Hey i love your videos! i was just curious bout the opening on move 9 your plan was to get the e4 and u went through some possibly variations and ideas to get this move in i was just curious why the move Nh4 instead of Ne1, i think on Nh4 yes its not the most glorious knight but at the same time it really puts black into something he can either probably retreat to c8 which doesnt seem logical or play e6 on that Nxf5 and exf5 and then focus on the bishop pair and queenside pawn breaks just and idea curious on your comments to this

I feel that if Nh4 he just goes ...Be6 and my knight is out of play on h4. Realize that in the game he went ...Be6 unprovoked, however my knight is better placed on e1 because it has a few more options, while on h4 it can really only go back to f3. Basically knights on the rim are dim or something like that?

hahaha. "I'm just gonna pretend I'm right here, above ......" that was hilarious.

Stockton, I don't even know what you are referring to!

How hard was it to start playing again after being away from the game for a while. I just started back after 4 years and find myself constantly in trouble in the openings because I can't remember the plans in some positions.

Neat opening trick in the Rxb7 line. Is there a reason black doesn't play 7...Nc6.

Could you have tried 8.e4 instead of 8.d4. It seems like it gets you the center more easily.

Bh3 is a fascinating idea (even though it doesn't quite work in this game). I'll have to keep it in mind when I have a similar position.

I think in the Nd3 line (after Bc4), if your opponent plays ...c5, you might be able to sacrifice the exchange with Nxc5. Seems like you get a lot of counterplay on the queenside with your knight and g2 bishop. But, I wouldn't go into that willingly.

Very complicated struggle in the center in this game. I like the tension between the knights and bishops. I really like 17.a4. I was going to suggest it, and then you started analyzing it. I think it gives you a great position.

Nice result! Beating one of the top five minute players. Big CONGRATS on getting over 2400! Awesome. You're definitely in very good company.

If ....7...Nc6 for black in taht Rb1 line I probably do something like Qa4 and maybe even take on c6 in some positions.... Somehow just seems not so good for black.

2. After 8. e4 probably ...Nxc3 bxc3 and ...c5, and then when I go d4 it's a bit annoying because it's blacks move? I dunno maybe e4 is ok, but generally when they play ...c5 to attack my center, its my move, and not theirs. Maybe they can do something annoying there. It's some kind of Grunfeld position that looks better for black than normal IMO.

I don't really like the exchange sac.....seems like black can just play ...b6 in some positions and its no problem. Even if you go e5, i take on c5, take on d4 etc etc....just doesn't seem good to me at all. Don't give away your material so easily!!

Yeah, the exchange sac is no good. You're also right about those Grunfeld style positions. Very interesting!

really? you say it at the end of the video. 23:30 into the video.

What was it in reference to?

Being on the Best List. You said your rating was high enough, but you didn't have enough games. So you were gonna pretend that your name was in there.

Ahhh, yes I am there!

No, you are only pretend there. But I'll pretend with you.

does anyone know who this GM is?

(Vallejo Pons maybe?)