The Colle-Zukertort system is a great opening for you to get exposure to a new set of position types and learn Chess in general. It is easy to implement and offers a lot for both the tactical and the strategic player. In this lesson, more than just teaching you this great opening NM Robert Ramirez will teach you what you should look for when preparing any Chess opening. Enjoy!
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00:00 Intro
00:31 The Colle Zukertort can be both tactical and strategic
01:53 What to cover when preparing any Chess opening
04:49 Aggressive plan to attack the king
06:18 Opening moves for the Colle System
08:03 Typical pawn Structures in the Colle System
11:34 First Illustrative game with the Colle System
24:45 Second Illustrative game with the Colle System
30:35 Chess Psychology with the Colle System
31:57 Colle-Zukertort System with colors reversed
32:42 When Black plays Bf5
My Book Recommendations:
First tactics book:
Mixed tactics book:
Advanced tactics book:
Advanced tactics book (II):
Carlsen’s book (excellent):
Kramnik’s book (excellent):
Pirc Defense book:
100 endgames you must know:
Endgames book:
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.
Another fantastic video. I only discovered you recently but your already one of my favorite channels.
Thanks for this cool system! One question: what if black challenges your bishop at d3 in the opening with Bf5?
The Nimzo Larsen attack – my favourite opening with White – leads to similar positions hehe
hey, this might be a late comment, but this opening is working great for me. but at 30:00, what if instead of rc6 black did bc6?
Great video! I wonder what happens if Black gets his light-squared bishop outside the pawn chain. Something like: 1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.e3 c5 4.b3 Bg4. I wonder if we should change our plans and put our bishop on e2 instead of d3 in that case.
I have an unlisted lichess study I made for this lesson (with credit to Coach Robert). It has all the ideas, discussions, and games (with analysis) presented in this video given in 16 chapters. I do this with a lot of your lessons for self-study. Is it okay to post a link to this lichess study here, Coach?
Hi Robert. Amazing channel. I am supporting you now as I value your teaching so much. I'm loving the CZ. But I have 2 questions. 1) What helpful adjustments to the CZ can be made when black castles queen side? 2) How does the CZ work when black plays a g6/KID type defence? I'm having less success against these defences with the CZ and am wondering what adjustments can be made? Thanks so much teach, Daniel.
At 26.55 wouldn't black capturing Nxe5 be the best moment, since Whites Queen is preventing f4?
Then follow up with Qc7 and d4 push?
25:42 Why not Nd7 takes on Ne5? I know you explained that pon will be string there after f4. But this is dubbeled pons. Then on 28:11 You say look at this dubbeled pons. Why is it there not good and if white has the same it is good?
It was Bishop f5 that gave or is giving me the trouble, I have found the counter, c4, I just played a game, I lost because I had made a blunder, did not do h3, allowing my pawn on h2 to be taken and that really caused problems, I fought back but in the end I was check mated. could not castle. King safety key.
Good video, much appreciated
But playing systems as a lower rated player hoping to improve actually stunts your development, no?? With systems you are basically playing a set up and after a while the positions become repetitive and you don’t grow because you are not being exposed to different structures and positions which is important for growth. I can see it would help you with elo because you should get a good idea of what to do most of the time but as for growing as a player I not so sure. If you see this Robert I would be interested in your views on this??? Thanks – btw really enjoy your videos.
Cheers
I guess this is better than nothing, but a very weak opening.
TY for the vod! After reviewing this and S. Williams videos I picked up the CZ. Is there a CZ-style line that is recommended vs the KID setup? Also, 2 …Bf5 is pretty annoying
Great episode. Other than doing puzzles, what do you recommend for tactical training? Thanks for the great content.
Can you please point me to information to play the zukertort against g6 with bishop fianchetto?
I messed around with the original Colle system and gave it up quickly, however watched through this and getting instant results, amazing teaching as always 👏
Great lesson, many thanks. No wasted time, well organized and planned. I've recently learned this opening and enjoy playing it. Your tutorial will make it easier. Thanks again.
I have been playing this a lot since watching this, and get quite a lot of success. But it really doesn't seem to work against KID, or any fiancetto variation. 1.d4 Nf6 (I know what their plan is) 2.e3 g6 3.Nf3 bg7. If I complete the colle system and castle short it is kind of pointing at a target that is hard to reach.
Would you transpose to a different opening if they play Nf6 as their first move?
I like very much your vidéos, Mr Ramirez. Just a technic question: after d4,d5-Nf3,c6-Bf5 what do you think of Nh4 ? Good? Bad? Ugly?
Please add a video to count whites attack
My high was 1208 and I dropped back to 940 and I’m back up to 1060 or so. That said for this-hardly anyone at this level will not attack a piece if it’s in front of them for an even trade.
Despite my english i follow your Channel which is tremendous for thé player I am(1850 elo in thé seventhies )and Côme back to chess after a break of 30 years with you and blitzstream👏👏👏👏
I just found your channel. This is great. I love your simple explanations.
I love this opening because I got every important information from you! You helped me use it better than ever.
Amazing explanations, thanks very much for the video! I specially like the way you switch between moves, pawn structures, and plans. I will watch all your other videos in the next weeks.
Often, there is knowledge about opening, middlegame, pawn structure or endgame and we have to struggle to tie them together. With this kind of video, we have the whole picture. Thanks!
Robert, really enjoy your videos. I have been playing the CZ since you taught it to me. Having trouble with 1.d4..d5, 2.Nf3..Nf6, 3.e3..g6. How do you play this or what do you switch to?
Amazing video 💯
Hi, great video. What would you recommend playing against g6 Bg7?
[Site "Chess.com iPhone"]
[Date "09/09/2022 02:38AM"]
[FEN rnbqkbnr/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/RNBQKBNR w KQkq – 0 1]
[White "loveisacrime1"]
[Black "Advanced"]
[Variant "chess"]
[WhiteElo "800"]
[BlackElo "1800"]
1.d4 Nf6 2.e3 d5 3.Bd3 Nc6 4.Nf3 h6 5.O-O Nb4 6.b3 Qd6 7.Bb2 Nxd3 8.cxd3 g5 9.Nbd2 Be6 10.h3 Bg7 11.e4 Rd8 12.e5 Qa6 13.exf6 Bxf6 14.Qe2 c6 15.Ne5 Qb6 16.f4 Rg8 17.fxg5 Bxg5 18.Qf2 Bxd2 19.Qxd2 Bxh3 20.Rf2 f6 21.Nf3 Be6 22.Re2 c5 23.Qe3 Kd7 24.dxc5 Qc6 25.Nd4 Qxc5 26.Qxe6+ Kc7 27.Rc1 Qxc1+ 28.Bxc1 Kb8 29.Qxe7 Ka8 30.Bxh6 Rc8 31.Qxf6 a6 32.Nf5 Rc6 33.Re6 Rc7 34.Rd6 Kb8 35.Rxd5 Rgc8 36.Qe5 Ka8 37.Nd6 Rb8 38.Nb5 Rc2 39.Nc7+ Ka7 40.Qd4+ b6 41.Rd7 Rb7 42.Bf4 Rxa2 43.Nb5+ axb5 44.Rxb7+ Kxb7 45.Qb4 Ra7 46.Qxb5 Ra2 47.d4 Ra1+ 48.Kh2 Ra7 49.d5 Ra8 50.d6 Rf8 51.g3 Rh8+ 52.Kg2 Rd8 53.d7 Rh8 54.Bg5 Kc7 55.d8=Q+ Rxd8 56.Bxd8+ Kxd8 57.Qxb6+ Kd7 58.Qf6 Kc7 59.b4 Kc8 60.b5 Kc7 61.g4 Kb7 62.g5 Kc7 63.g6 Kb8 64.g7 Kc8 65.g8=Q+ Kb7 66.Qgg7+ Kb8 67.Qff8#
I use it against 1800 engine level 😊
Thanks 🙏🏻
I won a pretty good otb game today using this system for the first time. Because of coach Robert's explanation of the ideas, I was able to navigate the game even though the move orders were all different. Thanks Coach!
Coach, I have the problem that, when playing a new opening, the opponent doesn't do the book move. It's often a trap or something really aggressive. It's easy to get caught. Could you do a companion for each opening called, e.g., "Colle Zuk: When your Opponent Does Dumb Stuff."))))
Another brilliant lesson thank you very much coach. I don’t normally like d4 openings but I liked the look of this one and thought I’d give it a go…practiced on the bots first til I was familiar with it then had a go in a blitz game and won first go. I’m pretty certain I won’t win every time I use it but it’s another one for my repertoire…thanks again.
I watched other chess channels in YouTube but your videos are the best. Thank you.
Good day sir Robert.. which do you recommend? .. colle system or london system?
Every time I do this, black attacks my light square B with Nb4. Do I move the B and lose a tempo, or do I let them take my B?
I play the Colle-Zukertort exclusively and about 80% of the time my opponent pins the knight with the bishop on G4.
About 80% of ppl who play against the colle pin the knight (bg4) that causes a lot of probs with this opening.
How about the Knight attacks the white bishop with Kb5 move? Its very annoying to me.
That my favorite opening with white with good results
Do you still play C-Z as the white pieces?
Robert, how to play Colle Zukertort , when on Black's second move, it's Bf5?
Great video @NMRobertRamirez! I played a few games with that system but found that the black pawn on d5 blocking white's d4 pawn can often make the bishop on b2 unusable, what is the best way to put that bishop in play or remove the d4 pawn (when it cannot make the obvious dxc5 capture)?
I keep getting my D3 bishop attacked and traded. This is a key piece in the position so it makes it hard to set up.
I really like the zukertort opening but what if black fianchetto his dark squared bishop in 3rd or 4th moves after we play e3? Since we block our dark squared bishop with the pawn, i generally have a problem in that kind of situation. And also our valuable light's squared bishop's diagonal is closed in that way. What should be our response?
I think White played Ne5 because Black was ready to play e5.
Hi Robert, Fantastic chess channel. Always very instructive. I have a precise question re placing the Bishop on D3. In fact, I got punished several times by the Black pawn moving to e4 and forking the bishop and the knight. Hence I tend nowadays to place the bishop on e2. What's your best advice Re that move as it blocks the queen to move to that square ! Tks for your reply
thx Robert.. Good one! N yeah guys! Susan Polgar is the master of this system. Infact I got into this system like 10yrs b4 or so, through a susan's vedio on this system.. 😀 Those who wanna play this system do chk out tht one too.. Its still there.. Good day!
Dude, today was my national tournament and my last game was the one where if I won I would qualify. My opponent definitely studied me so I know to change a colle system line. AND I CHECKED OUT YOUR VIDEO. I used something super similar to your first game, and it worked. I won in around 30 moves and I was putting pressure like you told me too. I watch a lot of other chess youtubers but you seem like the nicest and best teacher. I wish you to keep thriving and making content like these. Good Luck and thank you so much!