A Beginner Lesson in the Ponziani Opening

In this video, I give a chess lesson to PogChamps 4 Participant @Fundy on how to play the Ponziani Opening for white. The Ponziani is a simple and tricky opening that can be very effective at the beginner level. Learn more about PogChamps 4:
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236 Comments

  1. Hi i'm a new player at around 900 right now (I was 700 before watching that video so this single handedly got me +200 in just a couple weeks) BUT I find myself struggling when people at this level often never move their D7 pawn and I'm too trash to figure out a way to take advantage of it

  2. the term at 11.51 is "en passant" rule 😀 for noobs like me 🙂 welcome

  3. Came here for the cool info from eric, then realized he's teaching Fundy and enjoyed it even more. Really fun seeing 2 of my favorite youtubers have the most unexpected collab

  4. Literally the first person I pulled the queen knight trap off of resigned immediately 🤣🤣🤣

  5. I just started using the ponziani and it helped me break my losing streak, thank you for sharing 👍

  6. Good morning, could you help me. Could I send you a pgn file of a game in which I played ponziane. If at all possible, how could I send the file.

  7. 12:30 black takes d pawn with Bishop and then castles after white knight takes knight, threatening to pin the Queen if you move the knight

  8. Would you only recommend this for beginners? Or is this good for intermediate and advanced players too? Or is this refuted in higher level?

  9. i just figured the name of the opening i've been playing as white for the past couple months and the lessons ive learned on this video filled me with gratitude really thank you so much man

  10. This is the only opening i ever played with white . And got me from 1000 to 1500.

  11. This is actually a really great trap / opening for white because of the many forcing variations this opening has. Most people don't know counterplay against these lines. This opening will surely help me improve as a chess player. Thank for the opening!

  12. Love the video format. Great teacher bouta play this haha

  13. The way eric talks makes me feel like it’s difficult for him to speak

  14. I tried this as soon as I watch the opening sequence and it worked so well. Just amazing

  15. Okay this seems really dangerous. Thank god I'm nowhere near 2000

  16. Is it still possible to play the ponziani if black doesn’t play knight to C6 on their 2nd move?

  17. My problem is that I get to deal with such a opponent that he will make me forget my moves and plans

  18. When white forks the black knights – pawn to d5. It's blacks move. They move Knight to whatever clearing the path to the king – white queen to a4. I don't understand how that's check mate? Next move is Black queen to block the king no? Sacrifice your queen?

  19. Going to send this to Levi to help him beat you

  20. Today I have a chance to play with a grand master and I am eager to try this opening

  21. Seriously the best chess education you can get. Thanks brother.

  22. I’m definitely playing this because I play the delayed alapin

  23. Ok I went from losing to stockfish 4 to beating 5 on lichess with this. Thanks Eric

  24. Umm i have a question about this opening cuz i have a game today opponent goes 3…Bc5. What to do when the opponent does that?

  25. Just finished watching one of Fundy's mc videos and then switch to this but I can still hear Fundy, thought I was going mad XD
    Another fantastic lesson I don't know what I would do to learn chess without these thank you Lord Eric!

  26. The Nemo resigning trap! My first game trying it out I won the material using that baited pawn

  27. 19:56 The only move I'm worried about here is Qb6 from black (I was going through this with an engine), it's still supposed to be crushing for white, but the follow ups (that the engine suggests at least) seem less intuitive for me to play as a new player.

  28. At 11:57 i think this move is illlegal in chess cause i have never seen a pawn do this i am sure this is illegal and not a legal chess move
    If its not someone help me pls

  29. Im stuck in 1600 because of vienna and spanish not working for me. Now trying to learn pawnziani. I hope this works

  30. but how about queen e7 after the knight and 2 pawns

  31. I like your style… someone talks trash sbout the ponziani, then you show video evidence of the ponziani working on that same someone

  32. Hi Eric! Just wanted to say thank you for this amazing video! I've been studying it and using in online games for around a year, with quite some success. And last week I took part in my first OTB tournament. It didn't go that well because of poor time management, but in my last game I finally got to play the Ponziani and absolutely crushed my opponent. Felt reeealy good! Thanks again for all the efforts, looking forward to new great lessons!

  33. I learnt more chess in this 1 opening than every Gotham video combined

  34. So helpful, the ponziani truly is VENEMOUS

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