📗 Be a Top 5% Chess Player Worldwide, Learn the 3 Steps to 2000 ELO - chess-teacher.com/3-steps-to-2000-elo 💰💲 Join the RCA Affiliate Program, promote our courses, and get 50% commission - chess-teacher.com/partnership
Wow, I play h3 and g4 all the time and Nd2 when I am pinned like this, but I would never think to move the knight from b1 to d2 to f1 to g3 to put pressure on the light bishop and end up on f5. You break so many chess principles like not developing all your pieces, not castling, moving the same piece several times in the opening, knights on the rim... and yet there's not much black can do about it. Very instructive game!
As someone who sucks at chess, isn't this where you get into tactical chess? You can go against positional principles if you have calculated the path to a different good position.
@@FancyNoises I wouldn’t consider the Knight’s re-route to be a tactic. You’re re-positioning the knight. I would consider a tactic something as recognizing the pawn was pinned by the bishop and unable to re-capture. Or declining the queen trade by not simply moving/re-positioning the queen but placing a Knight in between.
It’s a whole world of possibilities out there when you drop the book and principles and pre conceived notions. not just in chess but in life. True freedom
Knights on the rim aren't bad if next move their getting off the rim. If you put a Knight on h4 to go to f5 the next move than its not bad because it won't be on the rim. However your knight on h4 gets stuck on the rim than it is bad. Also in a closed position it can be okay to move your pieces multiple times and even in an open position this is okay if your other pieces are developed.
Just be aware, that in something like the Ruy Lopez - exchange variation dxc6, White castles and black plays Bg4 with the pin on the Knight. When you play h3, black can play h5. When you take the Bishop with hxg4, Black plays hxg4 attacking your knight. When you move the Knight on f3 to remove the threat, Black can play Qh4 with an eventual Mate / win of a rook, depending on where you put the knight
@@hamimbudiman No, I think you generally castle early in the Ruy Lopez because it is a natural move in that opening and it gets the rook out to cover the e-pawn to prevent Nxe4. If Black plays h5 after h3, just play d5. Black wants to put its queen on f6, to trade on f3 so white has to take with the g-pawn, ruining the pawn-wall infront of the white king. When black plays Qf6, white has to play Nd2 so that after Bxf3, Qxf3, Qxf3 white can play Nxf3 and not gxf3.
Nice video, Master Smirnov. I never considered the horsey walk to g3. I learned from your videos to commit with my kicks if I haven't castled, but now I'll add the queenside knight to deal with the pin too. Thank you for the clear, concise explanation!
I hate that pin much more than Bb4 pins because, if you're intending 0-0, you really don't want g4 or gxf3 to happen, and Nbd2 isn't available if Nc3 has happened. Be2 is very meek, and that leaves Qd3 as the only solution i can find, which might not be possible in some games
Of all the chess streamers out there, I watch 5 or 6 different guys, I definitely always play better after watching this channel. The information is easy to digest.
I also advance the h pawn when faced with this pin, but delaying castling to reposition the queenside knight to the kingside is why he's Garry Kasparov, and I'm some guy commenting. Great stuff, I usually can't see that many moves in advance.
In soccer lingo, moving out of your standard position is called an “overload”. It’s breaking common principles but can be deadly effective. Thomas Muller plays as a Right Winger but will float all the way to the left of the field to get open. Just like the knight maneuver in this game. :-)
Igor, I'm usually already castled with my f-pawn pushed king's gambit style (or vienna gambit style) by the time the pin hits me. My biggest fear behind playing h3 (tell me why I'm wrong) is actually the bishop taking my h-pawn. Then I have to take back with my g-pawn exposing my king. He's down 2 material points but I hate the position every time. As a result, I never push h3. In this example, Kasparov WAS NOT CASTLED YET which makes all of this possible. It's hard to delay castling when your plan involves a queen/rook battery on the f-file, where the queen waits for the bishop to take on f3 to take back and form the battery. Great job pointing out that c3 stops the black knight from coming in and hitting the pinned knight a second time, which of course always results in having to play gxf3, again exposing the white king.
Igor Smirnov is the best and most entertaining chess coach I've ever seen. In the short time that I've been watching his videos I have noticed a real improvement in my game. Thank you, Igor!
The bishop pin is a nuisance attack and can be ignored, unless other pieces are brought in to add pressure. Depending on the situation, I either ignore it, or play h3 and a3 to prevent it in the first place.
I usually reason if i can pin with a bishop on both sides in turn I then exchange both bishops for knights. This is because I see knights as greater value and more versatile, plus losing one knight does not limit you like losing one bishop. I'm more cautious about doing this with one bishop as losing one devalues use of the other in my view. The opponent left with just bishops is then quite constrained by good pawn formations but your own knights are not. How you feel about this is dependant how it suits your style of play and I'm not sure how this sits with conventional thought.
@@theotherside8258 I'm not particularly good at the game, but knights are more useful work when the game is closed down. An opponent that likes an open game would always trade knights for bishops and that might leave you at a disadvantage. And players start to prefer open games after a certain level.
In the endgame, if you have a knight vs. your opponent's bishop, you might have an advantage. If you can get your pawns on squares where they either block the bishop or are not subject to attack, the knight can maneuver in ways the bishop cannot. The bishop can hit exactly 32 squares but a knight can get to all 64 squares.
I'm kind of a beginer (playing about a month and only blitz games) with blitz rating around 850 and won with these moves quite a many times now. Thanks for confirmation it's not a coincidence. :-)
Same, I had every instinct the same. I love c3 to shut down NC5. The only part of the plan I don't (yet) do is the knight maneuver. Usually I just begin my attack and then rampage through with my late Knight after my attack has fizzled out. Lol.
I usually, to my opponent's dismay, ignore it. Instead of engaging with it, I'll force trades with pawns, develop rapidly, castle. Then when it seems like all the pressure is on their king, I'll take the pinning Bishop. If they move it, I'll force a for and take it.
Can anyone make a video on how to handle when the bishop takes the knight because I really prefer the mindgame knight attack but now they captured the knight how to punish them.
"Of all times" and "of all time" are different expressions. They are both in vogue, both are correct, but they mean different things. The phrase most appropriate for your situation would be "of all time." "Of all time" is used to make a comparison, stating that something is the best throughout the ages. "Of all times" has a different meaning and usage. "Of all times" is used to mean the wrong time. For example: James rocked up, of all times, while we were in the middle of a fight. I knew that something was wrong with your intro :)
What if black castles queenside? I play the london, and despite black having a losing position after queenside castle according to the computer, I lose most of my games because I don't understand how to change my attacking ideas.
They were all considered the best for their time, but these days, Magnus is generally considered to be the best all around player to ever play the game.
Unlike what the previous commenter said, Fischer was ingenious but only competed briefly, Karpov and Kasparov were champions for many years and Magnus although he is out to get them, withdrew from world chess championship this year and will probably remain at 5 victories when Karpov and Kasparov have 6.
This is a good lesson but it’s quite specific to the Italian. c3 is the only reason why this pin isn’t so effective, because if, like in the original position at the start of the video, the knight is on c3 and f3, Bg4 is a lot harder to deal with since black has Nd4 coming pretty fast and you’re already castled, which makes any kingside expansion a lot less appealing
If you'll allow me to make a video request! ... At 9:00, if instead of black moving the bishop to g4, black might chose to move the knight to g4. What would be the best way for white to proceed here? Black would be threatening to fork the queen and the rook, with the black night and bishop both looking at f2. I'm still learning this game and I came up with a plan and I'd love to see if my thinking is reasonable here. Thank you!
I'm confused. Why did black resign at 8:12? He could take pawn Qf6 and continue at least. Black is down a lot but still with a chance?. Am I missing something?
Because Bh6 and Qg7 is mate, and there’s actually no way to stop it. Once Qxf6, Be3, Bxd3, Re8, Bh6, Re6, Qg7#. Unless I’m missing something it’s still forced mate. Even if it isn’t, being down an entire queen is basically a lost game against a GM. Edit: I was wrong Qxf6, Be3, Bxe3, Kh7, Bd5, a6, Be4+, Kg8 is forced, Bh6, Re8, Qg7# is apparently top engine move.
great analysis of this kasparov game, but doesnt really address the pin as illustrated at the beginning of the video. those positions are so annoying because your queen is stuck defending the knight on nf3, as nc3 is often already played, and bishop waiting moves arent usually employed by amateur player. they are taught to castle quickly which introduces the threat of ruining the kingside pawns unkess the queen stays stuck on her square
Black castling king side was very weak move with the pawn exposed to bishop sacrifice on h6. Especially against someone like Kasparov, castling king side was almost the weakest move possible in that position, with all that build up in the opening moves towards black king side.
The pawn on E4 is defended by a pawn and another Knight. Black will be down the exchange regardless. The Bishop is hanging because of the pinned pawn so if you take the pawn, white will take your Knight.
@@JimBobDewayne No worries. I thought I missed it too but had to recalculate. The order of recaptures is important and the pinned pawn are essential details.
While the concepts are solid and well presented, I will note that your solution to the initially shown position is to just not get into said position. In the initial position, Bg4 is definitely a much more favorable move to do than in the positions shown later. In the later shown positions, at a fundamental level Bg4 is not that great. White has done a lot more preparation to push in the center. Black pinning the knight feels a bit like him trying to fight in the center when he's not as equipped to do so as in the initial position. With the pawn on c3, there's not going to be a Nd4 later to pressure the pinned knight. The pin is also generally less effective when Nbd2 is available which it isn't in the initial position. While I prefer the c3 positions, I don't think this really addresses the initial position as much as it says to "play in such a way that black shouldn't want to play Bg4 as much".
📗 Be a Top 5% Chess Player Worldwide, Learn the 3 Steps to 2000 ELO - chess-teacher.com/3-steps-to-2000-elo
💰💲 Join the RCA Affiliate Program, promote our courses, and get 50% commission - chess-teacher.com/partnership
Wow, I play h3 and g4 all the time and Nd2 when I am pinned like this, but I would never think to move the knight from b1 to d2 to f1 to g3 to put pressure on the light bishop and end up on f5. You break so many chess principles like not developing all your pieces, not castling, moving the same piece several times in the opening, knights on the rim... and yet there's not much black can do about it. Very instructive game!
As someone who sucks at chess, isn't this where you get into tactical chess? You can go against positional principles if you have calculated the path to a different good position.
@@FancyNoises I wouldn’t consider the Knight’s re-route to be a tactic. You’re re-positioning the knight.
I would consider a tactic something as recognizing the pawn was pinned by the bishop and unable to re-capture.
Or declining the queen trade by not simply moving/re-positioning the queen but placing a Knight in between.
It’s a whole world of possibilities out there when you drop the book and principles and pre conceived notions. not just in chess but in life. True freedom
that knight rerouting doesn't really break principles as its so common its pretty much a principle in itself
Knights on the rim aren't bad if next move their getting off the rim. If you put a Knight on h4 to go to f5 the next move than its not bad because it won't be on the rim. However your knight on h4 gets stuck on the rim than it is bad. Also in a closed position it can be okay to move your pieces multiple times and even in an open position this is okay if your other pieces are developed.
This lesson is well conceived and beautifully explained. Typical of your excellent videos.
Many thanks!
Just be aware, that in something like the Ruy Lopez - exchange variation dxc6, White castles and black plays Bg4 with the pin on the Knight. When you play h3, black can play h5. When you take the Bishop with hxg4, Black plays hxg4 attacking your knight. When you move the Knight on f3 to remove the threat, Black can play Qh4 with an eventual Mate / win of a rook, depending on where you put the knight
Maybe that's why white doesn't castle too early? So if they do Qh4 after that sequence, they gonna face the rook which still in the h1
@@hamimbudiman No, I think you generally castle early in the Ruy Lopez because it is a natural move in that opening and it gets the rook out to cover the e-pawn to prevent Nxe4. If Black plays h5 after h3, just play d5. Black wants to put its queen on f6, to trade on f3 so white has to take with the g-pawn, ruining the pawn-wall infront of the white king. When black plays Qf6, white has to play Nd2 so that after Bxf3, Qxf3, Qxf3 white can play Nxf3 and not gxf3.
Ah, so that's what that one is called, I did that just recently.
@@austinslaughter319 Igor has 2 great videos on the Ruy Lopez. You should definitely check them out
Fishing pole trap?
great ideas explained really well. you are a fantastic teacher Igor! thank you
Nice video, Master Smirnov. I never considered the horsey walk to g3. I learned from your videos to commit with my kicks if I haven't castled, but now I'll add the queenside knight to deal with the pin too. Thank you for the clear, concise explanation!
Thank you Igor. Your chess class is very good, as usual. 😊👌
Thank you! 😃
I just tried this, and it worked wonderfully! I'm not very good yet, but following this made me think I might have hope to reach 1000.
👍
I love these instructional games . I always come away feeling more confident when I sit down at the board. Well done!
I hate that pin much more than Bb4 pins because, if you're intending 0-0, you really don't want g4 or gxf3 to happen, and Nbd2 isn't available if Nc3 has happened. Be2 is very meek, and that leaves Qd3 as the only solution i can find, which might not be possible in some games
really great video and intuitive explanations as always
I'm happy to know you enjoyed it!
Of all the chess streamers out there, I watch 5 or 6 different guys, I definitely always play better after watching this channel. The information is easy to digest.
Yep, just won with black using some of the ideas Igor spoke about. I’m only around 800 elo , but it’s nice to see a plan sort of work.
@@evilstorm5954 Congratulations! Keep it up!
Thank You for your work Igor. Much appreciated
I love your videos! You explain everything so simple and clear.
🙏
Inadvertently did almost this exact sequence of moves in a recent game. Those bishops cutting across the board was bliss.
Your videos are the best educational chess content on you tube. Thank you.
🙏
I also advance the h pawn when faced with this pin, but delaying castling to reposition the queenside knight to the kingside is why he's Garry Kasparov, and I'm some guy commenting. Great stuff, I usually can't see that many moves in advance.
GM Igor Smirnov is the only TH-camr that actually made my games better
I'm happy to know about your progress!
Very informative Igor excellently put together👍
Thanks 👍
Thank you. Your videos always introduce a simple idea succinctly, and my play improves a little.
In soccer lingo, moving out of your standard position is called an “overload”. It’s breaking common principles but can be deadly effective. Thomas Muller plays as a Right Winger but will float all the way to the left of the field to get open. Just like the knight maneuver in this game. :-)
Thomas Muller is considered a very high IQ player, not physically dominant by any means.
Igor, I'm usually already castled with my f-pawn pushed king's gambit style (or vienna gambit style) by the time the pin hits me. My biggest fear behind playing h3 (tell me why I'm wrong) is actually the bishop taking my h-pawn. Then I have to take back with my g-pawn exposing my king. He's down 2 material points but I hate the position every time. As a result, I never push h3. In this example, Kasparov WAS NOT CASTLED YET which makes all of this possible. It's hard to delay castling when your plan involves a queen/rook battery on the f-file, where the queen waits for the bishop to take on f3 to take back and form the battery. Great job pointing out that c3 stops the black knight from coming in and hitting the pinned knight a second time, which of course always results in having to play gxf3, again exposing the white king.
Don't castle like Kasparov, or do like me, castle queen side.
Thank you so much! What a nice video!
Very nice and instructive video. Thank you
Your teaching was beautiful. Thank you for the lesson.
thats some master level stuff for sure. Very nice.
Thanks for accurate analysis!
6:06 it is kasparov that pins in the end :D thats pretty cool
Very nice video! Good lesson. Thank you! Subscribed :)
Thanks Igor! Well done!
Very useful strategies.
Brilliant! Thanks!
1:58 Oooops ! Ok the show is over good night 😂 ..my man just clicked somewhere to Usbekistan 😂
Hi how do you know about Uzbekistan?
Thank you!
First time here. Such a great video! Thank you Igor.
Igor Smirnov is the best and most entertaining chess coach I've ever seen. In the short time that I've been watching his videos I have noticed a real improvement in my game. Thank you, Igor!
❤
7:16 Adding Fuhrer to the fire.
Thank you so much, sir.
The bishop pin is a nuisance attack and can be ignored, unless other pieces are brought in to add pressure. Depending on the situation, I either ignore it, or play h3 and a3 to prevent it in the first place.
That was a good video after a while from this channel. Congratulations 👍
I usually reason if i can pin with a bishop on both sides in turn I then exchange both bishops for knights. This is because I see knights as greater value and more versatile, plus losing one knight does not limit you like losing one bishop. I'm more cautious about doing this with one bishop as losing one devalues use of the other in my view. The opponent left with just bishops is then quite constrained by good pawn formations but your own knights are not. How you feel about this is dependant how it suits your style of play and I'm not sure how this sits with conventional thought.
You would never see this plan at a high level of chess. Bishops>knights, esp in open games.
@@tmpwow4282 I've definitely never seen it. I've always been one for experimentation and it has worked for me
@@theotherside8258 I'm not particularly good at the game, but knights are more useful work when the game is closed down. An opponent that likes an open game would always trade knights for bishops and that might leave you at a disadvantage. And players start to prefer open games after a certain level.
In the endgame, if you have a knight vs. your opponent's bishop, you might have an advantage. If you can get your pawns on squares where they either block the bishop or are not subject to attack, the knight can maneuver in ways the bishop cannot. The bishop can hit exactly 32 squares but a knight can get to all 64 squares.
this is called The spanish knight manuver
I'm kind of a beginer (playing about a month and only blitz games) with blitz rating around 850 and won with these moves quite a many times now. Thanks for confirmation it's not a coincidence. :-)
@Sleepy 🐉 why you talking shit? He'd probably smash you at chess
@Sleepy 🐉 i wanna see your progression in your 1st month
At first i was going up to 950 then I lost 250elo to 700elo and now i am 1080
That's really good. I'm 500 in blitz after a few months.
Same, I had every instinct the same. I love c3 to shut down NC5. The only part of the plan I don't (yet) do is the knight maneuver. Usually I just begin my attack and then rampage through with my late Knight after my attack has fizzled out. Lol.
very helpful video!
I liked to play this game plan 35 years ago and it was already methodically documented by Max Euwe in the 1930's. long before Gary was born.
Would you play an early A4 in the buildup? Gives space for white Bishop to retreat in case of Knight A5?
This guy Danya and chessbrah best chess teachers online
This is the greatest thumbnail of all time
How to punish it in Ruy Lopez, pin variation in closed Ruy?
Very nice
Bishop to e2 is a move against the King's Indian in the Orthodox line, not in e4-type positions
I usually, to my opponent's dismay, ignore it. Instead of engaging with it, I'll force trades with pawns, develop rapidly, castle. Then when it seems like all the pressure is on their king, I'll take the pinning Bishop. If they move it, I'll force a for and take it.
Everything went according to plan, only my opponent decided to castle long... 😅
Can anyone make a video on how to handle when the bishop takes the knight because I really prefer the mindgame knight attack but now they captured the knight how to punish them.
Short & sweet🙏
"Of all times" and "of all time" are different expressions. They are both in vogue, both are correct, but they mean different things.
The phrase most appropriate for your situation would be "of all time." "Of all time" is used to make a comparison, stating that something is the best throughout the ages.
"Of all times" has a different meaning and usage. "Of all times" is used to mean the wrong time. For example:
James rocked up, of all times, while we were in the middle of a fight.
I knew that something was wrong with your intro :)
wow such a very simple way the greatest players execute their plan.. or it seems simple, but we all know how complex it is
What if black castles queenside? I play the london, and despite black having a losing position after queenside castle according to the computer, I lose most of my games because I don't understand how to change my attacking ideas.
just throw your pawns and queens toward the enemy king or let 2 engines play the position to see how you should attack
I mostly love push pawn to force bishop leave
This is very good
I like these games better then the recently featured black and white lion games.
How easy it looks.. lol.. crazy brilliant kasparov
sure
If he plays bxf3 and takes knight, and what happens if he castles queen side
im a little new to the chess lore, so is Magnus Carlson, Gary Kasparov, or Bobby Fischer the best chess player of “all time”??
They were all considered the best for their time, but these days, Magnus is generally considered to be the best all around player to ever play the game.
@@JayHelmus763 nobody says that
Unlike what the previous commenter said, Fischer was ingenious but only competed briefly, Karpov and Kasparov were champions for many years and Magnus although he is out to get them, withdrew from world chess championship this year and will probably remain at 5 victories when Karpov and Kasparov have 6.
@@maximilianrobespierre8365 a lot of very strong players indeed say that quite often as a matter of fact, you sir are incorrect.
@@Nick-ih3xg Magnus has the capability to become the best but he is not yet the best, that's the consensus so far.
How would you get out of this pin?
Me, a 400 elo: "oh push the H pawn but that's probably wrong
GM: push the pawn
If I already castled and my opponent pushes his pawns on my kingside and he plans on not casting what do I do.
Open up the center asap if their king is in the mid and push the queensides pawn and create your own attack if they castoed queens8de
There's a rule in chess. If your opponent attacks on the flanks, attack in the centre and vice-versa.
I used to play d4 in the italian without even playing c3 but nowadays I go for c3 d3.
Doesn’t this strategy struggle against a central counter push involving d5?
Thanks man. The quick recap at the end is a great idea in my opinion.
I agree that was a great addition in this video Igor to reinforce the key concepts and moves. Really helps embed the knowledge
Kasparov is one and only
راقي انت فعلااا
This is a good lesson but it’s quite specific to the Italian. c3 is the only reason why this pin isn’t so effective, because if, like in the original position at the start of the video, the knight is on c3 and f3, Bg4 is a lot harder to deal with since black has Nd4 coming pretty fast and you’re already castled, which makes any kingside expansion a lot less appealing
As a weak player, a Queen pin slows me right down because of the fear of a blunder.
Practice makes perfect.
If you'll allow me to make a video request! ... At 9:00, if instead of black moving the bishop to g4, black might chose to move the knight to g4. What would be the best way for white to proceed here? Black would be threatening to fork the queen and the rook, with the black night and bishop both looking at f2. I'm still learning this game and I came up with a plan and I'd love to see if my thinking is reasonable here. Thank you!
The best way to deal with that threat is to simply castle ..then the knight can be kicked away with H3
@@23chiffy how about d4, u gain back The lost tempo cuz of attack on the bishop and get complete control of center if he takes with the pawn
@Electronem could def play d4 right away as well good call.
@7:24, why didn't black just push the H pawn forward?
Was’t this game discussed already in the channel?
I'm confused. Why did black resign at 8:12? He could take pawn Qf6 and continue at least. Black is down a lot but still with a chance?. Am I missing something?
Because Bh6 and Qg7 is mate, and there’s actually no way to stop it. Once Qxf6, Be3, Bxd3, Re8, Bh6, Re6, Qg7#. Unless I’m missing something it’s still forced mate. Even if it isn’t, being down an entire queen is basically a lost game against a GM.
Edit: I was wrong Qxf6, Be3, Bxe3, Kh7, Bd5, a6, Be4+, Kg8 is forced, Bh6, Re8, Qg7# is apparently top engine move.
Step 1. Play this simple move
Step 2. Play follow up moves like Kasparov
Very clever 😮
8:13 the queen can take the pawn
Спасибо большой
Impressive
nice one...
I just wonder why black castled kingside in the first place. When it was looking scary.
I can't take all the "BRUTALLY PUNISH" clickbait headlines anymore
1:35 "prophylactic move"
great analysis of this kasparov game, but doesnt really address the pin as illustrated at the beginning of the video. those positions are so annoying because your queen is stuck defending the knight on nf3, as nc3 is often already played, and bishop waiting moves arent usually employed by amateur player. they are taught to castle quickly which introduces the threat of ruining the kingside pawns unkess the queen stays stuck on her square
Beautiful game.
The timing broo
Black castling king side was very weak move with the pawn exposed to bishop sacrifice on h6. Especially against someone like Kasparov, castling king side was almost the weakest move possible in that position, with all that build up in the opening moves towards black king side.
I actually learned something
Moving the knight to h4 at 4:36 gives away your pawn on e4.
The pawn on E4 is defended by a pawn and another Knight. Black will be down the exchange regardless.
The Bishop is hanging because of the pinned pawn so if you take the pawn, white will take your Knight.
@@ATH-camUser1 Black gets the knight back with the Queen, so black wins a pawn.
@@ATH-camUser1 Never mind. I see it all now. Thanks.
@@JimBobDewayne No worries. I thought I missed it too but had to recalculate. The order of recaptures is important and the pinned pawn are essential details.
Beautiful
While the concepts are solid and well presented, I will note that your solution to the initially shown position is to just not get into said position. In the initial position, Bg4 is definitely a much more favorable move to do than in the positions shown later. In the later shown positions, at a fundamental level Bg4 is not that great. White has done a lot more preparation to push in the center. Black pinning the knight feels a bit like him trying to fight in the center when he's not as equipped to do so as in the initial position. With the pawn on c3, there's not going to be a Nd4 later to pressure the pinned knight. The pin is also generally less effective when Nbd2 is available which it isn't in the initial position. While I prefer the c3 positions, I don't think this really addresses the initial position as much as it says to "play in such a way that black shouldn't want to play Bg4 as much".
Loved the video and thinking about your course
Regards
neville
That's great
So you say that bishop is more precious that knight? Isn't that a question about position and phase of the game?
That Gary bloke was quite good then.
how about Be6 coach instead of Nf5