1:53 isn't the correct move h5 instead of h6? I remember a GM saying that h5 makes the entire tartakower variation playable, because otherwise you would just be inferior and black doesn't have many ideas with h6, and if it wasn't for this h5 move the main line would just be a better option overall whenever white castles queenside you can nearly always stop his attack because you rotate the b knight to the kingside (to the g6 square) and whenever white tries to expand on the kingside you nearly always have a way to stop it, either playing h4, or just capturing the pawn because you also have the light square bishop helping
Yeah a fair point actually. I've heard this before but got myself into many a bad position somehow anyway. I'll pin the comment so people have this option too but I personally prefer avoiding all that. Thanks for pointing it out and explaining it so well :)
The algorithm brought me here so I subscribed immediately. I play the CK Tartakower and I find your Bf5 move super interesting. Definitely worth a try, thank you
This doesn't "blow a hole" in Caro-Kann theory. It is part of the theory, being the second most frequently played move for black at that point. Also, I stepped through all the levels in the Lichess database, and Bd6 performs better for black at every level than Bf5. It also performs better in the Masters database on the site. Bf5 is not new, nor is it "a major upgrade." That's just click-bait language, and I am making note to heavily discount your claims when I see other videos from this channel suggested.
I personally have never seen Bf5 played and I've been an avid Caro player for years. I also stated in the video that Bd6 is great but also exactly what white is expecting and a c3 Bd3 Ne2 Qc2 setup scores very well for white against it whereas Bf5 stops this plan for white
I am currently 2034, I don't personally like the month by month rating, I am older than you, I remember when it was once a year, then went to twice a year, I actually preferred it twice a year to be honest. Cheers
Oh how old are you then? I've only been playing league chess for 2 years since I've been at uni and sometimes it feels like a real chore but it's great to play against really good opponents consistently. I'm currently playing in division 1 of the Birmingham league and it's so so challenging every single game on board 2 against 2000-2400 players 😅
3:54 I feel like the continuation in development is hindered by the placement of the king for rook on h8 and poor knight movement (kbd7 & kba6 no squares because of white's big center)
Thanks for posting and the mention! 😊 Also, as you point out in this video, the endgame with all of its possibilities and intricacies is not boring at all...
What do you do against people immediately playing Qe2+ I don’t want to trade queens, e2 is a horrid place for the bishop, and there are potential tactics with your bishop on e3.
Personally I play Qe7and trade queens but Be6 is probably the alternative since there's no Bc4 ideas because the queen blocks the development. Prolly followed up with Be7 to break any potential pin tactics and O-O makes most sense if you really dont wanna trade queens but id recommend Qe7 tbh
question at 3:40 is having the bishop on d6 more important than gaining a tempo or two by taking his queen and then casteling on your next move? ( depending on response of course) if so why is his bishop to f 4 so scarey after the queen trade?
Interesting point, I'd say that the king probably belongs either on f8 after Re8 and Kf8 or on d7 either after the knight gets out or get the Knight out via a6. I'd just prefer to keep his Bishop out of the game because if Bxe7 after Bf4 his Bishop isn't really scary it's just much better than if it has to go to e3 if I keep mine on d6. Hope that makes sense? Castling just isn't important after the queens come off imo
The problem with that line is that there are almost no imbalances and a lot of material has been removed. so at higher levels it is draw-ish and when playing a weaker opponent you will need to work very hard for a win. I would only consider it vs a stronger opponent if holding a draw wins the tornament or gives me a better standing. this is probably also why its not part of theory
Yeah I get your point but personally I like having games like that with the black pieces. I generally aim for equal openings with black with little imbalance so I can either get a fairly easy draw or have a chance to show my higher rating against lower rated opponents and squeeze a small advantage. Obviously up to preference but the Bd6 lines I find quite tough to play against castling queenside and white starting a KS pawn storm
Although your games turned out ok (sample size=2), Tartakower is well-known at master levels to be horrendous for approaches that have you going to an endgame. Tartakower requires aggression, risk-taking. But you don't always have to enter into it. Maybe try CK mainline 4...Bf5 to see how that fits with your play style. With no doubled f pawns, there's no overt demands to avoid an endgame. But on those days you're up for the full demands of the Tartakower, consider honoring it with every bit of aggression you can muster. Rather than 6...Bf5, take a look at Qd5 (super agressive and it staves off your concern of 7.Bd3...and the fearsome battery that will might later materialize with Qc2). Speaking of which, consider for a moment that you may be overreacting to that battery. It sounds like it has caused you problems. But when playing aggressively, you have to have the confidence that you'll prevail despite a willingness of taking risks. If white wins your h pawn...well, you're not supposed to be going to an endgame anyway...so that's ultimately not a full on tragedy. Your K is still fine (no K is fully safe). And white futzing around with winning a pawn (then eventually having to pull his B back) helps you to mobilize your assault. I'm assuming you have built up a catalog of common checkmating opportunities the Tartakower accommodates.
Very interesting comment thank you man, very good points which i will definitely explore a bit, Qd5 is a very interesting idea which I'll definitely try out!
What does the computer know? Ask Hans ? on the rare occasions its empty there are beads ! Love your content. Have a happy Christmas and great New Yea ❤
Yeah computer variations sometimes lack life, going for sidelines is my go-to to create interesting positions. Thanks for the support and have a great Christmas and new year :)
1:53 isn't the correct move h5 instead of h6? I remember a GM saying that h5 makes the entire tartakower variation playable, because otherwise you would just be inferior and black doesn't have many ideas with h6, and if it wasn't for this h5 move the main line would just be a better option overall
whenever white castles queenside you can nearly always stop his attack because you rotate the b knight to the kingside (to the g6 square) and whenever white tries to expand on the kingside you nearly always have a way to stop it, either playing h4, or just capturing the pawn because you also have the light square bishop helping
Yeah a fair point actually. I've heard this before but got myself into many a bad position somehow anyway. I'll pin the comment so people have this option too but I personally prefer avoiding all that. Thanks for pointing it out and explaining it so well :)
The theory after h5 is developing quickly for both sides. This video promotes a fantastic alternative.
H5 is great, just a headache for me personally 😂
@ChessCenturion Indeed, like this theoretical line - 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nf6 5. Nxf6+ exf6 6. c3 Bd6 7. Bd3 O-O 8. Qc2 Re8+ 9. Ne2 h5 10. O-O h4 11. Nf4 (instead of 11. h3 ) 11... Nd7 12. Qd1 Nf8 13. Qh5 Qc7 14. g3 Qd7 15. Bd2 Qg4
Yeah it might be objectively good but practically I find it impossible
The algorithm brought me here so I subscribed immediately. I play the CK Tartakower and I find your Bf5 move super interesting. Definitely worth a try, thank you
Great to have you here bro! I used to hate the c3 Bd3 line but having Bf5 makes it way more playable for me. Hope you enjoy my other videos :)
This doesn't "blow a hole" in Caro-Kann theory. It is part of the theory, being the second most frequently played move for black at that point. Also, I stepped through all the levels in the Lichess database, and Bd6 performs better for black at every level than Bf5. It also performs better in the Masters database on the site. Bf5 is not new, nor is it "a major upgrade." That's just click-bait language, and I am making note to heavily discount your claims when I see other videos from this channel suggested.
I personally have never seen Bf5 played and I've been an avid Caro player for years. I also stated in the video that Bd6 is great but also exactly what white is expecting and a c3 Bd3 Ne2 Qc2 setup scores very well for white against it whereas Bf5 stops this plan for white
Hi, just came across your channel, some interesting stuff, I have subbed.
Can I ask what's your ecf otb rating?
Hi mate, it's currently 1980 so hopefully I can hit 2000 by the end of the OTB season 🤞🤞 Glad you enjoyed the video :)
I am currently 2034, I don't personally like the month by month rating, I am older than you, I remember when it was once a year, then went to twice a year, I actually preferred it twice a year to be honest.
Cheers
Oh how old are you then? I've only been playing league chess for 2 years since I've been at uni and sometimes it feels like a real chore but it's great to play against really good opponents consistently. I'm currently playing in division 1 of the Birmingham league and it's so so challenging every single game on board 2 against 2000-2400 players 😅
3:54 I feel like the continuation in development is hindered by the placement of the king for rook on h8 and poor knight movement (kbd7 & kba6 no squares because of white's big center)
Really needed video ❤
Happy it was useful! More Caro kann playlist to come
I’ve been playing white bishop out to same square first as mainline since I learned it
I've just never seen it publicised before, where did you learn it from?
Thanks for posting and the mention! 😊
Also, as you point out in this video, the endgame with all of its possibilities and intricacies is not boring at all...
I always appreciate your comments mate, always really insightful so thank you. I agree the endgame structure is quite interesting with the 4 on 3
What do you do against people immediately playing Qe2+
I don’t want to trade queens, e2 is a horrid place for the bishop, and there are potential tactics with your bishop on e3.
Personally I play Qe7and trade queens but Be6 is probably the alternative since there's no Bc4 ideas because the queen blocks the development. Prolly followed up with Be7 to break any potential pin tactics and O-O makes most sense if you really dont wanna trade queens but id recommend Qe7 tbh
question at 3:40 is having the bishop on d6 more important than gaining a tempo or two by taking his queen and then casteling on your next move? ( depending on response of course) if so why is his bishop to f 4 so scarey after the queen trade?
Interesting point, I'd say that the king probably belongs either on f8 after Re8 and Kf8 or on d7 either after the knight gets out or get the Knight out via a6. I'd just prefer to keep his Bishop out of the game because if Bxe7 after Bf4 his Bishop isn't really scary it's just much better than if it has to go to e3 if I keep mine on d6. Hope that makes sense? Castling just isn't important after the queens come off imo
The problem with that line is that there are almost no imbalances and a lot of material has been removed. so at higher levels it is draw-ish and when playing a weaker opponent you will need to work very hard for a win. I would only consider it vs a stronger opponent if holding a draw wins the tornament or gives me a better standing. this is probably also why its not part of theory
Yeah I get your point but personally I like having games like that with the black pieces. I generally aim for equal openings with black with little imbalance so I can either get a fairly easy draw or have a chance to show my higher rating against lower rated opponents and squeeze a small advantage. Obviously up to preference but the Bd6 lines I find quite tough to play against castling queenside and white starting a KS pawn storm
Although your games turned out ok (sample size=2), Tartakower is well-known at master levels to be horrendous for approaches that have you going to an endgame. Tartakower requires aggression, risk-taking. But you don't always have to enter into it. Maybe try CK mainline 4...Bf5 to see how that fits with your play style. With no doubled f pawns, there's no overt demands to avoid an endgame. But on those days you're up for the full demands of the Tartakower, consider honoring it with every bit of aggression you can muster. Rather than 6...Bf5, take a look at Qd5 (super agressive and it staves off your concern of 7.Bd3...and the fearsome battery that will might later materialize with Qc2). Speaking of which, consider for a moment that you may be overreacting to that battery. It sounds like it has caused you problems. But when playing aggressively, you have to have the confidence that you'll prevail despite a willingness of taking risks. If white wins your h pawn...well, you're not supposed to be going to an endgame anyway...so that's ultimately not a full on tragedy. Your K is still fine (no K is fully safe). And white futzing around with winning a pawn (then eventually having to pull his B back) helps you to mobilize your assault. I'm assuming you have built up a catalog of common checkmating opportunities the Tartakower accommodates.
Very interesting comment thank you man, very good points which i will definitely explore a bit, Qd5 is a very interesting idea which I'll definitely try out!
What does the computer know? Ask Hans ? on the rare occasions its empty there are beads !
Love your content.
Have a happy Christmas and great New Yea
❤
Yeah computer variations sometimes lack life, going for sidelines is my go-to to create interesting positions. Thanks for the support and have a great Christmas and new year :)
Caro Kann: Chess Centurion Variation
Bloody better be called that
you know what else is massive?
Dings level of chill?
@ChessCenturion Yeah but also that LOOOOOOOOOOOW TAAAPPPEEEERR FAAADDDEEEE. The low taper fade meme is still MASSIVE
How do I ban someone from ever commenting again?
@ChessCenturion damn. Bro doesn't like degeneracy ig
Not and answer to my question >:(
I also don't like tatakor as I lose 90% of game , they long castle and destroy me
Yeah used to happen to me but Be6 is unreal for stopping it
Ur huge
Ty bro
You look more gay than buff bro
U wanna break the news to my gf?
@ChessCenturion she agrees
Damn there goes my relationship
First
Bro fully prefired that 😂