“Don’t tell the IRS I won the Chicago Open!” Had me in tears.

This is a real treat, Ben is a great expositor and his dry sense of humor is hilarious. Learn and laugh; what could be better?!

5 years ago, Ben never knew he would have a fan like me. Probably still doesn't know, but he definitely didn't know then that I'm a fan that would comment and like every video he is in as often as I can.

J'adore cet humour, ce talent ainsi que le choix des parties de MVL :) Bravo Ben !

Ben's the best teacher for players below 2000. Makes ideas very simple to understand and very humorous while still providing GM level insight and experience

I just love this mans humor, adds so much color to the lecture :)

Mchedlishvili's parent's couldn't think of a name for him, so they just named him after the year of his birth in Roman numerals.

"That'll teach him to have a name I can't pronounce." maximum snark engaged XD

MVL is an incredible tactician

"it would really help if u knew 25 moves of theory" sigh.

Love Finegold. French joke had me rolling.

"I blunder then you blunder then I blunder then you blunder.." that's me and my friends playing. we play the worst moves all the time we don't even know it.

More Ben!

Finegold thinks he is funny. He is correct

Ben you're the best

34:18 Instead of Nf6+, White mates in 2 via Qg8+ Rf8 Qxf8#.

actually in the game against naka the real threat was Qg8+ Rf8 QxR#

At 26:23 wouldn't white Kn to c3 be a good move to stop the black pawn without needing to move the rook?

"More alive that Tal" should be MVL brand new nick

The Mecca of chess... sounds exotic. Someday I want to visit... Tulsa, Oklahoma. *looks down, sniffs*

There black resigned to unstoppable checkmate in 2 with queen g8 check rook f8 and queen takes rook mate. 34:11

You called the Gelfand game a slav, isn't it a semi-slav? Aren't they usually considered pretty distinct? (Not certain though, I never play the semi-slav and when my opponents play it I just look confused, play no theory and lose)

@8:35 do you have a video of gelfand's lecture by any chance?

Your favorite player is MVL? I thought it was Paul Morphy

pinned, forked and skewered lol ^^

In the first game, what were Black's mistakes?

Interesting

20:04 Ben predicting the future

34:19 isn't it just mate in 2? Qg8+ Rf8 Qxf8#

Maxime Vachier-Lagrave English Subtitles: Vaccine Vascular Grob

"I don't know any games"

@34:26 white is threatening Qg8+

wb

Who sends a birthday card on Mother’s Day?

Dear GM Finegold, I've watched some of your videos, and I think I've managed to learn some of your great principles such as "never play F3" or "put it in 'H'" ... or, at least, it is what I've understood, because you have an horrible american accent ... or I think so. In fact, I don't even know what is an 'american accent', because english is not my maternal language. Well, I'm French. And by the way ... yes, I'm grateful for the quality of your course, but I would be even more grateful if you could avoid some allusions about ability of french people to retreat. It's not fair ! ... Or, not exactly .... (Glad to know that Maxime Vachier-Lagrave is neverthless one of your favorite players !) Thanks a lot.

Why is castle a bad move at 6:05.its the best move!

Qg8+ also gives White the advantage. Great lecture though. Funny

And he's still not going to the candidates :\

I’m

Finegold you can be a bit more technical. You just say what happened, make a joke and move on. Maybe more variations might help. For instance in the Caruana game, white threatens a royal fork, which you didn't mention at all.

Terrible!! :P