1. e4 e5: A Discussion (Eventually Middlegames) - GM Ben Finegold

Grandmaster Ben Finegold gives an intriguing talk about the most common amateur opening, the double King pawn game. Learn to play more than the boring Giuoco Piano. Spring traps and know to avoid them. See two Ruy Lopez middlegames that Finegold played.

2016.01.12
C50 Blackburne shilling gambit
Boris Kreiman vs. Benjamin Finegold, 2002: C64 Ruy Lopez, classical defence, Benelux variation
Ferdinand Hellers vs. Finegold, 1990: C64 Ruy Lopez, classical defence, Benelux variation

[Bobby_Hall]

I'm amazed at how many jokes Ben is able to make and how quickly he thinks of them. I think he analyzes joke variations as much as chess variations!

[mikecantreed]

"You don't have to master the middlegame you can 1500 the middlegame"

[onefatalglance]

"Because in movies, grandmaster games end in five moves."

[vodozhaba]

33:50
Ben Finegold: “My pawn structure is a little raggedy but I have a nice bishop”
Eric Rosen: “I gave away a queen for two pawns but I have a nice knight”

[ElJetzFoo]

Me: “Hey, that’s my favorite opening!”
Ben: “You will never see this opening in GrandMaster levels, you’ll see this often in kid matches”
Me: Oh 🙂

[kennethlauer]

"that's correct. Wait, how are you correct? You feeling alright?"

[thomasploemacher]

One of GM Finegolds finest lectures. Not just because of the amount of jokes. So many lines to learn from, and stories to keep you entertained. Keep coming back to this every once in a while. So much to see, it's like a Waldo.

[jimbobjones-OG]

Ben is such an excellent speaker, huge knowledge, witty as hell, what a delight.

[shottysteve]

man. these lectures are so easy to watch. can just binge em day

[bluemoon]

_"...But since I won the game, do you think I accepted the draw?"
_"that's right, you're paying attention" lol

[SynsityGW]

"After Nf6, I may have died, and he would have won the game"

That's his explanation to why his opponent should have played a losing move rather than resigning. This guy is fucking hilarious.

[jajajaja]

I love this guy, it's like binge watching Netflix.

Such a good lecturer, it's amazing.

[paparoevlogs]

This is one of the best lectures I've ever seen. Cheers to GM Ben.. Humorous and well informed fellow

[matteovrizzi]

36:45 holy crap. ben remembers every move of some random game he played in 1988.

[bnc]

No one could ever believe how entertaining chess could be!

[weeblyploonbottom]

This is just a great all around video. I played this for my wife, my 6 year old and my 3 year old. I enjoyed this as a review too! I recommend this to players of all levels and all ages. That is pretty to make a video that can be useful to such a wide spectrum of players.

[GlowboxD]

Thank you for shouting out The Lutzhin Defense. I watched it after you mentioned it, and I quite enjoyed it actually. Very obscure chess film. I love Turturro. I also love the internet for having these kinds of videos for me to learn from. Thanks for the mention and the awesome e4, e5 discussion.

[zohnjimmerman]

Idk why but after that guy at 29:30 coughed and Ben said "thank you" I started laughing

[robbiesmith]

you know its Finegold when someone asks the topic of the lecture after 23:49

[hobbyless]

Ben is hilarious! When someone doesn't know the answer to one of his questions, he gives them a hard time. When someone answers correctly, he still gives them a hard time and asks them if they're feeling ok. LOL