37:15 "Somebody like Ponomariev, if he was doing a puzzle book, and that was the answer, he would solve it in less than one second and go to the next puzzle. But when somebody's attacking you and attacking you and attacking you, and you have to watch out for every threat, it's easy to miss stuff." So true.

Finegold for President 2016. Foreign policy stances such as "put it in H!" And "the Ukraine is weak!" Domestic policy: "You.... INCORRECT! and "Voting is fun. But if you send me money your vote counts more." Finally, a politician I can trust.

Finegold is without a doubt the best lecturer at the CCSC. I wish all the videos from this channel were Finegold lectures.

As a Bulgarian my myself I am so proud of Topalov and I want to thank you for teaching your students about it you are a great guy

10:40 "And he played Bb1. Somebody in the class tell me why he played bishop to b1." _Very_ disappointed that nobody replied, "Always retreat." Clearly the correct answer.

24:23 "So if I was either color I would resign." XD

"As you can see, both of the knights are pinned and they are both attacked. So if I was with either colour, I would resign. It's too complicated for me." Another instant Finegold-classic. :D

"I hope nobody's hymen broke" - Ben Finegold.

I've not played chess for about ten years but these videos are very addictive.

Keep the Finegold lectures coming Scholastic Centre!!!

So much to learn.

Finegold gives the best lectures.

Love your style!

Next trip overseas will be to St Louis! This GM deserves my full thanks for giving me so many lessons for free!!!

Ben Please do Judit Polgar ;D

Awesome games ! Looking forward to seeing him play next month

I love Ben's in depth analysis spoken in layman terms for beginners. Great channel, great content

I wish Ben would have shared his reason for not liking Topalov back when. A fun lecture to watch. Thanks Ben

" - MR. FINEGOLD!!" , As they would say in The Matrix, " - You´ve done it again! You´ve insulted us all and at the same time made us love you and forgive you! That must make you a candidate for the combination of the year!"

I thought he was going to say: "Because they are.... Two wild and crazy guys!"

can you add a legends playlist please, i enjoy watching the legend series.

min 43, where does the queen go when black plays d5 after Nc3??

topAlov. A strong. :D

So at 24:59 Nxd4 is there something wrong with Qa4+ first

What software is being used to show the board here?

What's the name of the Chess software they are using?

At 36:45, I'm wondering if this line works: RG8, QxG8, QF6+, QG7, RE8# That's the checkmate line I saw when I paused the video and tried to analyse the situation, but I'm not sure if it works. I'm never confident in my calculations haha.

How is b4 any good? 47:01 I would just took the bishop on c3 and after Queen takes-> Nb4. I looks like it just blunders a piece and a pawn. But honestly I dunno what to play as white :P

at 24:21 (not questioning taplov by any means) why not Qa4+ with idea of capturing bishop on b4

QF6: coup de grace

incidentally people like kasparov got crazy miniatures against topalov

Finegold rules!! Not so many gags in this one; it's just as good if not better than the others. i.e. Awesomeness. I will try to be not so bugged by a couple of people in the comments saying you aren't funny or can't lecture properly etc. I think all it means that some people (apparently not many, a couple of percent) don't get you, is that you're doing something new, that hasn't been done before. It bugs people that they don't have a ready-made pigeonhole. (Huh? chess AND very funny/crazy/silly?! Does Not Compute) The thought and creativity in this humour doesn't seem to be too different in kind from that used in chess or any creative endeavour. Anyway, live long and prosper GM Ben. Your lecture videos are suspiciously wonderful. Thank you. :-)

I guess I haven't seen enough Ben videos, I didn't get the brilliant tacticians and coup d'etat reference

These games are the same as Stockfish vs. Alphazero game 3 and 5

10:45 - That was so cute

Is that rybka?

Lol third time I say it I can claim a draw

"If you lose in 10, 15, 20 moves that seems embarrassing. Unless you are Kramnik, and you are white." - GM of trash talking :-D

Regarding your comment at 25:00 about George Clooney: You should watch "Burn after Reading". :)

I remember that I saw a video of Ben Finegold trashtalking about Topalov being a cheater or something. Anybody knows what was that all about? Anyone remembers that video?

These are great (!) videos, but I do think BF goes a bit overboard with the player-style fatalism comments, especially in Kramnik v. Topalov. According to the free database at chesstempo, Kramnik as White against Topalov played 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 a total of 5 times, all squeezed in the years 2003-2005 (these all seem to be serious, classical games as well). After his first 3 outings, his score with White in this variation was 2.5/3. So I think it stands to reason Kramnik would feel justified in playing this way against Topalov. In the game BF chose, Kramnik plays terribly and is obliterated. But I think Kramnik's plus record against Topalov in this line going into the game, and even the career score after 5 which was tied at 2.5-2.5, is evidence against BF's apparent conclusion that Topalov simply had a much stronger feel for these positions than did Kramnik. My money is his terrible play in this game has some other cause, and I have no idea what that may be. I seem to remember he was having severe pain and health issues at some point, I believe around these years, so perhaps that was a factor.

Great!! Topalov raaaaaawwwrrrrrr!

Don't you hate when that happens?

I do not lose because I am a pawn down. When I lose I am at least a couple of pieces down - at least.

Like I'm a world champion in hockey - ba ha ha ha

at 37:48 why not queen e8?

Lol the scared knight stayed on b8 for the whole game.

I like your style of teaching,, sarcastic and condescending .. are you the Dr. House of Chess??! ..Naaaaah!

31:42 LOL!

What's the mistake he made in 1986?

why is ben finegold a vegetarian?

it's pronounce unsTopalov , ay ay

19:47 meow!

23:10 . after ...b4 why doesn't white play QA4 winning a bishop?

He used to like teaching more back then. Now he just rants. It's okay. The rants are good too

Sadly in the last game Kramnik kind of defeated himself.

Interviewer: Mister Topalov, everyone remembers you for only one thing. Can you guess what that is? Topalov: everyone remembers that I was World Champion! Interviewer: No Topalov: they remember my aggressive style of play Interviewer: No Topalov: they remember my exciting games Interviewer: No Topalov: Ok, I give up. What is it? What does everyone remember me for? Interviewer: The Kasparov Immortal!

one coment for the joke on 36:30

Qf6+ coup d'etat!!!

0:49 Skirt alert

Down a pawn in bad position although white has a queen on a3 LOL

Ok, Ponomarev Is from Ukraine, but mostly we should Say he Is from ussr. He was Born and grew up in the ussr, in the ukrainian ssr. For thats the truth, and also to avoid Extreme nationalism, for in 2015 we all know what was the ukr army doing to civilians! Btw i also think he Is an ethnic russian..

You always bet on black [when you play chess].