English Opening VS Caro-Kann Chess Lesson # 161

This is lesson # 161st of our beginner to master level course and we continue to prepare our English Opening. This time, we learn how to play against the Caro-Kann (c6) defensive system. And as a bonus, you will acquire a new way to play vs the regular Caro-Kann if you ever play 1.e4!

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First tactics book:
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Advanced tactics book (II):
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Endgames book:
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Theory for Today’s Lesson:

Learn how to play Chess the right way from beginner to master level. National Master Robert Ramirez will take you up the pyramid by following a proven Chess training program he has been improving and implementing for over 10 years.

Benefits of Playing Chess:
​- Promotes brain growth
– Increases problem-solving skills
– It exercises both sides of the brain
– Raises your IQ
– Sparks your creativity
– Teaches planning and foresight
– Teaches patience and concentration
– Optimizes memory improvement
– Improves recovery from stroke or disability
– Helps treat ADHD

Chess is an intellectual battle where players are exposed to numerous mental processes such as analysis, attention to detail, synthesis, concentration, planning and foresight. Psychological factors are also present on and off the board; playing Chess stimulates our imagination and creativity. Every single move a player makes is the result of a deep analysis based on the elements presented on the battlefield.

Chess in its essence teaches us psychological, sociological and even moral values. In a Chess game, both players start with the same amount of material and time. The fact that the white pieces move first is considered to be practically irrelevant —especially because a player typically plays one game as white and one game as black. Consequently, the final result of the battle solely depends on each player. It doesn’t matter if you win by taking advantage of your opponent’s mistakes or by simply avoiding mistakes yourself. Truth is that Chess is an extremely individual sport and our defeats can only be blamed on ourselves and no one else. And this, in the end, only benefits us because we learn to be and feel responsible for our actions and never come up with excuses to justify ourselves.

We also learn that when it comes to our victories on the board, our opponent’s mistakes play a more significant role than our own skills. Let’s not forget that a Chess game without any mistakes would be a draw. This way, Chess provides us with another valuable life lesson: be humble at all times.

About National Master Robert Ramirez:

With an outstanding background as a professional Chess player and over 8 years of teaching experience, Robert Ramirez brings both his passion and his expertise to the board, helping you believe & achieve!

Robert Ramirez was introduced to the fascinating world of Chess when he was 5 years old and has participated in prestigious tournaments such as the World Open Chess Tournament and the Pan American Intercollegiate Team Championships. Thanks to his performance, he has earned his National Master title from the United States Chess Federation.

Currently, NM Ramirez and his carefully selected team teach at several private schools in the counties of Miami-Dade and Broward and they also offer private lessons. He says the key to their success as Chess coaches is their ability to adapt to every student and to make lessons fun and interesting for students and even their family members.

25 Comments

  1. hello..Honesty I would have taken the bishop with my queen..But after I would have probably blundered with rook X D5 So they have to react not to b checked..And then I would have pushed the pawn and only after I would have taken C3 rook and always possibility to take on G5…but don't know

  2. Thanks for all the great content. Any chance that lesson on the english vs french is coming anytime soon?

  3. Thanks for these videos! I recently got back into chess and was always a strong player when I was younger. It’s been a bit of a road getting back, but the English is always something I’ve tried utilizing and it’s nice to see the perspective with what to do during different defenses. Thanks so much!

  4. Now you might be on to something😜 I dont mind the IQP, I often play the Alapin. I normally play the Fantasy Variation against the Caro. But I would be very interested in using this approach against the French Defense. I have tried many different approaches to the French, but I don't really love any of them. Please do a video about the French next time! Thanks for all the great content.

  5. Useful, well taught lesson ! I would rehearse the proper way to play with isolated pawn. By the way I got mynfirst FIde rating : 1256👍🇨🇵

  6. Hello friend
    Do you have the study of each lesson on lichess or should we ourselves create them?😅😅😅❤

  7. The English opening is one of my favorite openings so it was enjoyable to see this variation.

  8. ugh … kinda skipped over the iso pawn lesson cause I've been avioding playing with one … time to go back and watch it again! 😛

  9. Plz can you tell me what is the lesson which can tell me how can i know if i showld x pawn or advance or not take pawn?

  10. Why after Nc6 don´t push the pawn to d5? Stockfish give you +2.5 instead of Nf3 only +0,6

  11. How would my gameplay be affected if I switched from playing on E4 to C4?
    Please reply 🙏❤️

  12. thank you for the drops of old lessons being used. it helps a lot to go back and refresh old lessons. thank you

  13. I was looking for a video on the Caro Kann (I play it as black). But I also play the scotch as white and had come to the conclusion that my preferred counter was the Accelerated Panov. Thanks for a guide on it.

  14. Always good to see how the theory pans out by studying a high class game like this one – Aronian was truly masterful here! Thank you, Robert! Most instructive and enjoyable too!

  15. I found the 3rd best move instantly, I'm only 1600 lichess player lol

  16. Long time watcher. First comment, I love the english material and would appreciate/value more analysis on it!!

  17. I found Qh6. Excellent content. Going back to lesson 153😁

  18. Robert, you are fantastic. Along with Nelson Lopez (Chess Vibes) you are my favourite chess teacher. LOVING your series on the English/English Botvinnik. Can we have more please? Please keep the English videos coming! I'd especially love one on how to respond when black comes after our fianchettoed King Bishop with their light -squared-bishop supported by their Queen. I love your ideas for dealing with the 150 attack against the Pirc, so can we please have a video on how to deal with a Queen&Bishop attack on our LSB in the English Botvinnik. Thank you so much.

  19. I currently own Simon Williams' course on the Botvinnik English, and he recommends the same lines as you do. It's very helpful to complement my study with your videos. I hope you continue the series on this opening, you are doing a great work! I love the way you explain things.
    I am having some trouble to know where to break with my pawns. I get the idea of f4, but i don't seem to understand when the position requires b4 or d4. The lines where black plays a quick d5, c6 (intending d5) or …e5, Nc6, f5 also bother me, since it seems I am forced to abandon my Botvinnik plans and i feel uncomfortable. How do you carry in with your plans in this situations?
    The english is a very rich and complex opening. Some people say (GM Williams, GM Seirawan and others) they used to play this setup as kids, but It seems to be way over my head lol.

    Thanks for you work, it's always nice to discover a great coach online. 🙂

  20. The coordination of the rooks and the bishop was very well done, beautiful game.

  21. I love how your playlists are setup. The kings indian pirc got me from 1000 to 1200, then the english got me 1522. Everything is so organized

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