!
Thanks James! Of course I am!
Awesome video! I try to follow ' Playing d4.d5 A Classical Repertoire' from Ntirlis as much as possible but I find his dxc4 Catalan system a bit too complex as a low level club player. This looks more easy to learn! How does it hold up after two years and do you still play it? I was also wondering what you play against the English?
Also have the Ntirlis book, agree that his choice against the Catalan was not very practical. Especially since the Catalan is not played all that often at amateur level.
Thank you very much for this video, it helped me a lot understanding how to play against the Catalan !!!
Glad you dug it!
i drew with a high rated player using this line! thank you so much :)
That's amazing, congrats on the awesome result!
tony, how do you study openings, if I may ask?
Usually I'll use a database first and map out the main variations and critical positions, I'll analyze them a bit by myself, etc. Then I'll check everything with an engine, try and generate new ideas. Lastly, I'll check all the books I have on stuff, add variations, subtract, update assessments, etc. I used to use books first, but I like trying to figure everything out for myself first, and only then comparing with others who've looked at the same positions.
it is great tony sir great stuff in thes channel but please expalin more more reason behind the moves .thxx
Hello, Tony: Thank you for your hard work both here at TH-cam and at lichess.org. I would love to see more educational videos! There are, frankly, too many "let's play" videos and not enough educational content. With your knowledge of chess, you could most likely produce high quality opening, tactics, middle-game, and end-game videos. You understand the fundamental core of opening theory, but are not esoteric in how you go about explaining it. Some of the most watched chess videos are related to basic opening theory and tactics from thechesswebsite.com, who--by the way--is complete garbage because Kevin, the owner of thechesswebsite.com, has no understanding of chess and just blatantly reads engine evaluations. With the powerful tools on lichess.org and the possibility for you to create high-quality educational content, I believe that chess can go far without companies squeezing every penny from the game of chess.
Much appreciated Andrew! Certainly the "let's play" videos take a lot less work, but no doubt also have less community impact. Thanks for your kind words, there will be more instructional videos soon! ;)
I should be the one thanking you. You mentioned that you create the lichess.org's database, right? Did you have to individually import and edit two million games?
I did - basically poked around the internet to random sources and grabbed the games. Filtered out the bad ones, by rating, date, crappy games, etc.
when u play g4 and there is no Bg7 or Nf6 in that long diagnal he will go Ne5 and ur rook on a8 is gone
? Do you have an exact line for me to look at and a timestamp?
hey Tony, what's your rating?
I don't think you're a hight rated player, are You?
nice content but please do not misuse the Name of God