Table of Contents

Title page
Key to Symbols
Introduction

PART I – The Bogo-Indian

Chapter 1 – Bogo-Indian with Bd2

Chapter 2 – Bogo-Indian with Nd2

PART II – The Nimzo-Indian

Chapter 3 – 4.Qc2
Chapter 4 – 4.e3
Chapter 5 – 4.Nf3
Chapter 6 – 4.f3
Chapter 7 – Other Sidelines

PART III – Other Systems After 1.d4 Nf6

Chapter 8 – 2.Nf3 e6 3.e3

Chapter 9 – 2.Nf3 e6 3.g3
Chapter 10 – London System
Chapter 11 – Trompowsky, Jobava and Torre Attacks

PART IV – Analyzed Games

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 Key to Symbols

! a good move
? a weak move
!! an excellent move
?? a blunder
!? an interesting move
?! a dubious move
™ only move
N novelty
‰ lead in development
ʘ zugzwang
= equality
∞ unclear position
© with compensation for the sacrificed material
² White stands slightly better
³ Black stands slightly better
± White has a serious advantage
µ Black has a serious advantage
+– White has a decisive advantage
–+ Black has a decisive advantage
‚ with an attack
ƒ with initiative
„ with counterplay
… with the idea of
¹ better is
≤ worse is
+ check
# mate

3
 Introduction

The ambition of many chess players at various levels is to build a full and reliable repertoire
against White’s major starting moves. This book is designed to provide exactly that: a
complete list of variations needed to know in order to confidently meet 1.d4. The goal is to
lift the burden of line selection and research off your shoulders and show you exactly what
you need to know to get out of the 1.d4 openings at least equal with the black pieces.
I base the repertoire on the Nimzo-Indian and Bogo-Indian Defenses. The spirit of Indian
Defenses is based on flexibility and harmony. As you will notice during the course of reading
the book, the lines recommended here rarely end with huge imbalances or clear
weaknesses for Black. Quite often White will get the bishop pair but will have to suffer pawn
weaknesses or Black’s greater piece activity in return.
Most of the lines are positional, not tactical in character. That means that stepping out of the
path outlined in the book should not get you in too much trouble, as long as your moves
have solid positional foundations. While playing Black, you have to accept that occasionally
you will not equalize, or get surprised or out-prepared. Learning the material from this book
should sharply limit the extent of such instances, thus improving your overall results.
Finally, I have an important piece of advice: remember about color strategy! The Bogo-
Indian is mainly based on dark-squared control, while the Nimzo-Indian does so on the light
squares. In case you forget what to do, this may prove a very useful guideline when
choosing a move.
I wish you pleasant reading and great results against 1.d4!

Lukasz Jarmula,
Warsaw, 2022

4
 Part I
The Bogo-Indian

Chapter 1
Bogo-Indian with Bd2

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Bb4+ 4.Bd2

Chapter Guide
Chapter 1 – Bogo-Indian with Bd2

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6

a) 3.g3 – All
b) 3.Nf3 Bb4+ 4.Bd2 c5
c) 3.Nf3 Bb4+ 4.Bd2 Bxd2+

a) 3.g3 – All
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.g3

5
Position after: 3.g3

We will start our work by looking at this move order. In a lot of cases, it will transpose into
3.Nf3 Bb4+, but here, we will only look at the cases with independent value. This move
order has a clear objective. White wants to steer the game into the Catalan. It also prevents
the Queen’s Indian, since 3…b6 comes a little too late after 4.Bg2. We don’t change our
approach.

3…Bb4+

We still proceed with the check. We will need to learn a few additional lines, but in the main
continuation the game transposes quickly to the Bogo-Indian. In this first subchapter, we are
going to have a look at both options for White: 4.Nd2 and 4.Bd2 (even if I could have added
4.Nd2 in the next chapter, I prefer to do it now).

4.Bd2

4.Nd2 c5

6
Position after: 4…c5

A very logical move. White’s control over the center has been weakened by the last two
moves, so Black immediately strikes against the d4-point.
A) 5.dxc5 Bxc5 6.Bg2 0-0 7.Ngf3 d5 Black is ready to play with an IQP, as White’s pieces
are not ideally placed for this eventuality. 8.0-0 Nc6 9.a3 a5

Position after: 9…a5

10.cxd5 [10.Qc2?! This move allows Black to take over the initiative in the center. 10…d4!³
Black’s 11…e5 is ready. Suddenly White doesn’t even have a way to equalize.] 10…exd5

7
 11.Nb3 Bb6 12.Nbd4 White’s control over the d4-square is still shaky, as it is attacked by
two of Black’s minor pieces. Black has a natural line of play at his disposal. 12…Re8 13.b3
It is worth noting that 13.Be3?! allows the following. 13…Rxe3! 14.fxe3 Ng4 Black has
huge compensation. 13…Ne4 14.Bb2 Bg4 15.Rc1 Qd6= Black’s activity fully compensates
for the isolated pawn.
B) 5.Ngf3 cxd4 6.Nxd4 Nc6

Position after: 6…Nc6

White is again faced with pressure against the center. 7.Nc2 White hits the bishop with a
tempo, but at the same time the knight doesn’t end up very active on c2. [7.Nxc6 dxc6
8.Bg2 e5!= Naturally, this move increases the scope of the light-squared bishop. Black is
fine out of the opening, even with chances of a slight edge.] 7…Be7 8.Bg2 0-0 9.0-0 d5
10.cxd5 Nxd5= The pawn capture is also fully viable, by the way, but I wouldn’t give White
an isolated pawn to play against if there is no need.
C) 5.a3 Bxd2+ 6.Qxd2 cxd4 7.Nf3 Naturally this is White’s main try, rather than 7.Qxd4
which allows 7…Nc6 with a tempo. [7.Qxd4 This allows Black to develop with a tempo.
7…Nc6 8.Qd3 d6= The idea is to play …e5. Black has his share of control over the center
and a lead in development in return for the bishop pair.] 7…d5!

8
Position after: 7…d5!

Continuing the central policy. This move was essayed repeatedly by Karjakin and none of
his high-level opponents managed to crack it.
C1) 8.cxd5 e5! A very nice finesse. 8…Qxd5?! This is less accurate and allows White to
fight for an edge after activating his queen with 9.Qxd4.
C1.1) 9.Bg2 Nbd7!

Position after: 9…Nbd7!

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 Note that the natural 9…Qxd5?! fails to the strong 10.Qg5!. 10.0-0 0-0 White’s d-pawn is
in danger and the position requires some ingenuity from White just to keep things equal.
11.Qc2 The idea is e4. Other moves offer Black the better chances. 11…Re8 12.e4 dxe3
13.Bxe3 Nxd5= Black has succeeded in taking the pawn, but White has opened the
position in return. All in all, the game remains dynamically balanced. The most forcing
line runs as follows. 14.Ng5 N7f6 15.Rad1 Nxe3 16.fxe3 Qb6 17.Rxf6 Qxe3+ 18.Qf2
Qxg5 19.Rxf7= White keeps compensation for the pawn, but no more.
C1.2) 9.Qg5 A slightly risky attempt at winning material while neglecting development.
9…0-0 10.Qxe5 At this point there is no going back for White. 10…d3!

Position after: 10…d3!

The pawn is now favorably traded instead of being lost, for example as follows. 11.Bg5
Nbd7 12.Qd4 dxe2 13.Bxe2 Re8= Black is ready for …h6 and …Nb6. The d-pawn will
ultimately be lost.
C1.3) 9.Nxe5 Qxd5 10.Nf3 Nc6 11.Bg2 0-0 12.0-0 Bf5 13.b4 There are no real
alternatives to developing the bishop via b2. 13…Be4 14.Bb2 a5= Black achieved total
equality in Postny – Gelfand, 2019. Further pawn trades are bound to occur.
C2) 8.Bg2 dxc4 9.Qxd4 Qxd4 10.Nxd4 0-0 If we removed the pawn from c4, White would
be better, but now he still has to occupy himself with winning the pawn back. In the
meantime Black can carry out favorable trades. 11.Be3 Nd5!

10
Position after: 11…Nd5!

Now Black trades the knight for the bishop and spoils White’s structure. 12.Rc1 Nxe3
13.fxe3 Nd7 14.Rxc4 Nf6 15.0-0 e5 Slightly more accurate than 15…Rd8 played by
Karjakin. 16.Nb5 Rd8= White can’t extract anything from the queenside. 17.Rfc1 This is
comfortably met by 17…Bg4; alternatively 17.Rc7 is met by 17…a6 and 18…Rb8.

4…Bxd2+ 5.Qxd2

5.Nxd2 0-0 6.Bg2 d6

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Position after: 6…d6

7.Ngf3 This transposes to the Bogo with 5.Nxd2 and 6.g3, but we should investigate other
options.
A) 7.e3 e5 8.Ne2 Nc6 For some reason 8…c6 has been the most popular move here, but
putting the knight on that square looks more to the point. 9.d5 Ne7 10.Nc3 Black has
various ways of playing this strategically complex position. I suggest playing the typical
King’s Indian maneuver: 10…Nd7= with the idea of …f5 and …Nf6 back. Black should
obtain a fair share of chances on the kingside in return for White’s queenside initiative.
B) 7.e4 e5 8.Ne2

Position after: 8.Ne2

8…h5= This novelty makes use of the knight’s placement on e2 rather than f3, which
allows …h5-h4. White has no ideal reaction, as h4 weakens the g4-square to Black’s
advantage and h3 weakens the kingside in the long term. Otherwise …h4 is annoying for
White.

5…0-0 6.Bg2 d5

12
Position after: 6…d5

7.Nf3

Pretty much the only reasonable move, and we are back in the main line of the Bogo by
transposition.

b) 3.Nf3 Bb4+ 4.Bd2 c5

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Bb4+

13
Position after: 3…Bb4+

This is the Bogo-Indian Defense, the backbone of this repertoire. The variation is named
after the famous grandmaster Efim Bogoljubov. It’s hard to describe Black’s idea in general.
He wants to exchange the dark-squared bishops, but can do it in many ways. I advocate the
“Petrosian-style” approach: trading on d2 immediately and following with …d7-d5. Black’s
position turns out to be extremely solid and tenacious.

4.Bd2 c5!?

Position after: 4…c5!?

This is a secondary option, which I recommend if playing for a win. Honestly, I cannot say
that it equalizes, but it leads to an unbalanced and hard-to-handle position. This is exactly
what you look for when playing for a win with Black.

5.Bxb4

A) 5.e3 Refusing to capture on b4 can be annoying, but not threatening by any stretch of
imagination. 5…0-0 6.Bd3 Bxd2+

14
Position after: 6…Bxd2+

A1) 7.Qxd2 cxd4 8.Nxd4 [8.exd4?! b6³ This is even a little uncomfortable for White
because the f3-knight will be under attack.] 8…Nc6 9.0-0 b6= Black has easy
development and full equality.
A2) 7.Nbxd2 cxd4 8.exd4 b6= Black is very flexible. He can continue with both …d6 and
…d5.
B) 5.g3 Qb6

Position after: 5…Qb6

15
 B1) 6.Qb3 Nc6 7.dxc5 Bxc5 8.Qxb6 axb6 9.Nc3 0-0= The plan is to play …d5 next and
not be concerned about the isolated pawn thanks to his activity.
B2) 6.Bxb4 Qxb4+
B2.1) 7.Nc3 Qxb2 8.Nb5 Qb4+ After 8…0-0 the best White has is a threefold repetition,
but since the whole 4… c5 line is designed to play for a win, we should avoid this. 9.Nd2
Na6

Position after: 9…Na6

White has plenty of compensation, but Black can hope to defend and use the pawn
advantage, for example as follows.
B2.1a) 10.Nd6+ Ke7 11.Rb1 Qa5 12.e4! This resource justifies 10.Nd6+. 12…Kxd6
13.e5+ Ke7 14.exf6+ gxf6 15.d5

16
Position after: 15.d5

A necessity. 15…Nb4 16.Bg2 Nd3+ 17.Ke2 Nb4 It’s worth losing the tempo to displace
the king. 18.d6+ Kf8 19.Qb3 Rg8= The game remains highly complex, which is what we
want when playing for a win.
B2.1b) 10.Rb1 Qa5 11.Bg2 cxd4 12.0-0 0-0= Play is complex.
B2.2) 7.Qd2 Nc6 8.Qxb4 [8.e3 Ne4 9.Qxb4 Nxb4 10.Na3 b6³ This is similar to 8.Qxb4.]
8…Nxb4 9.Na3 b6 10.Bg2 Bb7 11.0-0 Ke7³ Black has the better endgame mainly
thanks to the misplaced knight on a3.
B3) 6.Bg2 cxd4 7.Nxd4 Bc5

17
Position after: 7…Bc5

8.e3 A forced pawn sacrifice. [8.Bc3?? Surprisingly, this mistake has been played in 12
games. 8…e5 9.Nf5 Bxf2+ 10.Kf1 d5–+ White is dead lost.] 8…Bxd4 9.exd4 Qxd4 10.0-0
Qxc4!

Position after: 10…Qxc4!

Sometimes greed is justified. 11.Na3 [11.Bf4 d5 12.Bd6 Qa6! An important move to

safeguard the queen and push the bishop back. 13.Ba3 Nc6 14.Nc3 b5!

18
Position after: 14…b5!

A concrete solution. 15.Re1 b4 16.Nxd5 Nxd5 17.Qxd5 0-0 18.Qxc6 Qxc6 19.Bxc6 Rb8=
Black regains the piece with equality.] 11…Qd3 12.Bb4 Qxd1 13.Rfxd1 Nc6 14.Bd6 Kd8=
Black should soon neutralize White’s initiative with …Ne8xd6.

5…cxb4 6.g3

6.e3! White players have preferred to fianchetto the bishop, but this straightforward
development is in fact more threatening. 6…0-0 7.Be2 d6 8.0-0 Nc6 9.a3 bxa3 10.Rxa3 a5
11.Nc3 Nb4

19
Position after: 11…Nb4

Black prepares …b6 and …Bb7. 12.e4 If White wants to fight for an edge, he should take
the opportunity to take over the center. 12…b6 13.Ne1 Bb7 14.f3 White reinforces the
center. 14…Rc8 15.Nc2 Nh5!

Position after: 15…Nh5!

Black uses the weakened kingside squares. 16.g3 Nxc2 17.Qxc2 Ba6 18.Ra4 f5!= Black
gets adequate counterplay against White’s center from two angles.

6…0-0 7.Bg2 a5!

20
Position after: 7…a5!

The most precise move order. Black has to be ready to meet a3 with …Na6. 7…d6 8.a3
This gives White hopes of an edge.

8.0-0

8.Nbd2 d6 9.0-0 This transposes to 8.0-0 d6 9.Nbd2.

8…d6 9.a3

A) 9.Qd3! This is the second problem with the 4…c5 line. The queen turns out to be placed
perfectly on d3. 9…b6 10.Nbd2 Bb7 11.e4 e5 12.Ne1 Nc6 13.Nc2 Re8 14.Rfd1

21
Position after: 14.Rfd1

14…h5!?² There are not many other useful moves, so it’s good to expand on the kingside
in anticipation of d5. The good point is that after the desired 15.f3 with the Nf1-e3 plan,
Black starts counterplay by 15…h4 followed by …Nh5. Still, objectively speaking I have to
agree with Stockfish that White has a slight edge. Nevertheless, there are many pieces left
and a lot of maneuvering to follow with no simple road to simplification for White. This
should suit Black when striving for a win.
B) 9.Nbd2 b6 10.e4 Bb7 11.Qe2 Qc7 12.Ne1 Nc6 13.Nc2 e5 14.d5 Nb8= The knight gets
redirected to c5 and the bishop can play from c8.

9…Na6 10.Nbd2

10.axb4 Nxb4 11.Nc3 b6 12.Ne1 d5 13.Nc2 Bb7= Black gets an easy, harmonious game.

10…b6!N

22
Position after: 10…b6!N

This natural novelty is, in my opinion, the only equalizing choice. It’s surprising that even
strong players preferred instead 10…Re8 and 10…Qc7.

11.Qb3

11.e4 Bb7 12.Qe2 [12.Re1 Qc7= Black’s …e5 followed by …Re8 with pressure against
White’s center is on the agenda.] 12…e5!

Position after: 12…e5!

23
Strike while the iron is hot. Black poses a concrete challenge to the white center. 13.c5! A
good counterstrike, which asks Black serious questions. [13.dxe5 dxe5 14.Nxe5 Qd4
15.Nef3 Qxb2 16.axb4 Nxb4 17.Rab1 Qa3= The rooks will come to the e- and d-files. Black
has no problems at all.] 13…bxc5 14.dxe5 dxe5 15.Nxe5 Nc7!

Position after: 15…Nc7!

An instructive moment. Black has many other moves possible, but the text, intending to
bring the knight to d4 via e6, is the best, as it vastly improves Black’s worst-placed piece.
16.Nec4 Logical, as the knight was prone to attacks on e5. 16…Ne6
A) 17.Rfd1 Nd4 18.Qd3 bxa3 19.Rxa3 [19.bxa3 Re8 20.Rab1 Rb8 21.f4 h5= The h-pawn’s
march is useful in destabilizing White’s king. White hardly benefits with e5.] 19…a4= The
position is tense, but dynamically balanced.
B) 17.f4 Nd4 18.Qd3 bxa3 19.Rxa3 [19.bxa3 a4= Both …Nb3 or …Ba6 are good
resources.] 19…a4 20.e5 Otherwise …Nb5 can prove strong. 20…Bxg2 21.Kxg2 Qd5+
22.Kg1 Nd7 23.Nf3 Rab8!

24
Position after: 23…Rab8!

Striving for activity above anything else. Black will temporarily lose the pawn, but should
soon regain it. 24.Ng5 g6 25.Rxa4 Nb6 26.Ne4 Kg7 27.Nxb6 Rxb6= Black has good
counterplay along the b-file.

11…Re8

Retaining flexibility.

12.Rfd1 h6

25
Position after: 12…h6

Black continues to wait. 12…Bb7 13.Ne1 This may be slightly better for White.

13.Qd3 Bb7 14.Ne1 Bxg2 15.Nxg2 e5=

Black gets adequate counterplay in the center. Importantly, in case of 16.dxe5 Black
recaptures with the rook.

c) 3.Nf3 Bb4+ 4.Bd2 Bxd2+

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Bb4+ 4.Bd2 Bxd2+

Position after: 4…Bxd2+

5.Qxd2

The conventional wisdom is that White should recapture with the queen to put the knight on
the c3-square.
5.Nbxd2 0-0
A) 6.e4 d6 7.Bd3 Nc6

26
Position after: 7…Nc6

The immediate 7…e5 is another good option, but we would likely follow it with …Nc6
anyway. 8.0-0 e5 9.d5 Ne7= Black’s typical plan is …Ng6, …h6, …Nh7-g5 and/or …f5. He
doesn’t need to fear much on the queenside, as White’s progress will be rather slow.
B) 6.g3 d6 7.Bg2 c5!

Position after: 7…c5!

This suggestion is based on the fact that compared to the lines with the queen on d2,
White has no d4-d5 response. That means Black can easily increase his control over the

27
 center with no drawbacks. 8.0-0 Nc6 9.e3 h6= Black takes away the g5-square from
White’s knight, disabling the maneuver Ng5-e4. He doesn’t need to rush with trades in the
center and can develop first with …Bd7, …Qc7 etc.
C) 6.e3 d6 7.Bd3 Qe7 With the thematic idea of …e6-e5. 8.0-0 e5 9.Qc2 h6= Taking the
g5-square away from the white knight and removing the pawn from the attack by battery is
very useful. The next move on the agenda is …Re8. Then e4 allows Black to start kingside
play by …Nh5 while Ne4 can be met by …Nxe4 and …Nd7-d6, with an equal game.

5…0-0 6.g3

This less popular move is actually the only serious try for an advantage.
6.Nc3 d5 It would be too much to allow the full central grab with 7.e4. 7.e3 [7.cxd5 exd5
8.e3 Bf5!= Typically, once the bishop manages to appear on this diagonal, Black is
completely fine, as the trade of bishops after Bd3 favors Black.] 7…b6!

Position after: 7…b6!

I find the Queen’s Indian style approach much more convincing than the more popular QGD
style as follows. 7…Qe7 8.cxd5 exd5 9.Bd3 This leads to passive positions. 8.cxd5 Nxd5!
We don’t want to suffer with the fixed center after 8…cxd5 and instead we free up the long
diagonal for our bishop and prepare the …c5 break.
A) 9.Bd3 Bb7 10.0-0 [10.Rc1 This transposes to 9.Rc1.] 10…Nxc3 11.Qxc3 Nd7= Black is
ready for the freeing …c5.
B) 9.Rc1 Bb7 10.Nxd5 This is well met by 10…Qxd5 and White has no chances of an
edge. 10.Be2 [10.Bd3 Nf6!

28
Position after: 10…Nf6!

The idea of this strong move becomes clear soon. 11.0-0 c5!= The point is 12.dxc5 Nbd7!
which works perfectly. Black achieves a comfortable game thanks to this motif.] 10…Nd7
11.0-0 c5= The successful …c5 break heralds complete equalization.

6…d5

This is the most effective method of playing against the 5.Qxd2 line. If White develops the
knight to c3, he risks losing a pawn after …dxc4.

7.Bg2 Nbd7

This is of course the natural square for the knight in the Indian Defenses, rather than the
awkward c6.

8.0-0 c6

29
Position after: 8…c6

Black strengthens the center before following with …b6, in order to be always able to
recapture on d5 with the c-pawn.

9.Rc1

A) 9.Qc2 b6 Continuing with the plan outlined above. 10.Nbd2 [10.cxd5 cxd5 11.Nc3 a5=
Black’s …Ba6 is coming, with comfortable play; 10.Nc3 a5 Here …Ba6 will likely transpose
to 10.cxd5.] 10…Bb7

30
Position after: 10…Bb7

A1) 11.e4 c5 This counterstrike works perfectly well. 12.cxd5 exd5 13.e5 Ne4

Position after: 13…Ne4

14.Rad1 [14.Nxe4 dxe4 15.Nh4 cxd4 16.Bxe4 Bxe4 17.Qxe4 Re8= The central pawns get
exchanged.] 14…cxd4 15.Rfe1 [15.Nxe4 dxe4 16.Nxd4 Nxe5 17.Bxe4 Bxe4 18.Qxe4
Qf6= Obvious equality.] 15…Rc8 16.Qd3 f5!

Position after: 16…f5!

31
 Black’s …Ndc5-e6 is on the agenda. 17.Qxd4 Qe7= The e5-pawn is a good target.
A2) 11.b4 White aims to discourage …c5, but Black will be able to carry out the
breakthrough anyway. 11…a5 12.a3 axb4 13.axb4 c5!

Position after: 13…c5!

Black totally equalizes by force. 14.cxd5 Bxd5 15.bxc5 bxc5 16.e4 Bb7 17.e5 This wins a
pawn, but it is only a short-term gain, as White’s structure will become overextended.
17.dxc5 Rc8 After this Black regains material immediately with equality. 17…Nd5 18.dxc5
[18.Rxa8 Bxa8 19.dxc5 h6= Black prevents Ng5 and prepares …Qc7 and …Rc8.]
18…Rc8 19.Nb3 Nb4 Harassing the queen works the best here. 20.Qc3 Nd5 21.Qc4
Ne7 We see that the queen is now vulnerable to the …Nxe5 attack after …Bxf3. 22.Qc2
g6= White’s pawns are too shaky to be both held.
B) 9.Ne5 A very concrete continuation. Black has a clear road to equality, but needs
accurate choices. 9…Nxe5 There is no need to fear this trade. 10.dxe5 Nd7 11.f4 b5! The
key move. The space Black gets with it is very valuable and allows the bishop’s
development via a6 in the future.

32
Position after: 11…b5!

12.cxd5 Qb6+ 13.e3 cxd5= Black will expand on the queenside; 12.cxb5 This is met by
12…Qb6+ and 13…Qxb5. The maneuver …Nf6-e4 is also viable if White’s doesn’t keep
full control over e4.
C) 9.b3 b6 10.Nc3 Ba6!

Position after: 10…Ba6!

This forces White to release the tension. 11.Ne5 Nxe5 12.dxe5 Nd7 13.f4 Qe7 14.Rfd1
Rad8 The other rook is useful for the future …f6. 15.cxd5 cxd5 16.Rac1 [16.e4 dxe4

33
 17.Qd6 Qxd6 18.Rxd6 Nc5 19.Nxe4 Nxe4 20.Bxe4 Rxd6 21.exd6 Rd8 22.Rd1 Bb5= Black
is completely fine in this endgame, as the passed d-pawn cannot be successfully utilized.]
16…f6 17.exf6 Nxf6 18.Qd4 We have followed the game Sargissian – Hracek, 2016 and
now I suggest a slight improvement. 18…Rc8= A natural rook activation. Black has no
problems at all.

9…b6 10.cxd5

This is necessary if White wants to finally develop the knight to c3, as 10.Nc3 allows 10…
dxc4!
A) 10.Ne5 Bb7 11.Nxd7 [11.Nc3 Qe7 12.cxd5 cxd5= The only issue Black has to solve in
a position like this is the problem of his light-squared bishop, which can be easily done by
…Ba6 at a good moment.] 11…Qxd7 12.c5 Qe7= Black is flexible and can play …Nd7 and
…bxc5 or …e5 in the future.
B) 10.b4 Bb7 11.Qb2 White is one move (Nbd2) away from establishing a grip, so Black
cannot proceed with an anemic move like 11…Rc8. However he can take concrete action
to fully equalize. 11…dxc4 12.Rxc4 a5= With the simple idea to trade the pawns and then
carry out …c5. Black had no problems in Sjugirov – Quesada Perez, 2012.

10…cxd5 11.Nc3 Ba6 12.a4

Position after: 12.a4

Preparing Nb5 is the only try for an edge. Otherwise White has no in-roads into Black’s
camp.

34
12…Rc8 13.Nb5 Rxc1+ 14.Rxc1 Qa8!N

Position after: 14…Qa8!N

This is my improvement over 14…Qb8, which allows the active move 15.Qf4!. Black
prepares …Rc8 and doesn’t fear Nc7.

15.Ne5

A) 15.Rc7 Bxb5 16.axb5 Rc8 17.Qc2 Rxc7 18.Qxc7 Qb8= White’s apparent queen activity
brings him no rewards.
B) 15.Nc7 Qb7 16.Nxa6 Qxa6 17.Qc2 White takes control over the c-file. Otherwise …Rc8
is an easy follow-up. 17…b5!

35
Position after: 17…b5!

18.axb5 Qxb5= Thanks to the accurate pawn trade Black has equalized completely. The
b2-pawn can be kept targeted, always keeping some of White’s pieces tied to it.

15…Bxb5 16.axb5 Nxe5 17.dxe5 Nd7 18.Qc3

If White defends e5 in some other way, …Rc8 is natural and fine for Black.

18…a5!

36
Position after: 18…a5!

Black makes sure the backward pawn won’t become a weakness.

19.bxa6

If White doesn’t take en passant, he can only get into trouble.

19…Qxa6=

Black has equalized completely. The imbalance of bishop vs knight and the asymmetrical
structure leaves some winning chances for both sides.

37
 Chapter 2
Bogo-Indian with Nbd2

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Bb4+ 4.Nbd2

Chapter Guide
Chapter 2 – Bogo-Indian with Nbd2

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Bb4+ 4.Nbd2 0-0

a) 5.—
b) 5.a3 Be7 6.e4 d6 7.Bd3
c) 5.a3 Be7 6.e4 d6 7.Be2

a) 5.—
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Bb4+ 4.Nbd2

38
Position after: 4.Nbd2

An ambitious response. White wants to avoid the trade of bishops and grab space with a
future a2-a3 followed by e2-e4. I recommend playing in a true Indian Defense style with a
closed center and counter-attacking ideas. This approach can be described as maximalist.
Such a principled way of playing has been particularly popular at the elite level.

4…0-0 5.e3

A more timid choice compared to the main line, as White doesn’t attempt to grab the whole
center. If White plays in such a slow fashion, Black can take the opportunity to play in the
center and easily reach comfortable equality.
A) 5.g3 d5 6.Bg2 We have now transposed to one of the lines of the Catalan, which is,
however, not considered critical. My advice is simply to fianchetto the bishop instead of
trying to take material with …dxc4, which could give White interesting chances. 6…b6 The
simplest and most reliable option. Black opposes White’s light-squared bishop. 7.0-0 Bb7

39
Position after: 7…Bb7

A1) 8.cxd5 exd5 8…Bxd5 This is also worth considering, but objectively worse. 9.Ne5
Re8 10.Ndf3 [10.a3 Bf8 11.b4 Black can immediately undermine the newly established
structure. 11…a5 12.b5 c6 13.bxc6 Nxc6= Black has promising queenside prospects.]
10…Ne4 Once this square is free, it’s advisable to occupy it, with the additional idea of
kicking the white knight out of e5 with …f6. 11.Bf4 Bf8

Position after: 11…Bf8

The bishop was loose on b4. 12.Rc1 f6 13.Nd3 Na6= White’s pieces end up a little

40
 misplaced and the important e5-square is firmly under control.
A2) 8.a3 Be7 This transposes to the following. 5.g3 d5 6.Bg2 b6 7.0-0 Bb7 8.a3 9.cxd5
[9.b4 c5= Many pawns will get exchanged soon; 9.b3 c5 10.Bb2 Nbd7= The central
tension will eventually be resolved with total equality.] 9…exd5 10.b4 The most logical
move, intending Bb2, but it gives Black a target. 10…a5 11.b5 c6 12.bxc6 Nxc6 13.Bb2
b5= Black has promising queenside play.
A3) 8.Ne5 Nc6!

Position after: 8…Nc6!

A rare, but very strong move. 9.Ndf3 [9.Qa4 Qe8 10.Nxc6 a5 11.a3 Bxc6 12.Qc2 Bd6=
Black is equal and even more developed; 9.Nxc6 Bxc6 10.Qc2 Qe8!

41
Position after: 10…Qe8!

11.a3 Bxd2 12.Bxd2 dxc4 13.Qxc4 Bd5= Black will exchange the bishops and soon
execute the …c5 break.] 9…Nxe5 10.Nxe5 Be7 The bishop retreats in order not to get
offside after …c5. 11.b3 c5 12.Bb2 Qc7

Position after: 12…Qc7

13.dxc5 [13.Rc1 Rfd8 14.cxd5 Bxd5= This is similar.] 13…Bxc5= The central break has
been flawlessly executed and Black can look to the future with optimism.
B) 5.Qc2 d5 6.a3 Be7 7.e4 dxe4 8.Nxe4 Nxe4 9.Qxe4 c5

42
Position after: 9…c5

A typical undermining of White’s center. 10.Be3 [10.dxc5 f5! This strategically risky
advance is justified by the dynamic play it offers. 11.Qc2 Bf6 12.Bd3 Na6= Black is ready
to regain the pawn and achieve remarkable piece coordination.] 10…cxd4 11.0-0-0 Nc6
12.Nxd4 Bd7 13.Bd3 The only way to provoke a weakness in Black’s solid position. 13…
f5!

Position after: 13…f5!

Black shouldn’t shy away from this advance. 14.Nxc6 bxc6 15.Qf4 Bf6= The chances are

43
 approximately equal in this double-edged position. A sample line may continue as follows.
16.c5 Rb8 17.Rd2 Kh8 18.Bd4 Bg5 19.Qg3 Bxd2+ 20.Kxd2 Rg8 21.Be5 Rb7= White’s
pressure along the long diagonal and his dark-squared domination provide full
compensation for the exchange, but Black is very solid.

5…d5

In this line I recommend the classical …d5 and …c5 approach.

6.a3

A) 6.Bd3 c5

Position after: 6…c5

A1) 7.a3 Bxd2+ Black gives up the bishop for a knight, but he has a clear follow-up that
will provide an offset for the bishop pair. 8.Bxd2 cxd4 9.Nxd4 [9.exd4?! dxc4 10.Bxc4 b6
11.0-0 Bb7³ White’s light-squared holes are painful and the bishop pair hardly alleviates
this.] 9…e5!

44
Position after: 9…e5!

When allowed, you should take the center. 10.Ne2 Nc6 11.0-0 Bg4 Creating an
unpleasant pin. The bishop can end up on g6 via h5 in the future. 12.Bc3 Rc8= White has
the bishop pair, but all of Black’s pieces have landed on good squares.
A2) 7.dxc5 Nbd7= Black’s …Nxc5 comes with a tempo. Black can be happy about the
outcome of the opening, as his pieces are at least as active as White’s.
A3) 7.0-0 cxd4 8.exd4 8.Nxd4?! e5! This is clearly advantageous for Black. 8…b6=
Importantly, Black should avoid 8…Nc6 9.c5! Now, however, I would say White even has
the easier game, as a good version of the anti-IQP can soon appear on the board. White
proceeds with b3 instead; Black isn’t obliged to play …dxc4 at any point and has his fair
share of chances.
B) 6.Be2 b6 7.0-0 Bb7 8.a3 Be7 9.b4 c5= The position is close to total symmetry.

6…Be7

45
Position after: 6…Be7

There would be no clear compensation for the bishop pair after …Bxd2+, so it’s better to
retreat. This transposes to 5.e3 d5 6.a3.

7.Bd3

A) 7.b4 a5 8.b5 c5 9.bxc6 [9.Bb2 Nbd7 10.Be2 b6= Black has clear-cut play.] 9…bxc6=
Black intends …Nbd7 and …Ba6. The most often played 10.c5 is not recommended for
White in view of 10…Nfd7 followed by …e5.
B) 7.b3 b6 8.Bb2 Bb7 9.Bd3 Nbd7 10.0-0 c5 11.Qe2 Rc8 12.Rfd1

46
Position after: 12.Rfd1

12…Rc7! A typical maneuver worth knowing. Black prepares …Qa8 with pressure along
the a8-h1 diagonal.

7…c5 8.dxc5

8.b3 cxd4 9.exd4 b6 I do not advise …dxc4, which gives White nice control of the center.
Instead we should simply develop and then improve our pieces. 10.0-0 Bb7 11.Bb2 Nbd7
12.Qe2 There are many effective ways to play here, but I very much like Kashlinskaya’s
maneuver as follows. 12…Nh5!

47
Position after: 12…Nh5!

13.Qe3 Bd6 White has to either surrender the f4-square or permanently weaken his kingside
and the long diagonal. 14.g3 [14.Ne5 This is met by the following. 14…Nxe5 15.dxe5 Bc5
16.Qf3 dxc4 17.Bxh7+ Kxh7 18.Qxh5+ Kg8 19.Nxc4 Qd3= Black has tremendous
compensation.] 14…Nhf6 15.Rfd1 Rc8 16.Qe2 Re8= Black had great play in Koneru –
Kashlinskaya, Moscow 2019.

8…a5!

Position after: 8…a5!

8…Bxc5?! Not this as White has an initiative after 9.b4!.

9.cxd5

9.0-0 Nbd7 10.cxd5 Nxc5 11.Be2 Nxd5 12.Nb3 b6= Note that the c1-bishop is still
undeveloped, so White has to be careful.

9…Qxd5 10.Qe2 Rd8

An accurate move played in order to displace White’s bishop.

11.Bc4

48
Position after: 11.Bc4

11…Qh5=

Black’s …Nbd7-c5 comes next, with an equal game.

b) 5.a3 Be7 6.e4 d6 7.Bd3

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Bb4+ 4.Nbd2 0-0 5.a3

Position after: 5.a3

49
5…Be7

5…Bxd2+ This is also a major line, but I much prefer keeping the bishop and playing a
strategically complex game. This is the main and most ambitious way to play. In this line,
Black basically agrees to White having the free bishop pair and a slight edge thanks to it.

6.e4

6.e3 d5 This transposes to 5.e3 d5 6.a3.

6…d6!

In my view this is the correct way to meet White’s central expansion. Black retains flexibility
and prepares to undermine White’s center with the original maneuver …Nfd7 followed by …
e5 in the true style of Indian Defenses.
6…d5 This has been more popular and debated by many strong players in recent years.
However the conclusion from this practice and my own analysis is that in the tabiya arising
after 7.e5 Nfd7 8.Bd3 c5 – both 9.h4 and 9.0-0 are very dangerous moves which Black has
to reckon with.

7.Bd3 e5!

Position after: 7…e5!

The vulnerable position of White’s pieces means that Black can execute this break in one
go.

50
8.0-0

A) 8.dxe5 dxe5 9.Nxe5 Re8

Position after: 9…Re8

A1) 10.Qc2 Nh5 Directing the knight to f4. 11.0-0 Bf6

Position after: 11…Bf6

A1.1) 12.Nxf7?! This sacrifice is too optimistic. 12…Kxf7 13.e5 Nf4 14.Bxh7 g6 15.exf6
Ne2+ 16.Kh1 Bf5 17.Qd1 Nc6 18.Nf3 Qxd1 19.Rxd1 Nxc1 20.Raxc1 Kxf6 21.h4 The

51
 only way to protect the estranged bishop, but that’s not the end of White’s troubles.
21…Ne5 22.Ng5 Nd3 23.Rc2 Nc5 24.Rcd2 Ne4 25.Nxe4+ Rxe4 26.Rd4 Rxd4 27.Rxd4
Rh8 28.Bxg6 Kxg6µ Black has pawns only on one flank, so White may be able to
escape, but it’s not going to be easy.
A1.2) 12.Nef3 Nf4 13.e5 Nxd3 14.exf6 Bf5 15.fxg7 Nc6 Black is two pawns down for
the moment, but the d3-knight and the pin are quite strong. 16.Nb3 Be4= Things can get
wild now, for instance as follows. 17.Bg5 [Alternatively things can end peacefully.
17.Ng5 Bg6 18.Nf3 Be4=] 17…f6 18.Nbd2!

Position after: 18.Nbd2!

18…Ne1! 19.Qc3 Nxf3+ 20.gxf3 Nd4! 21.Rfe1 Bg6 22.Bh6 Qd7!?= Black can also cash in with
22…Ne2+. However playing for the initiative looks more dangerous for White. Objectively things
are still equal though.

A2) 10.Qe2 Bd6 11.Nef3 Bg4 12.0-0 Nc6= Black has great piece play and obvious
compensation for the pawn.
A3) 10.Bb1 Bd6 11.Nef3 Nc6 12.0-0 Bg4 13.h3 Bh5 14.Qb3 b6= White has no easy way
to disentangle his pieces.
B) 8.d5 c6 9.0-0 a5 10.Nb1

52
Position after: 10.Nb1

The only challenging move. The knight is badly placed on d2 and should be redirected to
c3. 10…Na6 11.Nc3 Bd7 12.Be3 [12.h3 Played to stop …Ng4 in case of Be3. 12…cxd5
13.cxd5 Nc5 14.Be3 Nxd3 15.Qxd3 b5 16.Nd2 Rb8= Black is well established on the
queenside and can start kingside play with …Nh5.] 12…Ng4 13.Bd2 cxd5 14.cxd5
[14.Nxd5 Nc5 15.Bc2 Nf6 16.Nc3 a4 17.Be3 Qa5=

Position after: 17…Qa5=

A good plan is …Rfc8, …Qa6, …Bd8-a5.] 14…Nc5 15.Bc2 a4= Black can follow with

53
 …Qb8, …Rc8, …b5 etc.
C) 8.b4

8…exd4 9.Nxd4 Re8

Position after: 9…Re8

10.f4

10.b4 a5
A) 11.b5 Nfd7!

54
Position after: 11…Nfd7!

If the other knight had gone to c5, the dark-squared bishop would have remained passive.
Now it can be quickly brought into play via f6. 12.Bb2 Bf6 13.Rb1 Nc5 14.Bc2 Ne6!
Exchanging a few minor pieces solves the problem of having less space. 15.Nxe6 Bxe6
16.f4 Bxb2 17.Rxb2 f6 Vacating the f7-square for the bishop to retreat to in case of f4-f5.
18.Rb3 A logical rook transfer to the kingside. 18…Nd7

Position after: 18…Nd7

19.Rg3 Now it’s important to avoid the automatic 19…Nc5, as after 20.f5! Bf7 21.Rf4 the

55
 knight is badly needed on e5. 19…Re7= Instead Black should retain flexibility and play this.
White has no clear way to progress on the kingside. Black can improve his position by
…Kh8 and …Qg8 on the next moves.
B) 11.Bb2 axb4 12.axb4 Rxa1 13.Qxa1 Nfd7!= Black’s pieces form a coil ready to spring.
The plan is …Bf6 followed by …Nc6.

10…d5! 11.cxd5 Bc5 12.N2b3 Bb6

Position after: 12…Bb6

13.e5

13.Qc2 a5 14.Bd2 Bf5!

56
Position after: 14…Bf5!

An impressive way of exploiting the overextension of White’s center. 15.exf5 a4 16.Kh1

axb3 17.Nxb3 Nbd7= After the coming …Nxd5, all of Black’s pieces spring into action,
offering him full compensation for White’s extra pawn.

13…Bg4 14.Qc2 Qxd5

Position after: 14…Qxd5

15.Kh1

57
The correct move order. A lot of exchanges follow naturally.
15.exf6? This allows 15…Nc6! and suddenly White is in trouble! 16.Bxh7+ Kh8 17.fxg7+
Kxg7 18.Kh1 Nxd4 19.Nxd4 Bxd4 20.Bd3 Rad8µ Black’s pieces exert tremendous control
over the position, offering him a big advantage despite being a pawn down.

15…Bxd4 16.Nxd4 Qxd4 17.exf6 Qxf6 18.Bxh7+ Kh8 19.Bd2 Nc6 20.Bd3

Despite many simplifications, White still strives for an edge based on his bishop pair.

20…Nd4!

Position after: 20…Nd4!

If not for this active resource, White could still have counted on a slight advantage.

21.Qxc7 Re7 22.Qc4 Rc8=

Black reaches total equality by force in all lines.

23.Qb4

23.Qd5 Rd7 24.Qe4 Bf5 25.Qe3 Nb3 26.Bxf5 Qxf5 27.Qxb3 Rxd2 28.Rad1 Rcc2 29.Rxd2
Rxd2 30.Qxb7 Qxf4 31.Rg1 a5=

23…a5 24.Qxa5 Nb3 25.Qb4 Nxa1 26.Bc3 Rxc3 27.bxc3

58
Position after: 27.bxc3

27…Qe6=

c) 5.a3 Be7 6.e4 d6 7.Be2

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Bb4+ 4.Nbd2 0-0 5.a3 Be7 6.e4 d6! 7.Be2

Position after: 7.Be2

7…Nfd7!

59
Putting this knight on d7 instead of the other one has a number of advantages. First, if White
doesn’t close the center after the coming …e5, Black has the option of putting pressure on
the central points by …exd4 followed by …Bf6 or …Nc6. Secondly, Black clears the way for
his f-pawn, which can be successfully advanced to f5 in case White closes the center.

8.b4

This space-grabbing move has been the most popular option.

A) 8.0-0 e5

Position after: 8…e5

A1) 9.Nb1!? This transposes to the following. 8.Nb1 e5 9.0-0 9…exd4 10.Nxd4
A1.1) 10…Nc6 11.Be3 Compared to 9.Nc3, Black doesn’t have the …Nxd4, …Bg5
resource available, because White has already castled and can respond with f2-f4.
Therefore Black needs to resort to more standard methods. 11…Bf6 12.Nc3 Nc5 13.Rb1
Re8 14.f3 Be5= By putting the bishop on the central e5-square, Black prepares both
…Qh4 and …Nxd4 with Bxd4 Ne6. Black has nothing to fear in the coming battle.
A1.2) 10…Bf6= Here …Nc6 and …Nc5 are natural follow-up moves that should give
Black a good game.
A2) 9.d5 a5= There’s not much point in analyzing this position because it’s a worse
version (for White) of the line with 7.Bd3 e5 8.d5.
B) 8.Nb1 Re-maneuvering the knight to c3 is ambitious, but takes too much time to be a
danger for Black. 8…e5 9.Nc3 exd4 10.Nxd4 Nc6 11.Be3 Nxd4!N

60
Position after: 11…Nxd4!N

An important novelty. 11…Bf6 This move allows 12.f4 with chances of an edge for White.
After the “automatic” 11…Nf6 White can hope for some edge with the following. 12.f4!
12.Bxd4 Bg5! The point. Suddenly …c5 is threatened and there is no f2-f4 because White
hasn’t castled yet. 13.f3 Nc5
B1) 14.0-0 Bf4! Exploiting the weak squares to the full. 15.g3 [15.Bf2 This transposes to
14.Bf2.] 15…Be5=

Position after: 15…Be5=

61
 Any trade improves Black’s structure and retreating is not an option because of the
damaging …Bxc3. 16.Bxe5 dxe5= Black is comfortably equal, where the symmetrical
structure provides chances for the win thanks to the better bishop and the weak d4-
square.
B2) 14.Bf2 Bf4 15.0-0 c6= Black has great dark-squared play.
C) 8.b3 I was faced with this move once. Although at first it seems like a less courageous
way than 8.b4, it is not without venom. 8…e5 9.d5 a5 10.Bb2 Qe8!N

Position after: 10…Qe8!N

This easy-to-miss idea is of crucial importance in securing sufficient counterplay. Both

10…Nc5 or 10…Na6 fail to impress due to 11.b4. But now Black has the idea of …Nc5
and meeting b4 with …Na4!.
The position requires practical tests. The critical line seems to be as follows. 11.Qc2 Na6!
(11…Nc5 12.b4 Na4 13.Bc1 This is not fully satisfactory). The text move uses the fact that
there is no b4 now. 12.Nf1 By maneuvering the knight to e3 Black stops the coming …f5
break. 12…Ndc5 13.Ne3 g6 14.g4 Otherwise …f5 offers sufficient counterplay. 14…c6=
Black undermines White’s center from the other side. The chances are approximately
equal in this double-edged position.
D) 8.Qc2 e5 This transposes to the following line. 7.Be2 Nfd7 8.Qc2 9.Nb1 This has been
played by a few strong players, but it’s just a harmless version of 8.Nb1. 9…exd4 10.Nxd4
Nc6 11.Be3 Bf6

62
Position after: 11…Bf6

Black commences the typical pressure against the d4-point. 12.Nxc6 bxc6 13.Nc3 Re8=
Black will aim at the weak e4-pawn.

8…e5 9.d5

Otherwise …exd4 and …Bf6 give Black some central pressure. Now White pins his hopes
on the queenside in the King’s Indian style.

9…a5 10.Bb2

63
Position after: 10.Bb2

10…axb4

10…c5?! 11.b5! Importantly, this is very dangerous for Black, because White preserves the
option of long castling. Therefore Black should first trade the rook down the a-file to prevent
such king placement.

11.axb4 Rxa1 12.Qxa1 c5!

Position after: 12…c5!

This is the crux of Black’s whole concept. He closes the queenside for as long as possible to
start playing on the kingside. The big advantage is that Black’s game is easier and it takes
real ingenuity from White to commence his queenside play. Even though this position has
been reached in only one game so far, Gelfand – Grischuk, Amsterdam 2019, its
assessment is of critical importance for the reputation of the whole Bogo-Indian. Therefore, I
provide extensive analysis which attempts to show that Black’s chances are not worse.

13.b5

13.dxc6 Nxc6 14.Bc3 Qc7! 15.0-0 Nd8!= An absolutely crucial maneuver. After the knight
comes to e6, Black is very safe.

13…Nf6

Black should direct the knight to the kingside and not to the passive b6-square.

64
14.0-0 Nh5

Position after: 14…Nh5

15.Re1

This in fact saves some time compared to 15.g3, because White will kick the knight out of f4
with a tempo later.
15.g3 g6 16.Ne1 The only try to make use of this move order. 16…Bg5!

Position after: 16…Bg5!

65
An important in-between move. 17.Bc3 Bh3 18.Ng2 Nd7 Black is ready for …Ng7, so White
should act swiftly. 19.Bxh5 gxh5

Position after: 19…gxh5

20.Qd1 [20.f4 exf4 21.gxf4 Bxg2 22.Kxg2 Bxf4! An easy-to spot, but absolutely essential
move. 23.Rxf4 Qg5+ 24.Kf3 Ne5+ 25.Bxe5 dxe5 26.Rf5 Qxd2 27.Qxe5 f6! If not for this
move, Black would still be in trouble. 28.Rxf6 Ra8 29.Kg3 Qe1+ 30.Kf4 Qh4+ 31.Ke3
Qe1+=] 20…f5
A) 21.f4 exf4 22.gxf4 Bxg2 23.Kxg2 Bxf4!

66
Position after: 23…Bxf4!

This tactic solves Black’s problems. 24.Qxh5 [24.Kh1 Be5 25.Bxe5 Nxe5 26.exf5 Ng4
{26…Qh4 This happens to be fine as well.} 27.Qe1 Re8! One more important nuance.
28.Qg3 Re2 The point. 29.Nf3 Kh8= It’s still double-edged, but equal.] 24…Qg5+
25.Qxg5+ Bxg5 26.exf5 Re8 27.Nf3 Bh6!

Position after: 27…Bh6!

27…Bf6? Importantly, not this move. 28.Bxf6 Nxf6 29.Ng5! 28.Bd2 [28.Ba5 Re4 29.Bc7
Rg4+ 30.Kf2 Rxc4 31.Bxd6 Bf4= Black regains the pawn.] 28…Bxd2 29.Nxd2 Kf7= Black
should succeed in blocking the f5-pawn and should eventually regain it quite easily.
B) 21.exf5 Bg4! 22.Qe1 Bxd2 23.Qxd2 Bxf5 24.f4 Bh3= We have an interesting state of
dynamic equilibrium. Black’s activity fully compensates for the damaged pawn structure.

15…Nf4

Remember to avoid 15…g6? 16.Nxe5! with tremendous play for White.

16.Bf1 Nd7

16…g6? Again, this runs into 17.Nxe5!.

17.g3 Nh5

67
Position after: 17…Nh5

18.Bg2

18.Bc3 Preparing Qa5 is the main way to make in-roads into Black’s camp. 18…g6 19.Qa5
Nb6! The best reaction, postponing …b6 until necessary.

Position after: 19…Nb6!

20.Qa7 Nd7= It is hard for White to make further progress. 21.Ba5 This loses a tempo and
Black is fine after 21…b6 22.Bc3 f5.

68
18…g6 19.Bc3

We have already seen this idea in the 18.Bc3 line. It is the only one that creates some
problems for Black.

19…f5 20.Qa5 Nb6!

Position after: 20…Nb6!

As long as Black refrains from …b6, it is very difficult for White to make any in-roads into his
camp.
20…Qxa5 21.Bxa5 Bd8

21.Qa7 Nd7 22.Ba5 Qe8!

69
Position after: 22…Qe8!

Black still refrains from …b6 and White struggles to find a target.

23.Bc7 Ng7!=

Preparing …f4 and already anticipating g4. Black has additional useful moves to play on the
kingside, while White can’t break through on the queenside, for example as follows.

24.b6 f4 25.g4 g5 26.h3 h5 27.Nh2 hxg4 28.hxg4 Nf6 29.Bf3

70
Position after: 29.Bf3

29…Qg6=

It’s incredibly difficult for any side to make progress from here.

71
 Part II
The Nimzo-Indian

Chapter 3
4.Qc2

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qc2

Chapter Guide
Chapter 3 – 4.Qc2

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qc2 d5

a) 5.—
b) 5.a3 Bxc3 6.Qxc3 0-0 7.Bg5
c) 5.a3 Bxc3 6.Qxc3 0-0 7.Nf3
d) 5.cxd5

a) 5.—
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qc2

72
Position after: 4.Qc2

The Classical Variation, which is particularly popular among elite players. White prepares a3
in an attempt to get the bishop pair without spoiling his structure.

4…d5

There are many other good lines, but this is the most straightforward and convincing one in
my view.

5.e3

A solid continuation, but the blocked dark-squared bishop is White’s problem compared to
the main lines.
A) 5.Bg5 dxc4! I recommend taking advantage of the temporary lack of communication in
White’s camp and trying to preserve a pawn. This approach constitutes a serious challenge
for White with a concrete pawn grab. The advantage of playing this way is that we have a
clear asset and it puts the burden of showing compensation on White.

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Position after: 5…dxc4!

6.Nf3 [6.e3?! b5 7.a4 c6³ It will be problematic for White to prove compensation with the
bishop passively placed on e2. 6.Nf3 Instead, after this move, White intends to fianchetto
the bishop.] 6…b5 7.a4 c6 8.g3 Bb7 9.Bg2 Nbd7 10.0-0 Qb6

Position after: 10…Qb6

The queen protects the b5-pawn and hits the d4-pawn. 11.Ne5 [In the most notable game
to reach this position, Mamedyarov – Carlsen, Shamkir 2014, White blocked his own
bishop with 11.e4?!. After 11…a6 12.Rfd1 h6 13.Be3 Black should have taken over the

74
 advantage with 13…c5³.] 11…0-0 12.Be3 Bxc3 13.Nxd7 Nxd7 14.Qxc3 White’s
compensation is sufficient , but he can’t realistically hope to take over the game. 14…Nf6
15.d5 c5 16.dxe6 Bxg2

Position after: 16…Bxg2

17.Kxg2 Qxe6 18.axb5 Rfb8= White has managed to take back the pawn, but Black has
exchanged his passive bishop. The chances are equal.
B) 5.Nf3 0-0 6.e3 c5 This transposes to the following. 5.e3 0-0 6.Nf3 c5

5…0-0 6.Nf3 c5

This transposes similarly to 5.e3 0-0 6.Nf3 c5.

7.a3

A) 7.dxc5 Bxc5 The position resembles one of the lines of the Queen’s Gambit Declined,
except for the fact that the white dark-squared bishop is stuck on c1 instead of being out of
the pawn chain on f4.
A1) 8.cxd5 exd5 9.Be2 Nc6 10.0-0 Qe7

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Position after: 10…Qe7

This is a very active type of the IQP. Also, it’s hard for White to control the d4-square.
11.a3 a5 12.Rd1 Rd8= Black has the …d4 idea, and in case White stops it with 13.Nb5,
then 13…Ne4 and …Bf5 or …Bg4 comes to mind, with great activity.
A2) 8.a3 Considering what I wrote above, it’s very logical to prepare b2-b4 and Bb2. 8…
dxc4 9.Bxc4 Nbd7= The idea is to play …a6-b5 and meet b4 with …Be7. White has no
trace of an edge.
B) 7.cxd5 exd5 8.dxc5 Bxc5 This transposes to the following line. 7.dxc5 Bxc5 8. cxd5
exd5

7…Bxc3+ 8.bxc3 b6

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Position after: 8…b6

Black prepares the thematic exchange of the light-squared bishops.

9.cxd5 exd5 10.dxc5

Otherwise …c4, grabbing space and fighting for the light squares, is a serious option.

10…bxc5 11.c4 d4 12.Be2 Bg4

Position after: 12…Bg4

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13.0-0 Nc6

Black’s central play offers him a full share of chances, for instance as follows.

14.exd4 cxd4 15.Bb2

Position after: 15.Bb2

15…Re8!=

Black’s …Re4 is an important resource that guarantees equality.

b) 5.a3 Bxc3 6.Qxc3 0-0 7.Bg5

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qc2 d5 5.a3

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Position after: 5.a3

White is willing to immediately get the bishop pair.

5…Bxc3+ 6.Qxc3 0-0 7.Bg5 c5!

Position after: 7…c5!

Black uses the fact that White doesn’t control the d4-square to try and take over the
initiative.

79
8.dxc5

A) 8.cxd5 cxd4 9.Qxd4 Nc6 10.Qh4 exd5

Position after: 10…exd5

A1) 11.Bxf6 gxf6 12.e3 [12.Nf3 Re8 This transposes to the following. 11.Nf3 Re8 12.Bxf6
gxf6] 12…Bf5! 13.Nf3 Re8³
A2) 11.Nf3 Re8 12.e3 [12.Bxf6 gxf6 This transposes to the following. 11.Nf3 Re8 12.Bxf6
gxf6 13.e3 Bf5³ Black has the slightly damaged structure, but a very free game. White
has to be more careful.] 12…d4 13.Bc4 dxe3 14.0-0 exf2+ 15.Rxf2 Bf5= Black puts the
bishop on g6 and does not need to fear White’s attack too much.
B) 8.e3 cxd4 9.Qxd4 [9.exd4 Nc6 10.Nf3 dxc4 11.Bxc4 h6 12.Bh4 Nd5!

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Position after: 12…Nd5!

13.Bxd8 Nxc3³ Black has the better endgame thanks to White’s isolated pawn.] 9…Nc6
10.Qc3 dxc4 11.Bxc4 Bd7= Black’s …Rc8 comes with free development and some
pressure along the c-file.

8…d4

Position after: 8…d4

9.Qg3

81
 A) 9.Qc2 h6 10.Bh4 e5 11.e3 Qe7 12.Be2 [12.exd4 exd4+ 13.Ne2 Nc6 14.0-0-0 Rd8³
Black takes c5 next, with initiative.] 12…Re8!

Position after: 12…Re8!

The point is to be able to meet 13.Nf3 with 13…d3!. 13.Rd1 a5! Stopping the b-pawn’s
advance and not afraid to sacrifice the d-pawn to open up lines. 14.exd4 exd4 15.Rxd4 g5
16.Bg3 Nc6 17.Rd1 Ne4 This looks scary for White, but he can still hold. 18.Bd6 Qf6 19.f3
Bf5 20.Qc1 Nd4 Always forward! However, 20…Nxd6 is also fine. 21.fxe4 Rxe4 22.Rxd4
Qxd4 23.Nf3 Qd3 24.Qd2 Qb1+

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Position after: 24…Qb1+

25.Qd1 Qxb2 26.Qd2 Qb1+ 27.Qd1 Qb2 Both sides have to satisfy themselves with a
draw.
B) 9.Qf3 Nbd7 10.e3 h6 11.Bxf6 Nxf6 12.0-0-0 e5

Position after: 12…e5

13.Ne2 d3 As we will see, this is connected with a sacrifice of another two pawns! 14.Nc3
Bg4 15.Rxd3 Qa5
B1) 16.Qg3 Qxc5 17.Rd2 [17.e4 Be6 18.Rd2 b5!=

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Position after: 18…b5!=

It’s still equal, but Black could easily take over the initiative.] 17…Rfd8 18.Bd3 e4 19.Bc2
Rxd2 20.Kxd2 Rd8+
However, don’t fall for the following. 20…Qxc4?! 21.Qd6! White has some advantage.
21.Kc1 Qxc4=
B2) 16.Qxb7 Rab8 This repeats the position.

Position after: 16…Rab8

17.Qc6 e4 18.Rd6 Rb3 19.Kc2 Rfb8 20.Nb5 Qa4

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Position after: 20…Qa4

All roads lead to a draw now. 21.Kc1 [21.Kb1 R8xb5 22.cxb5 Rxa3 23.bxa3 Qb3+=]
21…R8xb5 22.cxb5 Rc3+ 23.bxc3 Qxa3+ 24.Kc2 Qa2+ 25.Kc1 Qa3+=

9…Nbd7

Position after: 9…Nbd7

10.Nf3

A) 10.Bh6?! A dubious choice. White doesn’t achieve anything by this temporary threat.
10…Ne8 11.b4 a5 12.Rd1 axb4 13.axb4 e5 14.Nf3 Qe7³ White is in danger of getting
steamrolled after the potential …f5.
B) 10.0-0-0 Nxc5 11.Nf3 [11.Qe5 Qb6 12.Bxf6 gxf6 13.Qxf6 e5!

85
Position after: 13…e5!

Of course we don’t give White an undeserved draw. 14.Qxe5 f6 15.Qf4 Bd7µ Black’s
initiative is likely to decide the game.] 11…Bd7!

Position after: 11…Bd7!

An excellent evasive move. 12.Qe5 [12.Nxd4? Rc8!–+ Both …Nce4 and …b5 are on the
cards.] 12…Rc8 13.b4 Weakening, but semi-forced. 13…Qb6! 14.bxc5 Qb3 15.Qxd4 Ba4
16.Qd3 Qa2 17.Bxf6 gxf6 18.Rd2 Qa1+

86
Position after: 18…Qa1+

19.Qb1 Qc3+ 20.Rc2 Qxa3+ 21.Qb2 Qxc5 22.e3 Bxc2 23.Kxc2 Qf5+ 24.Kc1 Rfd8³
White’s weak king is the most important factor.

10…e5 11.0-0-0

11.e3 Re8 12.0-0-0 This transposes to 11.0-0-0.

11…Re8 12.e3

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Position after: 12.e3

This transposes to 11.0-0-0.

12…Nxc5 13.Nxe5

13.exd4 exd4 White can take the pawn, but he isn’t able to keep it due to Black’s activity.
A) 14.Bd3 Qb6 15.Bxf6 Qxf6 16.Nxd4 Rd8 17.Rhe1!

Position after: 17.Rhe1!

The only move. Both forcing continuations lead to total equality now, as follows. 17…Bg4
[17…Qxd4 18.Bc2 Qf6 19.Rxd8+ Qxd8 20.Qh4! Be6 21.Qxh7+ Kf8 22.Qh8+ Ke7 23.Qh4+
Kf8 24.Qh8+=] 18.Qxg4 Rxd4 19.Qg3 Nxd3+ 20.Rxd3 Rxc4+=
B) 14.Nxd4 Nce4 15.Qf4 Nxg5 16.Qxg5 Ne4!
An important resource. White can’t exchange queens because f2 is hanging. 17.Qf4 Bg4
18.Be2 Bxe2 19.Nxe2 Qb6 20.Ng3 Qxf2= Black happily regains the pawn.

13…h6 14.Bxf6 Qxf6 15.f4

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Position after: 15.f4

15…dxe3 16.Qxe3 a5 17.Qxc5 Qxf4+ 18.Kb1 Rxe5³

c) 5.a3 Bxc3 6.Qxc3 0-0 7.Nf3

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qc2 d5 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.Qxc3 0-0 7.Nf3

Position after: 7.Nf3

7…Nbd7!

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A rare, but very good move. Black prepares a quick …c5 with immediate pressure against
White’s center.

8.Bg5

8.e3 c5 9.dxc5 [9.b4 cxd4 10.Qxd4 dxc4 11.Bxc4 Nb6 12.Be2 Qxd4 13.Nxd4 Bd7= White
has too many holes to make use of his bishop pair.] 9…Nxc5 10.b4 Nce4 11.Qd4 dxc4

Position after: 11…dxc4

12.Bxc4 [12.Qxd8 Rxd8 13.Bxc4 Bd7 14.Bb2 Rac8³ Black is way too active for White even
to be equal.] 12…Qc7= Black has a very free game with …Rd8 and …a5 coming.

8…h6 9.Bh4 c5 10.e3

10.dxc5 g5 11.Bg3 Nxc5 12.Nd2 d4 13.Qc2 e5 14.b4 Ne6 15.h4 Ng4!= An important move
to remember. Black protects e5 and prepares …f5. I would be afraid to play as White due to
his lag in development.

10…b6

Played with the typical idea of …Ba6.

11.cxd5 exd5

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Position after: 11…exd5

12.Bb5

A) 12.Nd2 a5! Played in order to trade the light-squared bishops. 13.Bb5 Ba6 14.Bxa6
Rxa6 15.0-0 Ra8= Immediately transferring the rook to greener pastures. In case White
doesn’t trade on c5, Black may consider playing …c4 at some point, to advance the
queenside pawn mass.
B) 12.Bd3 g5! There’s no need to shy away from this move if we can achieve positional
benefits with it. 13.Bg3 Ne4 14.Qc2 Qe7 15.0-0 Ndf6= Black intends …c4. White runs a
strategic risk of running into a passive position.

12…g5!

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Position after: 12…g5!

A resource we have already seen in the 12.Bd3 line.

13.Bg3 Ne4 14.Qc2 Ndf6 15.Ne5

The most natural move. Other tries are not threatening in any way.

15…Bf5 16.Qe2 Kg7

Position after: 16…Kg7

92
It’s always useful to improve the king’s position in advance of future events.

17.0-0 Qe7 18.Rac1 c4=

The game is double-edged. Black plans to play on the queenside while retaining control over
the center.

d) 5.cxd5
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qc2 d5 5.cxd5

Position after: 5.cxd5

5…exd5 6.Bg5

A) 6.Nf3 0-0 7.Bg5 h6 8.Bh4 c5

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Position after: 8…c5

9.e3 [9.dxc5 Be6 10.e3 Nbd7 This transposes to the 6.Bg5 main line.] 9…c4 The most
ambitious move, going for a queenside majority. 10.Be2 Nc6 11.0-0 g5 12.Bg3

Position after: 12.Bg3

12…Ne7!= Black plans …Bf5 and …Rc8. His slight kingside weakening is offset by his
activity and light-squared control.
B) 6.Bf4!? Certainly an interesting try, but there is an even more curious response up
Black’s sleeve. 6…c5 7.dxc5 0-0 8.e3 Nc6 9.Nf3 d4!

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Position after: 9…d4!

This pawn sacrifice may look enigmatic, but it becomes perfectly logical once you look
closer. 10.0-0-0 Bxc5
B1) 11.Nb5 Bb6 12.Bc4 [12.Nbxd4? Way too greedy. White neglects development and
gets punished. 12…Nxd4 13.Nxd4 Bg4 14.f3 Rc8 15.Bc4 Bd7 16.Nb3 Ba5!–+ There’s no
good way to resolve the …b5 threat.] 12…Bg4 Such a pin is always effective. 13.Kb1
Nb4 Forcing the issue. 14.Qb3 Bf5+ 15.Kc1 Rc8! It seems that this runs into Nd6, but the
tactics work for Black. 16.Nd6 Nc6! The point. 17.Nxf5 Na5 18.Qd3 Nxc4 19.Kb1 dxe3
20.fxe3 Qxd3+ 21.Rxd3 Rfe8= We have a pleasant endgame with active pieces and no
weaknesses.
B2) 11.exd4 Bd6 12.Bxd6 Qxd6 White has won a pawn, but now he has to deal with
Black’s initiative. Black’s …Nb4 is a threat for a start. 13.a3 Be6 14.Kb1 Na5 15.d5 White
is forced to give up the pawn. 15…Nxd5 16.Nxd5 Bxd5 17.Bd3 g6 18.Be4 Bxe4 19.Qxe4
Qc7!= We have regained the pawn with full equality. The last accurate move we need. In
the game Caruana – Dominguez, 2020, Black played 19…Qb6?! and ran into some
problems after 20.Ne5!.

6…h6 7.Bh4 c5

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Position after: 7…c5

Undermining White’s center.

8.dxc5 0-0 9.e3 Be6

Black reinforces the d5-pawn and prepares to create play along the c-file with …Nbd7 and
…Rc8.

10.Nf3

10.a3 I advise the reader to pay special attention to the lines that follow, as they require
sharp and precise play. 10…Bxc5 11.Nf3 Nc6

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Position after: 11…Nc6

A) 12.Be2 g5 13.Bg3 d4!

Position after: 13…d4!

Executing this break is pivotal in securing equality. Fortunately, it works perfectly.

A1) 14.Rd1 This move initiates a line that may be hard to find over the board, so it’s
preferable to be well acquainted with it. 14…Qb6 15.exd4 Nxd4 16.Nxd4 Bxd4 17.Na4
Qa5+ 18.b4 Rac8 19.bxa5 Rxc2 20.Rxd4 Has Black lost a piece? Not at all! 20…Bb3!

97
Position after: 20…Bb3!

21.0-0 Rxe2 22.Nc5 Ba2 23.Nxb7 Rc8= Black’s activity secures full compensation for the
pawn.
A2) 14.exd4 Nxd4 15.Nxd4 Bxd4 16.0-0 Rc8 17.Qa4 Bxc3 18.bxc3 Nd5= Black has good
active play.
B) 12.Rd1 d4!

Position after: 12…d4!

98
 It looks like White is well guarded against this advance, but this is only illusory. 13.Be2
[13.Bxf6 Qxf6 14.Ne4 Qg6 15.Qxc5 Qxe4 16.Bd3 Qd5 17.Qxd5 Bxd5= The endgame is
equal.] 13…Qb6 14.Bxf6 dxc3 15.Bxc3 Bb3 16.Qf5 Bxd1 17.Bxd1 White’s compensation in
the form of the aggressive bishop pair (Bc2 is threatened) is really frightening, so it’s crucial
to strike first. 17…Bxe3!

Position after: 17…Bxe3!

18.fxe3 [18.Bc2?? This doesn’t work due to the following. 18…g6 19.Qf6 Nd4!–+]
18…Qxe3+ 19.Kf1 Rfe8 Black has quite an easy game with the major pieces on open files.
Let’s see a few sample lines below.
B1) 20.Qg4 g5= This certainly looks risky, but the position is very concrete. Black
threatens …Re4 and …Rad8.
B2) 20.Bd2 Qb6 21.Bc2 g6 22.Qf6 Re6 23.Qc3 Rd8 24.Bb3 Rxd2!

99
Position after: 24…Rxd2!

Not forced, but the most forcing. 25.Nxd2 Re3 26.Qf6 Rxb3 27.Nxb3 Qxb3= A perpetual
check is likely to conclude the game.
B3) 20.g3 Rad8 21.Qc2 Ne7! Black has to place this knight more effectively. 22.Kg2 Nd5
23.Bd2 Qb6= It’s hard for White’s minor pieces to get active with Black’s major pieces so
well placed.

10…Nbd7 11.Be2

A) 11.Bd3 Rc8 12.0-0 Rxc5 13.Rac1 Bxc3 14.bxc3

100
Position after: 14.bxc3

14…b6!= The purpose of this move is to be able to go …Qe7 and meet Qa4 with …Ra5!
Black has a nice, compact position.
B) 11.a3?! This move already allows Black to take over the initiative thanks to his big lead
in development. 11…Bxc3+ 12.Qxc3 g5 13.Bg3 Ne4 14.Qc2 Rc8³ White needs to start
fighting for equality, for example as follows. 15.Nd4 Ndxc5 16.Be2 Bd7!

Position after: 16…Bd7!

Redirecting to juicy light squares. 17.b4 The following is an improvement over two previous

101
 games. 17…Na4! 18.Qb3 Re8 19.Bf3 h5!µ White is under serious strain.

11…Rc8 12.c6

Position after: 12.c6

An attempt to change the structure and alleviate the pressure along the c-file.
12.0-0 Nxc5 13.Nd4 [13.a3 Ba5= Black’s …Nce4 comes next with a similar position.]
13…Nce4 14.Bxf6 Nxf6= White takes on c3 next and can pressure the c3-pawn.

12…bxc6 13.0-0

13.Nd4 In Saduakassova – Kosteniuk, 2019, the former women’s world champion didn’t
play energetically enough. Black should have played as follows instead. 13…c5!

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Position after: 13…c5!

14.Nxe6 fxe6 15.0-0 c4!= Black’s …Qa5 is the next idea. Black would easily find
compensation against White’s bishop pair in her queenside activity.

13…c5!N

Position after: 13…c5!N

It’s best to put the hanging pawns in motion. It also stops Nd4.

103
14.Rfd1

14.e4 Bxc3 15.exd5 Bxd5 16.Qxc3 Re8= All Black’s pieces play well and his c5-pawn
controls the important d4-square.

14…Bxc3 15.bxc3

Position after: 15.bxc3

15.Qxc3 Ne4 16.Qa3 g5 17.Bg3 Qb6= Black’s …a5 and …Qb4 is a good potential plan.

15…c4=

An important strategic decision. The point is to fix the pawn on c3 and prepare …Nc5-e4.
White’s Nd4 can be met by …Qe7. The position is double-edged, but holds no serious
danger for Black.

104
 Chapter 4
4.e3

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3

Chapter Guide
Chapter 4 – 4.e3

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 0-0

a) 5.Nge2
b) 5.Bd3 d5 6.a3 & cxd5
c) 5.Bd3 d5 6.Nge2
d) 5.Bd3 d5 6.Nf3

a) 5.Nge2
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3

105
Position after: 4.e3

The absolute main line. White develops his pieces in the most straightforward way: Bd3, Nf3
(Nge2) etc. The downside is that the dark-squared bishop is left passively on c1.

4…0-0 5.Nge2

This is the Rubinstein Variation, named after the eminent Polish-Jewish player. White strives
for flexibility, but in my view, wastes too much time with this scheme.
A) 5.Nf3 d5
A1) 6.Bd2 b6 This transposes to 4.Nf3 b6 5.Bd2, Chapter 5.
A2) 6.a3 Bxc3+ 7.bxc3 c5 8.Bd3 [8.cxd5 exd5 9.Bd3 c4 10.Bc2 Bg4 11.0-0

106
Position after: 11.0-0

11…Qc8³ Black commands the light squares.] 8…dxc4 9.Bxc4 Qc7 This transposes to
5.Bd3 d5 6.a3.
A3) 6.Be2 b6 7.0-0 Ba6 There’s no need to change the strategy here. 8.cxd5 exd5 The
game should soon transpose to the main line.
A4) 6.Bd3 This transposes to 5.Bd3.
B) 5.Bd2 d5 6.Nf3 b6 This transposes to 4.Nf3 b6 5.Bd2, Chapter 5.

5…d5 6.a3

6.cxd5 exd5 7.g3 [7.a3 Be7 This transposes to the following line: 6.a3 Be7 7.cxd5, while
7…Bd6 is an additional option.] 7…Re8 Vacating the f8-square for the bishop. 8.Bg2 Bf8
9.0-0 Na6!? Following the example of Michael Adams.

107
Position after: 9…Na6!?

The knight can support …c5, sometimes jumping to b4, and it also stands well on c7.
Black’s position is so good already that there are many good alternatives, but I like the way
in which Adams faced Carlsen, as follows. 10.a3 c6 11.f3 Quite a typical idea, as White
prepares an expansion with g4 or e4. 11…c5! A good rule of thumb is that once f3 appears
on the board, …c5 becomes stronger as e3 is weaker. 12.g4 h6 13.h3 In Carlsen – Adams,
2009, White was stopped in his tracks. 13…Nc7µ Now Black would have a very substantial
advantage as his prospects in the center and on the queenside are more promising than
White’s kingside chances.

6…Be7

108
Position after: 6…Be7

7.cxd5

A) 7.Nf4 c6 8.Bd3 dxc4 9.Bxc4 Nbd7 10.0-0 e5 11.Nfe2

Position after: 11.Nfe2

11…exd4 12.Nxd4 [12.exd4 Nb6= This is definitely not the greatest isolated pawn.]
12…Ne5 13.Be2 c5 14.Nf3 Nxf3+ 15.Bxf3 Bd6= Black even has the freer development.
B) 7.Ng3 c5 Since White has wasted a lot of time with his king’s knight, it’s only logical to

109
 open the center. 8.dxc5 [8.cxd5?! cxd4 9.exd4 Nxd5 10.Bd3 Nc6 11.0-0 Bf6³ White faces
some trouble defending the center.] 8…dxc4
B1) 9.Qc2?! b5!

Position after: 9…b5!

A star move. 10.cxb6 Qxb6 11.Bxc4 Bb7 12.0-0 Qc6 This is not possible now, and e3-e4
weakens the d4-square. This is the point of Black’s idea. 12.e4 Nc6 13.Be3 Nd4 14.Qd3
Rad8 15.0-0 Ng4³ Black has tremendous compensation for the pawn.
B2) 9.Bxc4 Qxd1+ 10.Kxd1 Bxc5= This is similar to 9.Qxd8.
B3) 9.Qxd8 Rxd8 10.Bxc4 Bxc5= The endgame is a bit dull, but we have comfortable
equality out of the opening.

7…exd5

110
Position after: 7…exd5

8.Nf4

A) 8.g3?! The bishop will bite the granite on d5. 8…Nbd7 9.Bg2 Nb6 10.0-0 Re8 11.b3
[11.Nf4 Bf8³ Black’s …c6 or …Bf5 is next, with better control over the position.] 11…a5
12.Nf4 c6³ White’s queenside is quite soft and his c1-bishop is painfully passive.
B) 8.b4 Bf5!

Position after: 8…Bf5!

111
 Taking the opportunity to grab this diagonal. 9.Ng3 Bg6 10.f4 An attempt to play against
the bishop. Otherwise White’s play doesn’t make a whole lot of sense. 10…Bd6!N

Position after: 10…Bd6!N

Black stops f5 and improves his bishop. 11.Be2 Nbd7 12.0-0 h6³ 13.f5 This causes
serious overextension of White’s position and Black can cope with the bishop being
temporarily shut in, as White’s pieces are not really effectively placed either.
C) 8.Ng3 c5 9.dxc5 [9.Bd3 Bg4! 10.f3 cxd4 11.exd4 Be6= White is slightly weakened.
Black has the easier game; 9.Be2 Nc6 10.0-0 cxd4 11.exd4 Be6= In practice I would prefer
Black with his more natural piece placement.] 9…Bxc5
C1) 10.Be2 Nc6 11.0-0 d4= The game should simplify soon. Of course Black isn’t obliged
to go for …d4 if he wants to keep things more complex.
C2) 10.b4 d4!

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Position after: 10…d4!

The most active way to go. 11.bxc5 dxc3 12.Qb3 Qa5 13.Ne2 Na6 14.Qxc3 Qxc3+
15.Nxc3 Nxc5= The bishop pair is easily offset by the freer development.
C3) 10.Bd3 Nc6 11.0-0 d4= Black can also choose to play quite a good version of the
IQP if he wishes to.

8…c6 9.Bd3 Bd6

Position after: 9…Bd6

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Now …Bxf4 will always be a possibility.

10.0-0 Re8 11.f3 b6

Position after: 11…b6

With the thematic idea of the light-squared bishops’ trade.

12.b4

12.Bd2 Ba6 13.Bxa6 Nxa6= White is left with a bad bishop.

12…Ba6 13.Bxa6 Nxa6 14.Qd3 Bxf4!

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Position after: 14…Bxf4!

Exchanging at an opportune moment.

15.exf4 b5=

One of the knights will become redirected to c4, whereas White’s kingside play is not so
obvious.

b) 5.Bd3 d5 6.a3 & cxd5

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 0-0 5.Bd3

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Position after: 5.Bd3

5…d5 6.cxd5

I must say the rising popularity of this capture at the high level in 2022 has surprised me, as
the resulting positions don’t seem very attractive for White to me. Perhaps many top players
have a different taste.
6.a3 Bxc3+ 7.bxc3 dxc4 8.Bxc4 c5

Position after: 8…c5

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Black starts quick queenside play.
A) 9.Ne2 Qc7

Position after: 9…Qc7

A1) 10.Ba2 b6 11.0-0 Ba6

A1.1) 12.Bb2 Rd8 13.Rc1 Nc6 14.c4 cxd4 15.exd4 b5!

Position after: 15…b5!

A very important resource to remember. Black forcibly solves all of his problems. 16.d5

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 bxc4 17.Bxc4 Bxc4 18.Rxc4 exd5 19.Rc2 d4 In case Black doesn’t want to force a draw
and keep the game going, he can do it as follows. 19…Qd6. 20.Nxd4 Qb6 21.Rd2 Ne4
22.Rd3 Nc5= The repetition is inevitable.
A1.2) 12.Re1 Nc6 13.Ng3 Rfd8 14.Bb2 Na5 15.e4 Bc4 16.Bxc4 Nxc4 17.Bc1

Position after: 17.Bc1

17…Ne8!= Black prevents Bg5 and prepares …f6. He has very nice piece play.
A2) 10.Bd3 Nc6 11.0-0 [11.f4?! b6 12.0-0 Ne7!

Position after: 12…Ne7!

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 This maneuver allows Black to fight for an edge! 13.Ng3 Nf5³ Black dominates the light
squares.] 11…e5 12.Ng3 This position has been played numerous times in online chess
with good results by the openings expert, Alexey Sarana, and it’s a tricky try. Black needs
to know what he’s doing. [12.Bb2 Be6 13.Ng3 Rad8= Let’s be honest – that’s not the
most impressive bishop pair in the world.] 12…Be6 13.f4 Sarana’s move. White provokes
Black to take the d4-pawn, after which e3-e4 will provide him with a dangerous initiative.
13…exd4 14.cxd4 Rad8!

Position after: 14…Rad8!

Keeping the center open is stronger than playing into White’s hands with …cxd4. 15.Rb1
a6! Expanding on the queenside, still not giving White the nice compensation he wants
after the following. 15…cxd4 16.e4 16.h3 b5 17.Bb2 Nd5 Black hits e3 and threatens to
establish a powerful grip with …c4-c3 and …f5. White has only one satisfactory response.
18.dxc5 White accepts material loss but forces a perpetual check. [18.Qf3?! c4 19.Bc2 c3
20.Bc1? f5! Black has achieved positional domination in Sarana – Sevian, Internet 2022.]
18…Nxe3 19.Bxh7+

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Position after: 19.Bxh7+

19…Kxh7 20.Qh5+ Kg8 21.Bxg7 Kxg7 22.Qg5+ Kh8 23.Qh6+ Kg8 24.Qg5+=
B) 9.Nf3 Qc7
B1) 10.Be2 b6 11.0-0 Ba6= Exchanging the light-squared bishops is the simplest choice.
B2) 10.Qc2?! b6 11.Bd3 [11.0-0??

Position after: 11.0-0??

11…cxd4! 12.cxd4 Ba6–+ Black wins.] 11…Ba6³ This is a worse version of 10. Be2 for

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 White.
B3) 10.Qd3 b6 11.0-0 Bb7= White’s pieces are quite awkwardly placed.
B4) 10.Ba2 b5 More resolute than 10…b6, which is also fine. 11.0-0 Bb7 12.Qe2 Rc8
13.Bb1 Nc6= Black has wonderful light-squared play. 14.Qxb5 This is met by 14…Na5
with ample compensation.

6…exd5 7.Nge2

7.a3 Bd6 8.Qc2 c6 Stopping Nb5 and strengthening d5. 9.Nge2 Re8 10.Bd2 White keeps
flexibility between castling long or short. Dominguez, who is always extremely well-prepared,
demonstrated a strong response against Firouzja. [10.0-0 b6= Black solves his problems
easily by …c5 or …Ba6.] 10…b6 Building up on the queenside. 11.f3 c5 12.g4 c4!

Position after: 12…c4!

13.Bf5 Bxf5 14.Qxf5 g6! 15.Qg5 The queen can also move back to c2, but it is passively
placed there. 15…Nc6 16.0-0 Bf8 17.Qh4 h6 18.Rad1 b5!

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Position after: 18…b5!

Very possibly all of this was prepared, as these are top engine moves. 19.Qf2 Qd7 20.Qg2
Bg7= Black was active and without weaknesses in Firouzja – Dominguez, 2022.

7…Re8 8.0-0

8.Bd2 Bd6 9.Rc1 a6 With this move Black keeps the options of …b5 and …c5. 10.0-0 Nbd7
11.Ng3 (11.Nf4 This can be simply met by 11…c6 and Black still has a queenside
expansion on the agenda). 11…b5 12.Nce2 b4!

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Position after: 12…b4!

Black cuts off the bishop from a5. 13.Nf4 Bb7= With the bishop boxed in on d2, White runs
the risk of becoming worse. That’s why the following pawn sacrifice has been played in
correspondence games. 14.a3 bxa3 15.bxa3 Bxa3 16.Rb1 Nb6 17.Ba5 Bd6= White’s
compensation is sufficient only for equality.

8…Bd6 9.Bd2

9.f3 This is favorably met by 9…c5. It is typical that Black doesn’t need to fear the IQP once
the e3-point has been softened by the f-pawn move.

9…b6

The main idea is to play …c5, being able to recapture with the pawn. But the possibilities of
…Bb7 and …Ba6 also open up.

10.Rc1

10.Nf4 Bxf4!

Position after: 10…Bxf4!

10…Bb7 11.Qf3 This promises White a straightforward game, which is not the case after the
text. 11.exf4 c5 12.dxc5 bxc5 Now the idea is …Ba6 and White can’t just make any move,
as he runs the risk of becoming significantly worse. 13.Re1 Ba6 14.Rxe8+ Qxe8 15.Nxd5
White needs tactics to justify a position that is becoming strategically suspicious. 15…Nxd5
16.Qh5 Nf6 17.Qf3 Bxd3 18.Qxa8 a6= The game was dynamically balanced in Straka –

123
Malyshev, email 2019.

10…c5

Position after: 10…c5

11.Ng3

11.dxc5 bxc5 12.Nb5 Bf8 13.Bc3 Creating the threat of Bxf6. 13…Nbd7 14.Qd2 Enabling
Ba5. Otherwise White is worse after …a6. 14…a6 15.Ba5 Nb6 16.Nbc3 Qd6= We have
followed Grischuk – Karjakin, Internet (rapid) 2020. There’s a lot of tension in the position,
but Black is not worse in any way.

11…Bb7 12.Qf3

12…Nbd7 13.Nf5 This gave White a slight initiative in Grischuk – Ding, Internet (rapid)
2020. I suggest taking the f5-square away from White as follows.
12.dxc5 bxc5 13.e4 A surprising computer suggestion. 13…dxe4 This is now met by
14.Bb5; 13…c4 14.Bb1 Bxg3 15.hxg3 dxe4 16.Be3 White hopes that the bishop pair is a
substantial asset and Black’s pawns are unstable. However Black has a concrete way to
solve his problems. 16…Qa5

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Position after: 16…Qa5

(16…Nbd7 This looks very good until you notice 17.Nb5!. That’s why Black starts with the
queen move.) 17.Qa4 There is simply no other satisfactory option for White. 17…Qxa4
18.Nxa4 Nbd7 19.Nc5 Black’s …Ne5-d3 is a threat. 19…Nxc5 20.Bxc5 Nd7 21.Bd4 Ne5=
White can now regain the pawn, but it only restores equality.

12…g6=

It is not easy for White to find a target now. A sample line runs as follows.

13.Bc4 Na6 14.Nxd5 Bxd5 15.Bxd5 Nxd5 16.Qxd5 Bxg3 17.Qxd8 Bxf2+ 18.Rxf2 Raxd8=

The endgame is completely equal.

c) 5.Bd3 d5 6.Nge2
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 0-0 5.Bd3 d5 6.Nge2

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Position after: 6.Nge2

6…dxc4 7.Bxc4 c5

A typical operation. Black wants to create an isolated pawn and target it.

8.0-0

8.a3 Bxc3+ 9.bxc3 This transposes to 6.a3, 9.Ne2.

8…cxd4 9.exd4 Nc6

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Position after: 9…Nc6

10.a3

10.Bg5 Be7
A) 11.Rc1?!

Position after: 11.Rc1?!

This looks like a natural move made on general grounds, but it’s inaccurate considering the
concrete character of the fight for the d5-square. 11…b6 12.a3 Bb7 13.Qd3 Nd5 14.Bxe7
Ncxe7³ Black has succeeded in exchanging the dark-squared bishops and controlling d5.
The game becomes one-sided.
B) 11.a3 White takes the b4-square under control to prepare the typical Qd3 maneuver.
11…h6!

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Position after: 11…h6!

I very much like this simple solution. 12.Bh4 [12.Bf4 Bd6=] 12…Nh5! 13.Bxe7 Nxe7= Now
White is strategically forced to play 14.d5 and simplify the game or he will be left with an
isolated pawn and not much activity in return after …Nf6.

10…Bd6

Note that this move stops Bg5 on account of …Bxh2+.

11.Qd3

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Position after: 11.Qd3

11.h3 h6!= This is very similar to 11.Qd3 h6.

11…h6!=

This move creates a huge problem for White – he has no good place to put his dark-squared
bishop as …b6 or …Ne7 are natural next moves.

d) 5.Bd3 d5 6.Nf3
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 0-0 5.Bd3 d5 6.Nf3

Position after: 6.Nf3

6…b6!

I like this idea very much. Black intends to play …Ba6 and exchange White’s strong light-
squared bishop, leaving him with some holes on the light squares and a relatively bad dark-
squared bishop. Black faces virtually no theoretical problems and has straightforward play in
prospect.

7.0-0 Ba6 8.cxd5

A) 8.Qe2 Bxc3 9.bxc3 c5= Black can follow up with …Qc8 and typical light-squared play.
B) 8.Ne5 dxc4 9.Bxc4 [9.Qf3 cxd3!

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Position after: 9…cxd3!

The simplest device. 10.Qxa8 c5 A quick liquidation is likely to follow, with total equality as
follows. 11.Qxa7 cxd4 12.exd4 d2

Position after: 12…d2

13.Bxd2 Bxf1 14.Rxf1 Qxd4 15.Nf3 Qd6=] 9…Bxc4 10.Nxc4 Nbd7 Black’s …c5 comes
next, with the easiest game under the sun.

8…exd5 9.Bxa6

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9.Ne5 Bxc3 10.bxc3 c5 11.Bxa6

Position after: 11.Bxa6

[11.f3 Bxd3 12.Qxd3 Re8= Black is ready to take control over the light squares. I would say
that he has the easier game.] 11…Nxa6
A) 12.Qd3 c4 13.Qc2 [13.Qf5 Qc8 14.Qxc8 Rfxc8 15.f3 Re8= Black has a very strong
resource up his sleeve: …Nc5!.] 13…Nd7=

Position after: 13…Nd7=

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 Black trades the strong knight and gets great light-squared play.
B) 12.f3 Nc7 13.Qa4 Re8= Black’s position is very flexible with plenty of good ideas: …b5,
…Qc8-a6, …Re6, …Ne8-d6 etc.

9…Nxa6 10.Qa4

A) 10.Bd2 Qc8!

Position after: 10…Qc8!

The queen comes to the most comfortable square: b7. 11.Rc1 [11.Qa4 This transposes to
10.Qa4.] 11…Qb7 12.a3 Bd6 13.b4 c5= Black gets a reasonable amount of counterplay,
but in case you don’t enjoy playing with an IQP, you can go for 13…Rfc8. It’s a matter of
taste.
B) 10.Qd3 Qc8 11.Bd2 Rd8= The most accurate move according to the engine. We
reinforce d5, prepare c5 and vacate f8 for the bishop. The position needs practical tests,
but Black can already be happy with the opening.

10…Qc8 11.Bd2 Re8

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Position after: 11…Re8

12.Rac1

12.Rfc1 Qb7 13.a3 Bxc3 14.Bxc3 Rac8 15.b4 c6= This is very similar to the main line.

12…Qb7 13.a3 Bxc3

Black’s position is so sound that the choice between giving up and preserving this bishop is
arbitrary. I would recommend trading it and going for the light squares a bit more, but
13…Bd6 and 13…Bf8 are totally fine as well.

14.Bxc3 Rac8 15.b4

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Position after: 15.b4

15…c6=

White’s game is in kind of a standstill whereas Black has good maneuvers to follow with:
…Ne4, …Nb8-d7 etc.

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 Chapter 5
4.Nf3

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Nf3

Chapter Guide
Chapter 5 – 4.Nf3 b6

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Nf3 b6

a) 5.—
b) 5.Qc2
c) 5.Bg5

a) 5.—
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Nf3

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Position after: 4.Nf3

4…b6

It’s a good idea to immediately play for control of the long diagonal. The game can
transpose to my recommended approach against the 4.e3 main line, so we are consistent
with the whole repertoire.

5.Bd2

This is a tricky move order based on the possibility of bringing the rook to c1 quickly.
A) 5.e3 0-0 6.Bd3 d5 This transposes to the 4.e3 main line.
B) 5.Qb3 c5 6.a3 [6.Bg5 Bb7 This transposes to 5.Bg5 Bb7 6.Qb3.] 6…Ba5 7.Bg5 h6
8.Bh4 g5 9.Bg3 Ne4 10.e3 Nc6 11.Bd3 Bxc3+ 12.bxc3 Nxg3 13.hxg3 Bb7= We reach the
same position as after 5.Bg5 Bb7 6.Qb3.
C) 5.g3 Bxc3+!

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Position after: 5…Bxc3+!

A wise decision. The queenside doubled pawns don’t go well with the kingside fianchetto.
6.bxc3 Bb7 7.Bg2 h6!

Position after: 7…h6!

A rare, but very prudent move. Black stops Bg5 and the bishop is left without a good place.
8.0-0 d6= White should be fine, but he runs serious strategic risks. The dark-squared
bishop is inactive, the light-squared one is well opposed and the c4-pawn is potentially
weak.

137
 D) 5.a3?! Bxc3+ 6.bxc3 Ba6!

Position after: 6…Ba6!

It’s time to immediately put pressure on White. 7.e3 Nc6 8.Bd3 Na5 9.Qe2 [Alternatively
9.Nd2 0-0³ followed by …d5 is similar to 9.Qe2.] 9…d5 10.Nd2 0-0 11.0-0 c5³ White is
under substantial pressure.

5…0-0 6.e3 d5

Position after: 6…d5

138
7.cxd5

A) 7.Bd3 dxc4 8.Bxc4 Bb7 9.0-0 Nbd7 10.Qe2 c5= Obvious equalization.
B) 7.a3 Bd6
B1) 8.cxd5 exd5 9.Bd3 Re8= Black has many convincing plans to choose from, for
example: …c5, …c6, …Bg4, …Ba6, …Bb7/Ne4 etc.
B2) 8.b4 dxc4 9.Bxc4 c5= The central tension will soon be released with full equality.

7…exd5 8.Rc1

Now the …Ba6 idea from the 4.e3 main line is no longer satisfactory for Black. We need to
play somewhat differently.
8.Bd3 Ba6 9.Bxa6 Nxa6= The game should soon transpose to the 4.e3 main line.

8…Bb7 9.Bd3 Be7

Position after: 9…Be7

Black prepares …c5 and wants his bishop safe from exchange for a knight first.

10.0-0

10.Ne5 c5 11.0-0 Nc6 This transposes to 10.0-0.

10…c5 11.Ne5

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11.dxc5 bxc5 12.Re1 White prepares e4. It is important to refrain from the quite natural
12…Nc6 move, as White could get an edge with 13.Bb1!. The idea is e3-e4, as played twice
by Rakhmanov. 12…Re8!

Position after: 12…Re8!

A prophylactic move. If White does nothing substantial, the next move could be …Bd6,
stopping e4. 13.Qb3 [13.e4 dxe4 14.Bxe4 Nxe4 15.Nxe4 Na6= Black’s structure is not
ideal, but with the bishop pair in an open position he cannot be worse.] 13…Qb6 14.e4 The
opening of the position doesn’t bring White any edge, but otherwise there is no clear plan for
him. [14.Na4 Qxb3 15.axb3 Ba6!= This nice little tactic equalizes easily. 16.Bf1 Bxf1
17.Kxf1 In Mladek – Sankalp, 2022, it was best to play the simple 17…Nbd7= with an equal
endgame.] 14…Qxb3 15.axb3 dxe4 16.Nxe4 Nxe4 17.Bxe4 Bxe4 18.Rxe4 Nc6= Further
trades can be expected, with a probable draw, as in Sargsyan – Ganguly, 2022.

11…Nc6

This transposes to 10.0-0.

12.Be1

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Position after: 12.Be1

This move may seem mysterious, but it has a cunning idea. 12…cxd4?! After this, White has
the following. 13.Nxc6 Bxc6 14.Ne2! White has an edge. It’s important to remember this
idea and not fall for it.

12…Bd6 13.f4 cxd4 14.Nxc6 Bxc6 15.exd4

15.Ne2 This is no longer dangerous with the change of structure.

15…Qd7

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Position after: 15…Qd7

Many other moves are fully acceptable as well at this point.

16.Qc2 Bb4=

Black was completely fine here in Bluebaum – Alekseenko, 2019.

b) 5.Qc2
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Nf3 b6 5.Qc2

Position after: 5.Qc2

5…Bb7 6.a3

6.Bg5 This transposes to 5.Bg5 Bb7 6.Qc2.

6…Bxc3+ 7.Qxc3 0-0

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Position after: 7…0-0

8.e3

A) 8.g3 c5 9.dxc5 bxc5 10.Bg2 a5!

Position after: 10…a5!

Stopping any potential queenside expansion. 11.0-0 d6= Black is very comfortable. He can
play …e5 in the future to shut in White’s dark-squared bishop.
B) 8.Bg5 d6

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Position after: 8…d6

B1) 9.e3 Nbd7 10.Be2 [10.Bd3 c5 11.0-0 Rc8 12.Nd2 h6 13.Bh4 cxd4 14.exd4 b5!

Position after: 14…b5!

Breaking White’s pawn structure. 14…d5 This is equally good. 15.b3 bxc4 16.bxc4 Ba6=
Next …Bxc4 followed by …d5 is inevitable; 10.Nd2 This transposes to 9.Nd2 Nbd7
10.e3.] 10…Qe8!

144
Position after: 10…Qe8!

A nice resource. The threat of …Ne4 forces White to give up the bishop. 11.Bxf6 [11.0-0
Ne4 12.Qc2 f5 13.Bh4 This transposes to 11.0-0. 13…Qh5!= Black’s kingside play can be
dangerous; 11.Bh4 Ne4 12.Qc2 f5 13.0-0 This transposes to 11.0-0.] 11…Nxf6 12.0-0
Ne4 13.Qc2 c5= Black has good chances fighting for the center.
B2) 9.Nd2 The only challenging option. White wants to build up a strong center. 9…Nbd7
B2.1) 10.e3 This transposes to the 9.Nd2 Nbd7 10.e3 line. 10…h6 11.Bh4 e5!

Position after: 11…e5!

145
 An effective central strike. 12.Bd3 exd4 13.Qxd4 Qe7 14.Bf5 [14.0-0 g5 15.Bg3 Rae8=
Black’s kingside is slightly weakened, but there is no real way to exploit it. In the
meantime, Black’s pieces are playing together well.] 14…g5 15.Bg3 Nh5 16.0-0 Ng7=
White either has to give up the bishop pair or surrender some squares.
B2.2) 10.f3 h6 11.Bh4 c5 12.e4 Rc8 Methodically preparing for queenside counterplay.
13.Bd3 [13.dxc5 Nxc5 14.Bxf6 Qxf6 15.Qxf6 gxf6 16.Kf2

Position after: 16.Kf2

16…d5!= Black is slightly worse structurally, but more active.] 13…cxd4 14.Qxd4 Nc5
15.Be2 [15.Bc2 e5 16.Qf2 Ne6= This is similar to 15.Be2.] 15…e5 16.Qf2 Ne6= Black
intends to take control over the dark squares with …g5 and …Nd4.

8…d5

146
Position after: 8…d5

The most straightforward way to handle the position.

9.b3 Nbd7 10.Be2 c5 11.0-0 Rc8

Position after: 11…Rc8

12.Bb2

12.a4 dxc4 13.bxc4 Qc7 14.Rd1 Bxf3! 15.gxf3 cxd4 16.exd4 Rfd8= We have an interesting,

147
double-edged game in prospect. White’s bishop pair is offset by Black’s better structure.

12…dxc4 13.bxc4 cxd4 14.exd4 b5!

Position after: 14…b5!

15.c5 a6=

This was played by the best of the best, Kasparov vs Karpov in 1988. Black’s light-squared
control guarantees him equal chances.

c) 5.Bg5
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Nf3 b6 5.Bg5

148
Position after: 5.Bg5

One of the older lines, debated heavily in pre-computer times. The engines don’t see
chances for an advantage for White. The pin can be easily broken with tempi by …h6 and …
g5 followed by …Ne4, as we will see in the main line.

5…Bb7 6.e3

A) 6.Nd2 h6 7.Bh4 e5!

Position after: 7…e5!

149
 A rare and unexpected, but very strong continuation, which can come as a cold shower for
White. 8.dxe5?! Critical, but as we will see, unsatisfactory. [8.a3 Bxc3 9.bxc3 Qe7= Black
enjoys a very satisfactory position, with plans like …g5, …d6 and …Nc6.] 8…Bxc3 9.bxc3
g5 10.Bg3 Nh5 11.e3 [11.e4 Nxg3 12.hxg3 Qe7 13.f4 The only way White can try to justify
his previous play. 13…Na6³ The position is similar to 11.e3 except White has an additional
e4 weakness.] 11…Nxg3 12.hxg3 Qe7 13.f4 Na6³ Black’s …Nc5, …d6 and …0-0-0 are
coming. White’s center is clearly overextended.
B) 6.Qc2 This transposes to the following. 5.Bg5 Bb7 6.Qc2 6…h6 7.Bh4 g5 8.Bg3 Ne4

Position after: 8…Ne4

B1) 9.e3 This transposes to 6.e3.

B2) 9.Be5? A misguided move. 9…Bxc3+! The immediate 9…Rg8 allows the following.
10.d5! 10.bxc3 Rg8 White has huge problems because his bishop doesn’t feel well at all.
11.Nd2 [11.d5? This only worsens the issue. 11…exd5 12.cxd5 Bxd5 13.Rd1 Bb7–+
White simply has no compensation and worse development.] 11…f5 12.f3 Nxd2 13.Qxd2
f4!N

150
Position after: 13…f4!N

The best choice, going after the bishop. 14.d5 d6 15.Bd4 e5 16.Bf2 Nd7µ White has
obvious developmental and structural problems.
B3) 9.Nd2 Bxc3 10.bxc3 Nxg3 11.hxg3 d6 12.e4 [12.e3 Nd7 13.Rh2 Qe7 14.Be2 0-0-0³
White has nothing to show in return for Black’s better structure.] 12…Nd7 13.Be2 Qe7
14.Qa4 White excludes …0-0-0, but Black can steer complications on the other side of
the board. 14…h5!

Position after: 14…h5!

151
 15.Rxh5 Rxh5 16.Bxh5 0-0-0= Now 17.Qxa7 is met by 17…f5; and 17.0-0-0 is met by
17…Nf6. Black is fine.
C) 6.Qb3 c5

Position after: 6…c5

C1) 7.a3 Bxc3+ 8.Qxc3 h6 9.Bh4 g5 10.Bg3 Ne4 11.Qd3 f5 12.e3 d6= Black’s play flows
easily: …Nd7, …Qf6/e7, …0-0 or …0-0-0 etc.
C2) 7.0-0-0 Bxc3 The simplest choice. 8.Qxc3 Ne4 9.Bxd8 Nxc3 10.bxc3 Kxd8 11.d5
Ke7 12.e4 d6= White has more space and Black has the better structure.
C3) 7.dxc5 Bxc5 8.e3 Be7!

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Position after: 8…Be7!

It looks like Black has wasted some time, but in fact his pieces now fall into perfect
squares. 9.Be2 Na6 10.0-0 Nc5 11.Qc2 Nce4= Black has great piece play.
C4) 7.Rd1?! Too slow. 7…Nc6 8.dxc5 h6!

Position after: 8…h6!

9.Bd2 Bxc5³ Black’s pieces are better placed and White still has to finish development.
C5) 7.e3 h6 8.Bh4 g5 9.Bg3 Ne4 10.Bd3 Bxc3+ 11.bxc3 Nxg3 12.hxg3 Nc6= Black has

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 no problems and easy development in prospect: …Qf6, …0-0-0 etc.
D) 6.Rc1 h6
D1) 7.Bh4 g5 8.Bg3 Ne4

Position after: 8…Ne4

9.Nd2 [9.e3 Bxc3+ 10.bxc3 d6 11.Bd3 Nd7 12.0-0 Qe7= Depending on White’s
response, Black can follow with …h5 or …0-0.] 9…Bxc3 10.bxc3 Nxg3 11.hxg3 d6= This
is quite similar to the 6.Qc2 main line.
D2) 7.Bd2 0-0 8.e3 Black can follow up in many ways against this unthreatening
approach, for example as follows. 8…c5 9.a3 cxd4 10.Nxd4 Be7=
D3) 7.Bxf6 Qxf6 8.e3 [8.a3 Bxc3+ 9.Rxc3 c5 10.d5 exd5 11.cxd5 0-0= Black has a great
version of the Benoni structure.] 8…0-0 9.Be2 d6 10.0-0 Bxc3 11.Rxc3 Nd7= Black’s …
c5, …e5 or …Qe7, …Nf6-e4 are really simple plans.
The key to a good position for Black here is the expansion on the kingside and in the center.

6…h6 7.Bh4 g5 8.Bg3 Ne4

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Position after: 8…Ne4

9.Qc2

This transposes to 6.e3.

A) 9.Nd2 Bxc3 There’s no need to accept this curious pawn sacrifice. 10.bxc3 Nxg3
11.hxg3 d6= The position is very akin to the 6.Qc2 main line.
B) 9.Rc1 This transposes to 6.Rc1, 7.Bh4.

9…d6 10.Bd3 Bxc3+ 11.bxc3 f5

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Position after: 11…f5

Black strengthens the central outpost.

12.d5

The only really serious choice. Taking the pawn on d5 would now open the position too
much.
A) 12.0-0?! Nd7

Position after: 12…Nd7

Now Black is in time to meet d5 with …Ndc5 and will obtain a favorable game. 13.d5
[13.Nd2 Nxd2 14.Qxd2 h5 15.f3

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Position after: 15.f3

15…Qf6µ Next …0-0-0 comes with a strong initiative.] 13…Ndc5 14.Nd4 Qe7 15.f3 Nxd3
A1) 16.Qxd3 Nc5 17.Qc2 Rf8!

Position after: 17…Rf8!

A maximalist option. [17…0-0 18.dxe6 Qh7!³ This was also great for Black, as in the
model game Bacrot – Topalov, 2010.] 18.dxe6 0-0-0µ Black has the better structure and
an upcoming attack.

157
 A2) 16.fxe4 Nc5 17.e5 0-0 18.exd6 cxd6 19.Rad1 Rad8 20.dxe6 Be4!

Position after: 20…Be4!

A simple, but pivotal resource. 21.Qe2 Rf6³ Black recaptures the pawn and preserves the
better structure.
B) 12.0-0-0?! Nd7 13.Ne1 Qe7 14.f3 Nef6³ White is painfully passive.

12…Na6!

Position after: 12…Na6!

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Jumping towards the superb c5-square. White can take a pawn on e4 at the cost of giving
up his light-squared bishop and weakening a whole complex of squares.

13.Bxe4

13.Nd4 Nac5

Position after: 13…Nac5

14.dxe6 [14.0-0 Qe7 This transposes to 12.0-0; 14.f3?! Nxd3+ 15.Qxd3 Nc5 16.Qc2 Qf6
17.dxe6 f4µ Black gets the obvious initiative.] 14…0-0 15.f3 Nxd3+ 16.Qxd3 Nc5 17.Qe2
Qe8= Black prepares …Nxe6 or …Qh5 and …Rae8.

13…fxe4 14.Qxe4 Nc5!

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Position after: 14…Nc5!

I find this original move even more convincing than 14…Qf6.

15.Qg6+ Kd7

Position after: 15…Kd7

Don’t be fooled by appearances. Black’s king is not in any trouble.

16.dxe6+

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 A) 16.Nd4 Qg8 17.dxe6+ Nxe6 18.Qxe6+ Qxe6 19.Nxe6 Kxe6

Position after: 19…Kxe6

20.f3 Ba6= Black regains the pawn with total equality.

B) 16.Qf7+ Kc8 17.h4 g4 18.Nd4 Qe8 19.Qg7 Rg8 20.Qh7 Ba6³ The fun is over for White
and he has trouble protecting his weaknesses.

16…Kc8 17.0-0

17.h4?! Way too optimistic. 17…Be4 18.Qf7 g4

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Position after: 18…g4

19.Nd4 Bxg2 20.Rg1 Be4µ Black’s king will find a safe shelter on b7. The same cannot be
said about its White counterpart.

17…Bxf3 18.gxf3 h5 19.h3 h4 20.Bh2

Position after: 20.Bh2

20…Qf8=

The king goes to b7 and the e6-pawn will soon be lost. I would be quite worried as White.

162
 Chapter 6
4.f3

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.f3

Chapter Guide
Chapter 6 – 4.f3

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.f3 d5

a) 5.a3 Be7 6.e4 dxe4 7.fxe4 c5 8.d5 exd5 9.cxd5
b) 5.a3 Be7 6.e4 dxe4 7.fxe4 c5 8.d5 exd5 9.exd5

a) 5.a3 Be7 6.e4 dxe4 7.fxe4 c5 8.d5 exd5 9.cxd5

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.f3!?

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Position after: 4.f3!?

This is the modernized version of the Samisch Variation. The line has been popularized by
the efforts of the famous Latvian grandmaster Alexei Shirov and the Russian grandmaster
Yuri Yakovich. It certainly leads to sharp and interesting play with hopes of achieving an
advantage for White. However, I have something unusual in store.

4…d5 5.a3 Be7!

Position after: 5…Be7!

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A special variation. As we will see, Black cuts the amount of lines he needs to know to the
minimum and gets pretty straightforward play.

6.e4

Establishing a big center with this move is the only serious continuation Black has to worry
about.
6.cxd5?! This can be dealt with easily. 6…Nxd5 7.e4 Nxc3 8.bxc3 c5 Challenging the center
with the c-pawn is a universal method in such structures. 9.Bd3

Position after: 9.Bd3

This of course doesn’t blunder the d4-pawn on account of the typical Bb5+ trick. 9…0-0
10.Ne2 Nc6 11.Be3 Black can continue in many ways from here. One of them is as follows.
11…Bd7 12.0-0 a6= Preparing …b5 and/or …Rc8, …Na5. The position very strongly
resembles the main line of the Grunfeld with the major difference being the position of the
bishop on e7 instead of g7. In my view this actually favors Black, as the bishop is active
anyway, while the lack of a fianchetto makes it much harder for White to find a target (the
typical Grunfeld ideas of Qd2-Bh6/g5 and h4-h5 are unavailable).

6…dxe4 7.fxe4 c5!

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Position after: 7…c5!

Much better than the older 7…e5 line, which in my view, leads to an unsatisfactory outcome
after 8.d5.

8.d5 exd5 9.cxd5

Position after: 9.cxd5

Recapturing with this pawn gives Black easy play around White’s central pawns.

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9…Bd6 10.Bb5+

10.Nf3 Nbd7 The e5-square must be kept under control. 11.Bd3 [11.Bb5 0-0 This
transposes to 10.Bb5+.] 11…0-0 12.0-0 a6 13.a4 Ng4 14.h3 Nge5 15.Bf4 c4!

Position after: 15…c4!

Not the only move by any means, but it’s always good to fight for the initiative. 16.Bc2 Nxf3+
17.Qxf3 Ne5= The play is double-edged, with a full share of chances for Black.

10…Nbd7

10…Bd7?! This is what White hopes for. 11.Be2! After this, White has developed his bishop,
while its counterpart only obstructs the square that should be taken by the knight.

11.Nf3 0-0 12.0-0

12.Bxd7 Nxd7 13.0-0 h6= Black takes the g5-square under control, which is always useful,
and is now ready to occupy the e5-square with his knight. I would prefer Black due to the
bishop pair.

12…Ne5 13.Bf4

Fighting for control over e5 is pretty much the only sensible approach for White.

13…Bg4!

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Position after: 13…Bg4!

Black initiates a very effective dark-squared strategy.

14.Qd2 Bxf3 15.gxf3 Nh5 16.Bg3

Position after: 16.Bg3

16…g5!=

A typical motif – Black stops f3-f4 and establishes control over a complex of dark squares.

168
Now Qf6 is ready to be played next. The position looks very attractive for Black.

b) 5.a3 Be7 6.e4 dxe4 7.fxe4 c5 8.d5 exd5 9.exd5

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.f3!? d5 5.a3 Be7! 6.e4 dxe4 7.fxe4 c5! 8.d5 exd5 9.exd5

Position after: 9.exd5

9…0-0 10.Be2

The most accurate move.

10.Nf3 Bd6
A) 11.Nb5 This hasn’t been played so far, but is a plausible move, so it’s useful to have
some knowledge here. 11…Bg4 12.Be2 Bxf3

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Position after: 12…Bxf3

A1) 13.Bxf3?! Re8+ 14.Be2 Be5 Black started achieving dominance in the center in Salik
– Rastbod, 2020. After 15.0-0 the best is 15…Ne4!.

Position after: 15…Ne4!

16.Bf4 a6 17.Bxe5 Rxe5 18.Nc3 Nd6!³ An instructive moment. Keeping the superb
blockading knight is more important than spoiling White’s structure. Black stands better.
A2) 13.gxf3 White gets isolated pawns, but control over the e4-square is a more important
factor. 13…Nh5 The f4-square just screams to be taken by Black’s knight. 14.Nxd6 Qxd6

170
 15.0-0 Nf4 16.Kh1 Nd7= After the most natural 17.Rg1 Black can start repeating moves
with Nh3-f4, or take on e2, with full equality in both cases.
B) 11.Be2 Bg4 12.0-0 Nbd7 An argument can be made that Black has an improved
version of the main line here, as instead of a semi-useful rook on e8 he has a much-
improved bishop on d6.
B1) 13.h3 Bh5 Let’s say that 13…Bxf3 is natural, as Black gets compensation for the
bishop pair on the dark squares. Still, this is an option slightly preferred by the computer
and makes White’s play less simple.
B1.1) 14.Nh4 Bg6!

Position after: 14…Bg6!

Trading White’s light-squared bishop would be a strategic mistake, as it is not a strong

piece.
15.Nf5 Instead, 15.Nxg6?! makes Black’s structure more compact after 15…hxg6.
15…Bxf5 16.Rxf5 Be5= The bishop occupies a strong position in the center of the board.
The next maneuver on the agenda is …Ne8-d6, establishing a strong blockade. Note
that compared to a possible 13…Bxf3 line, Black’s …Nd6 will come with a tempo. Black
is equal and perhaps it is even more pleasant to be the second player here, with such
control over the dark squares.
B1.2) 14.Bg5 A correspondence game, Schulz – Oudhesden, 2019, was agreed drawn
here, confirming that White has conceded equality. 14…Qb6= We attack b2, but more
importantly we have a strong re-grouping in mind: Rae8, Bb8, Qd6.
B2) 13.Bg5 h6! It’s important to include this move in order not to allow 13…Qb6 14.Nh4!.

171
 This allows White to trade his not-so-good bishop and get access to f5 with his knight.
14.Bh4 Qb6= Black’s …Rae8 comes next, with the attractive idea of …Bb8 and …Qd6
emerging as well.

10…Re8

10…Bd6 After this, White achieves a slight edge with 11.Nb5, because Black doesn’t have
11…Bg4.

11.Nf3 Bg4 12.0-0 Nbd7

Position after: 12…Nbd7

13.d6

The absolutely critical option to consider. White pins his hopes on the strong d-pawn, but
also gives up some squares and the pawn can become a target in the future.
A) 13.h3 Bxf3 14.Bxf3 Qb8!

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Position after: 14…Qb8!

The queen feels very well placed here, not allowing Nb5 while stopping d6. There are no
games played, but a sample line runs as follows. 15.Kh1 a6 16.Be2 Bd6 17.Bd3 h6=
Black’s plan is very simple: Qc7, Re7, Rae8 with a harmonious and safe position.
B) 13.Bf4 Not a great choice, but Black has only one good response, so pay attention!
13…Nh5!

Position after: 13…Nh5!

173
 Black needs to immediately get the white bishop out of this diagonal! 14.Be3 Bd6 15.Qd2
a6= Black has a clear way of amassing his forces: …Ndf6, …Qc7, …Re7, …Rae8 with
chances of an edge.

13…Bf8 14.h3

14.Nb5 Re6 Attacking the d6-pawn is the most natural and best policy here. 15.Bf4 Nh5! An
important resource. The lack of this in the lines with h3, Bh5 included is the reason we play
differently in the main line. 16.Bg5 Ndf6 17.Nfd4!

Position after: 17.Nfd4!

Already the only move. 17…Re5 18.Bh4 Bxe2 19.Nxe2 Re4!= Posing White some problems.
The opening can already be labeled a success for Black.
Let us see the critical line here. 20.Bxf6 Nxf6 21.Ng3 Re6 22.Qf3 Bxd6 23.Rad1 Qb6
24.Nxd6 Rxd6 25.Rxd6 Qxd6 26.Nf5 Qe5 27.Qxb7 Re8= It’s objectively equal, but Black is
more comfortable with the safer king.

14…Bh5 15.Nb5

15.Bf4 Nepo’s choice against Karjakin in 2020. 15…Qb6

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Position after: 15…Qb6

A) 16.Qd2 Another plausible move. 16…Rad8 17.Rad1 Bxf3 This simplification is the most
clear-cut way to equality. 18.Bxf3 Ne5 19.Nd5 Nxd5 20.Bxd5 Bxd6 21.Bxe5 Rxe5

Position after: 21…Rxe5

We set a little trap here. 22.Rxf7?? This loses to the following. 22…Rxd5! 22.Bxf7+ Kh8=
The opposite-colored bishops are equally strong here.
B) 16.b3 An interesting idea behind this move is Ra2-d2. 16…Rad8 Karjakin played this,
which is ok, but I suggest a new route. 16…Re6

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Position after: 16…Re6

B1) 17.Nb5 After this move the game becomes very wild. 17…Re4 Stepping out of the
Nc7 fork with a tempo. 18.Bh2 a6 19.Nc7 Rd8 White’s position would crumble, if not for
the following expansion. 20.g4 Bg6 21.g5 Black’s correct response is relatively hard to
find. 21…h6!

Position after: 21…h6!

Black does not shy away from sacrificing a knight. If White doesn’t oblige, the g5-pawn
will get traded. 22.Ra2 [22.gxf6 Nxf6 23.Nd2 Bxd6 24.Bxd6 Rxd6 25.Rxf6 gxf6 26.Nd5

176
 Rxd5 27.cxd5 Rd4= Black has full compensation for the piece. Black’s …c4 is an
important resource, even without checking at some point.] 22…hxg5 23.Bd3 Bxd6
24.Bxd6 Qxd6 25.Bxe4 Qxd1 26.Rxd1 Nxe4= It’s still a complex game, but I think it would
be impractical to investigate it any further, as this is already very far advanced.
B2) 17.Ng5 Bxe2 18.Nxe2 Ree8 19.Nc3 h6 20.Nf3 Rad8= The position is in a state of
dynamic balance. The d6-pawn is strong, but Black does a good job challenging it. A
possible outcome runs as follows. 21.Qd3 Re6 22.Rad1 Nb8 23.Nh4 g5 24.Qg3 Nh5
25.Qg4 Nf6 26.Qg3 Nh5= A forced draw ensues.

15…Rb8!

Position after: 15…Rb8!

15…Re6 Importantly, Black should not play this, as after 16.Bf4 Black no longer has
16…Nh5. Instead, the text steps out of the fork and prepares …a6. 15…Rc8? This fails to
the simple 16.Nxa7.

16.Bf4

16.Nc7 Re4 17.Bd3 Black is now forced to sacrifice an exchange, but obtains sufficient
compensation. 17…Bxd6 18.Bxe4 Nxe4 I find this choice easier than 18…Qxc7, which is
also fine. 19.Nd5 Ne5 20.g4 There is no better choice than to break the pin. [20.Bf4 Bxf3
21.gxf3 Ng5 22.Bxe5 Bxe5 23.Kg2 Bd4!?

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Position after: 23…Bd4!?

There are other good moves, but I like this one the most. 24.f4 Ne4= Black has great activity
for the exchange and the knight can be reinforced by …f5.] 20…Bg6 21.Nxe5 Bxe5 22.Bf4
Bxb2!

Position after: 22…Bxb2!

Temporarily sacrificing another exchange. 23.Bxb8 Qxb8 24.Qd3 [24.Ne7+ Kf8 25.Nxg6+
hxg6 26.Qd3 Bxa1 27.Rxa1 Nf6] 24…Ng3 25.Ne7+ Kh8 26.Nxg6+ hxg6

178
Position after: 26…hxg6

27.Kg2 [27.Rfe1 Bxa1 28.Rxa1 Qe5= Now …Ne4 and …f5 are threatened, so White should
take the perpetual.] 27…Nxf1 28.Rxf1 Qe8!= The last accurate move needed. Black has full
compensation.

16…a6 17.Nc7 Re4 18.Bg3 Bxf3

The simplest choice, although 18…Nb6 is totally fine as well.

19.Bxf3 Rd4

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Position after: 19…Rd4

20.Qe1!

The only move.

20…Bxd6 21.Nd5!

Position after: 21.Nd5!

The g3-bishop is now protected. That’s why White needed 20.Qe1.

21…Bxg3 22.Qxg3 Rc8=

White should eventually regain the pawn, but that’s all he can hope for.

180
 Chapter 7
Other Sidelines

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.—

Chapter Guide
Chapter 7 – Other Sidelines

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4

a) 4.a3 Bxc3+ 5.bxc3 c5 6.—
b) 4.a3 Bxc3+ 5.bxc3 c5 6.e3
c) 4.Qb3
d) 4.— & 4.Bg5

a) 4.a3 Bxc3+ 5.bxc3 c5 6.—

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.a3

181
Position after: 4.a3

The Samisch Variation, which is the oldest response to the Nimzo-Indian Defense.
Unfortunately for White, it has long been theoretically established that White’s weak doubled
pawns offer Black sufficient counterplay, often more than satisfactorily.
4.e3 0-0 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.bxc3 Nc6!? Not the only, but a very convincing and simple option.
7.Bd3 [Alternatively 7.Nf3 d6= followed by …e5 is obviously fine as the knight is not at its
best on f3.] 7…e5 An attractive option to accelerate this advance, omitting the typical …d6.
8.Ne2 e4 9.Bc2 b6 Black prepares to attack c4 immediately and the game becomes very
concrete. 10.Ng3 Ba6

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Position after: 10…Ba6

A) 11.f3!? This slightly counterintuitive idea is one of the engine’s suggestions. 11…exf3
This actually gives White good compensation, but Black doesn’t have to go for it. 11…Bxc4
12.fxe4 d6= The game is complex and unbalanced, but if anyone is a bit better, it is Black.
All of his minor pieces are active, while White’s dark-squared bishop needs a lot of time to
come into play.
B) 11.Nxe4 Nxe4 12.Bxe4 Bxc4 13.Qh5 f5 14.Bxf5 g6 This leads to a forced draw, but
there is no need to do White this favor. 13…g6 14.Qh6 f5

Position after: 14…f5

15.Bxc6 dxc6³ Black’s bishop is certainly more active, giving him a pull.

4…Bxc3+ 5.bxc3 c5

183
Position after: 5…c5

6.f3

White intends to build the center immediately, which is a less popular, but not worse idea.
Black should again focus on attacking the c4-pawn.
A) 6.Nf3 0-0 7.e3 d6 8.Bd3 e5!

Position after: 8…e5!

A powerful pawn sacrifice.

184
 A1) 9.dxe5 dxe5 10.Nxe5 Qe7 11.Nf3 Nc6 12.h3 [12.0-0 Bg4 13.Qc2 Rad8µ This is even
worse for White.] 12…Ne4 13.Qc2 f5 14.0-0 b6³ Black has tremendous compensation for
the pawn and great control over the position.
A2) 9.e4 cxd4 10.cxd4 Bg4

Position after: 10…Bg4

11.d5 Nbd7 12.h3 Bh5 12…Bxf3 This is also totally fine. 13.Be3 Rc8 14.g4 Bg6 15.Nd2
Nc5 16.Bxc5 Rxc5= The g6-bishop is passive, but this is compensated by Black’s
queenside play and the safer king.
B) 6.Qc2 Nc6 7.Nf3 0-0

185
Position after: 7…0-0

B1) 8.e3 d6 9.Bd3 e5 10.0-0 [10.d5? e4!

Position after: 10…e4!

This turns the tables. 11.Bxe4 Nxe4 12.Qxe4 Na5 13.Nd2 This looks dismal, but White
has to protect c4. 13…b6µ Black’s …Ba6 and …f5 are coming. White is close to defeat.]
10…Bd7= A nice flexible move. Black doesn’t compromise his plans and waits to see
what White does. In general, he has promising prospects on both flanks.
B2) 8.e4 d5 9.e5 Ne4 10.Bd3 cxd4

186
Position after: 10…cxd4

11.Bxe4 [11.cxd4 Qa5+ 12.Bd2 Nxd2 13.Qxd2 dxc4 14.Bxc4 b6µ White has glaring weak
squares; 11.cxd5 exd5 12.Nxd4 Nxe5 13.Bxe4 dxe4 14.Qxe4 Re8 15.0-0 h6³ Black’s
structural edge counts for something.] 11…dxe4 12.Qxe4 dxc3 13.Ng5 g6 14.Be3 Qa5
15.Nf3 f6 16.exf6 e5 Here …Bf5 solves Black’s problems. It’s complex but equal.
C) 6.Bg5?! Qa5 The bishop has to come back, which means that White’s previous move
didn’t make much sense. 7.Bd2 Ne4 8.Qc2 Nxd2 9.Qxd2 cxd4 10.cxd4 Nc6³ Black’s …b6
follows with nice play against White’s weaknesses.

6…Nc6

6…b6 Now this would be less effective on account of 7.d5.

7.e4 d6

Black’s …b6 needs to be prepared by this move. 7…b6?! This allows 8.d5! followed by
9.e5!.

8.Be3

8.Ne2 b6

187
Position after: 8…b6

A) 9.Ng3 0-0 10.d5 Na5 11.Bd3 Ba6 12.Qe2 Nd7!

Position after: 12…Nd7!

Played by Karpov himself. 13.f4 Forced, as otherwise …Ne5 is deadly. 13…exd5 14.cxd5
Bxd3 15.Qxd3 c4 16.Qf3 Nb3 17.Rb1 Re8= In Zakharov – Karpov, 1976, Black was ready
for …Ndc5 with a rather unpleasant position for White.
B) 9.Bg5 h6

188
 B1) 10.Be3 This retreat makes the whole Bg5 venture questionable. 10…Na5 11.Ng3
Ba6 12.Bd3 Of course we can’t take the pawn immediately because of Qa4+. 12…0-0
13.Qe2 cxd4 14.cxd4 Qc7 15.Rc1 Rac8 16.c5

Position after: 16.c5

The only way to try and bail out. 16…Bxd3 17.Qxd3 dxc5 18.dxc5 Rfd8 19.Qb1 Qe7
20.Kf2 [20.cxb6? Qxa3 21.Kf2 Nc4!

Position after: 21…Nc4!

22.Rxc4 Rxc4 23.bxa7 Rb4–+ In comparison to the main line after 8.Be3, the space for the

189
 king on h7 decides the game.] 20…bxc5 21.Qb5 Nb7³ White has some counterplay, but
of course not enough for the pawn.
B2) 10.Bh4 In my opinion it is important here not to be too anxious to break the pin and
avoid …g5, which seriously weakens Black on the dark squares and gives White the idea
of h4. 10…0-0 11.Nc1 Ba6 12.Nb3 Ne7!

Position after: 12…Ne7!

A great idea that puts White’s plan in doubt. The pin is ready to be broken by …Ng6.
13.Bxf6 Otherwise …Ng6 comes. 13…gxf6³ Black has the better chances with ideas like
…Rc8, …Ng6 and …f5.

8…b6 9.Bd3 Na5

190
Position after: 9…Na5

10.Ne2

10.Nh3 e5 11.Nf2 Ba6 12.0-0 Nd7³ White lacks counterplay.

10…Ba6 11.Ng3 0-0 12.Qe2 cxd4 13.cxd4 Qc7

Position after: 13…Qc7

14.Rc1

191
The next move is a simple improvement over Ganguly – Tukhaev, Negroponte 2010.

14…Rfc8=

Black has the easier game, although it is perhaps objectively equal, for example as follows.

15.c5 Bxd3 16.Qxd3 dxc5 17.dxc5 Qd7 18.Qc3 Qb5 19.Qb4 Qa6 20.Kf2

Position after: 20.Kf2

20…Rab8=

b) 4.a3 Bxc3+ 5.bxc3 c5 6.e3

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.a3 Bxc3+ 5.bxc3 c5 6.e3

192
Position after: 6.e3

6…b6

A classical way of playing. The bishop occupies b7 or a6 and prepares the attack on the c4-
pawn with …Na5 and …Rc8.

7.Bd3

7.Ne2 Nc6 8.Ng3 0-0

193
Position after: 8…0-0

A) 9.e4 Ne8 We see this maneuver over and over again in response to e3-e4. Black steps
out of Bg5 or e5 and prepares moves like …Nd6 or …f5. 10.Be3 [10.Bd3 An interesting
pawn sacrifice. I advise not to accept it and focus on the c4-pawn instead, because we
transpose this way. 10…Ba6 This transposes to 9.Bd3.] 10…f5!

Position after: 10…f5!

This move with the threat of f5-f4 is a big downside of the following. 10.Be3 11.exf5 exf5
12.Nh5 Nf6 13.Bd3 Ng4!³ Black goes for the dark-squared bishop. He is slightly better.
B) 9.Bd3 Ba6 10.e4 Ne8

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Position after: 10…Ne8

A classical response. Black prevents Bg5 and prepares …Nd6 or …f5.

B1) 11.0-0 Na5 12.f4 [12.Qe2 cxd4 13.cxd4 Nb3³ Black picks up the d4-pawn and White
has insufficient compensation.] 12…Bxc4 13.Bxc4 Nxc4 14.f5 cxd4 15.cxd4 f6 16.Rf4?

Position after: 16.Rf4?

The most straightforward attempt, but it fails. [16.Bf4 Ned6³ White has some play, but it’s
not enough for the pawn.] 16…b5 17.Rh4 Qb6 18.Kh1 Rf7–+ White is busted as Qh5
never works.

195
 B2) 11.Be3 Na5 12.Qe2 Rc8 13.d5 [13.Rc1?! Nd6 14.e5 cxd4 15.Bxd4 Ne8!N

Position after: 15…Ne8!N

An obvious novelty. Black gets the pawn for no compensation.] 13…Qh4 Posting the
queen actively is certainly a good possibility. 14.0-0 Nd6 15.f4 f5 16.e5 Ndxc4 17.Rf3
Kh8= Black is solid. The onus is on White to prove compensation.

7…Bb7

In this way Black forces f3, preventing e4 and then f4 in one go.

8.f3 Nc6 9.Ne2 0-0 10.e4

10.0-0 Rc8 11.e4 Ne8 This transposes to 10.e4.

10…Ne8

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Position after: 10…Ne8

Again, a classical response. Black prevents Bg5 and prepares …Nd6 or …f5.

11.0-0 Rc8 12.Be3

12.f4?! f5!

Position after: 12…f5!

A typical counterstrike. 13.e5 cxd4 14.Nxd4 Rf7³ Black prepares …Nxd4 followed by …d5

197
to get the rook activated via the 7th rank.

12…Na5 13.dxc5

Position after: 13.dxc5

13…bxc5=

White’s structure is broken and he has not much of an attack going. The computer insists it
is equal, although I would certainly prefer Black.

c) 4.Qb3
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qb3

198
Position after: 4.Qb3

White attacks the bishop, but weakens his control of the center and invites …c5.

4…c5 5.dxc5

A) 5.Nf3 Nc6 6.e3 This is really non-critical and there are many good options for Black. I
recommend the most natural one – taking the center with …d5. [6.dxc5 This transposes to
5.dxc5.] 6…d5

Position after: 6…d5

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 A1) 7.a3?! Na5!

Position after: 7…Na5!

Attacking with tempo causes White to regret the whole Qb3 escapade. 8.Qc2 Bxc3+
9.Qxc3 cxd4 10.Nxd4 (10.exd4 Nxc4 This leads, of course, to a fantastic anti-IQP
position with no active chances for White and a superb light-squared bishop.) 10…0-0
The text is more ambitious and better than the simplifying Nxc4. Black wants to make full
use of his lead in development. White faces problems in every line, for example as
follows. [10…Nxc4 11.Bxc4 dxc4 12.Qxc4 0-0 13.0-0 e5 14.Nf3 Re8 15.e4 Bd7= Black is
a bit more comfortable.] 11.cxd5 Nxd5 12.Qd3 e5 13.Nf3 Be6 14.Bd2 (14.Nxe5 Nb6
Black’s …Nb3 is coming and is very dangerous for White.) 14…Nc6 15.Be2 f5!

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Position after: 15…f5!

Black continues pushing forward. 16.e4 fxe4 17.Qxe4 Bf5 18.Qa4 Kh8 19.Rd1 Qe8³
Black has the initiative in the center. It is hard to parry e5-e4.
A2) 7.cxd5 exd5 8.dxc5 Bxc5 This transposes to 6.e3.
A3) 7.dxc5 Bxc5

Position after: 7…Bxc5

A3.1) 8.Be2 0-0 9.0-0 dxc4 10.Qxc4 Qe7 11.a3 This position is worth mentioning

201
 because it was featured in a high profile blitz game, Caruana – Nepomniachtchi, 2021.
11…a6?! This was a bit too passive. Black should have played the following instead.
11…e5! 12.b4 Bd6= Black has full equality based on his strength in the center.
A3.2) 8.cxd5 exd5 9.Be2 0-0 10.0-0 a6 11.Rd1 Be6³ Black has a very good version of
an isolated pawn. The queen is misplaced on b3 and the bishop is undeveloped on c1.
12.Qxb7?? This typically fails due to Na5.
B) 5.e3 Nc6 6.Nf3 d5 This transposes to 5.Nf3.

5…Nc6

Position after: 5…Nc6

6.Nf3

6.Bg5 h6 7.Bxf6 Qxf6 8.Nf3 Bxc3+ 9.Qxc3 Qxc3+ 10.bxc3 b6!

202
Position after: 10…b6!

Instead of trying to retake the pawn, Black should play for compensation. 11.cxb6 axb6
12.e3 Na5!³ Black repositions his knight to c5. White will have a hard time defending his
structural weaknesses.

6…Ne4 7.Bd2 Nxd2 8.Nxd2 Bxc5

Position after: 8…Bxc5

9.e3 0-0 10.Be2 b6 11.0-0 Bb7=

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Black’s bishop pair even gives him some hopes of an advantage.

d) 4.— & 4.Bg5

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Bg5

An old line, played often in the times of Soviet predominance.

A) 4.Bd2 b6 This move goes well with the repertoire, as it offers many transpositions.
A1) 5.e3 0-0 6.Nf3 d5 This transposes to 4.Nf3 b6 5.Bd2.
A2) 5.a3 Bxc3 6.Bxc3 Ne4 7.Qc2 Bb7 8.Nf3 0-0 9.e3 Nxc3 10.Qxc3 d6 11.Be2 Nd7
12.0-0 c5= One thing should be noted here – in Nimzo-Indian positions, the standard …f5
is rather dubious. It is better instead to play …c5, put the queen on e7, rooks on d8 and
c8 and the knight on f6 with a rock-solid position without any weaknesses.
B) 5.Nf3 0-0
B1) 6.g3 Ba6!

Position after: 6…Ba6!

Highlighting the inconsistency of White’s play. 7.Qb3 [7.b3 d5 8.cxd5 exd5 9.a3 Bxc3
10.Bxc3 Re8 11.e3 Bxf1 12.Kxf1 Ne4³ White has light-squared holes and a weak
bishop.] 7…c5 8.Bg2 Nc6 9.0-0 Rc8 10.dxc5 bxc5= The c4-pawn is under pressure.
B2) 6.e3 d5 This transposes to 4.Nf3 b6 5.Bd2.
C) 4.g3 Bxc3+!

204
Position after: 4…Bxc3+!

I like this simplistic approach. Similar to the 4.Nf3 b6 5.g3 Bxc3+ line, the doubled c-pawn
doesn’t go well with the kingside fianchetto.
5.bxc3 0-0 6.Bg2 d6 7.Nf3 Nc6 8.0-0 e5= Alternatively 8…Na5 is another satisfactory
choice. The position assumes a very strategic character. Black’s main idea is to gain space
with …e4 at an opportune moment. He can usually prepare it with …h6 and …Re8. White,
frankly speaking, might have trouble finding a plan. I see no problems for Black at all.
D) 4.Bf4 Not popular for a good reason, as we will see. 4…c5 With this advance Black
takes advantage of the fact that the d4-d5 response is not an option. 5.e3 cxd4 6.exd4 0-0
7.Nf3 d5

205
Position after: 7…d5

Now the idea is to take on c4 once White moves the light-squared bishop and play against
an isolated queen’s pawn, trying to control d5. 8.Bd3 dxc4 9.Bxc4 b6 10.0-0 Bb7= This is
basically a better version of one of the lines after 4.e3. White’s bishop would be better
placed on g5.

4…c5

This strike against the center is connected with ideas of …h6-g5-Ne4.

5.d5

5.Nf3 h6 This practically forces White to trade his bishop, because the retreat to h4 is met
by the idea mentioned above.
A) 6.Bh4? g5 7.Bg3 g4!

206
Position after: 7…g4!

The knight lacks good retreat squares and the d4-pawn gets softened. 8.Ne5 Ne4 9.Rc1
d6 10.Nd3
10.Nxg4 This is met by 10…f5. 10…Bxc3+ 11.bxc3 cxd4 The recapture is of course
impossible because of …Qa5+. 12.Qa4+ Bd7 13.Qa3 dxc3µ Black is up on material for
insufficient compensation.
B) 6.Bxf6 Qxf6

Position after: 6…Qxf6

207
 White should now be careful about the potential structural damage in case of …Bxc3+.
7.Rc1 [7.e3?! cxd4 8.exd4 Bxc3+ 9.bxc3 b6³ White has the weaker structure and nothing in
return.] 7…cxd4 8.Nxd4 Nc6 9.e3 Nxd4

Position after: 9…Nxd4

10.exd4 [10.Qxd4?! Qxd4 11.exd4 b6³ Black has a pleasant bishop pair advantage.] 10…
b5!?

Position after: 10…b5!?

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 One among many good choices, but certainly the most enterprising one. 11.a3 Moves with
the c-pawn are well met by …Bb7, already with advantage for Black. 11…Bxc3+ 12.Rxc3
bxc4 13.Bxc4 Bb7 14.0-0 0-0= Black has the easier game with his strong queen and
bishop.

5…d6 6.e3

A) 6.f3?! A little too ambitious. White tries to take as much space in the center as possible,
but in the meantime neglects development and overextends his position, which will come to
hurt him. 6…h6 7.Bh4?!

Position after: 7.Bh4?!

Most often played, but flawed. As we will see, White will struggle to harmoniously finish his
development. [7.Bd2 0-0 8.e4 exd5 9.cxd5 Nh5! Threatening …Qh4+ and preparing …f5 at
the same time. 10.Qe2 f5³ Black holds the initiative.] 7…0-0 8.e4 Re8 9.Qc2 [9.Nge2 exd5
10.cxd5 Nbd7µ White has no good way to finish his development.] 9…exd5 10.cxd5 a6 As
simple as that. Black prepares …b5.
11.a4 This is not advised, as Black will get more points to invade through on the
queenside.
11.Be2 This is clumsy, but what else can White do? His development issues cannot be
easily solved. 11…b5 12.a4 Ba5!

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Position after: 12…Ba5!

This is highly unpleasant for White to say the least and an idea worth remembering.
13.axb5 axb5 14.Kf1 b4 15.Nb5 Qb6µ White’s position is a mess.
B) 6.e4 Bxc3+ 7.bxc3 h6 Simple. White has to give up his dark-squared bishop. 8.Bxf6
Qxf6= Black can be more than happy.

6…h6 7.Bh4 Bxc3+

A typical strategic exchange, which is especially effective once the pawn has been lured to
d5. The doubled c-pawns become a fixed target.

8.bxc3 Qe7 9.Nf3

9.Bd3 Nbd7 10.Ne2 [10.Nf3 This transposes to 9.Nf3 Nbd7 10.Bd3.] 10…g5 11.Bg3 e5³
White’s bishop pair is weak in this closed position and the knight is not well placed on e2.

9…Nbd7 10.Nd2

10.Bd3 This transposes to the following. 9.Nf3 Nbd7 10.Bd3 10…Nb6 11.0-0!

210
Position after: 11.0-0!

White should sacrifice the pawn for activity. [11.dxe6?! Bxe6³ White is left with glaring
weaknesses.] 11…exd5 12.cxd5 Nbxd5 13.Qd2 0-0 14.Rfe1 Nb6 Played in anticipation of
the coming e3-e4. 15.e4 Rd8 16.Qf4 Be6= White has ample compensation in the form of
piece activity, but no more.

10…0-0 11.Be2 Nb6

Remember this maneuver. It causes White to relinquish control of the d5-square.

12.dxe6 Qxe6

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Position after: 12…Qxe6

By this recapture Black steps out of the pin and prepares to develop the bishop to c6.

13.Qc2 Bd7 14.a4

Otherwise this square can be utilized by Black’s bishop to Black’s benefit.

14…Bc6 15.a5 Nbd7 16.0-0 Ne4=

White’s bishop pair is well compensated by Black’s better structure.

212
 Part III
Other Systems After 1.d4 Nf6

Chapter 8
2.Nf3 e6 3.e3

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.e3

Chapter Guide
Chapter 8 – 2.Nf3 e6 3.e3

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.e3 d5

a) 4.—
b) 4.Bd3

a) 4.—
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.e3

213
Position after: 3.e3

By playing this move, White admits that he doesn’t aspire for an opening advantage.
Instead, he wants to play on more familiar territory with the hope of his opponent responding
inaccurately or lacking a plan. This approach is becoming more popular in modern chess.
Therefore, it is of critical importance to have a clear-cut idea about what to do against such
offbeat lines.

3…d5 4.c4

4.Nbd2 c5 5.b3 [5.c3 Nbd7 6.Bd3 This transposes to 4.Bd3 c5 5.c3.] 5…cxd4 6.exd4 Bb4!
A great idea which was brought to my attention by the game Kramnik – Giri, 2018. Black
exploits the temporary weakness of the c3-square.

214
Position after: 6…Bb4!

7.Bb2 Ne4 8.Bd3 Nc6

A) 9.a3?! This move only invites the bishop to its desired square. 9…Bc3 10.Qc1
[10.Bxc3?! Nxc3 11.Qc1 This loses a pawn without compensation after the following.
11…Qf6µ 12.Qb2 Nxd4!

Position after: 12…Nxd4!

13.Nxd4 Qxd4 14.Nb1 Qe5+ 15.Kf1 d4µ] 10…Nxd4! A small tactic turns the tables.

215
Position after: 10…Nxd4!

11.Bxe4 dxe4 12.Bxc3 exf3 13.Nxf3 Nxf3+ 14.gxf3 e5!³ Black immediately releases his
bishop. White is a little worse due to his pawn weaknesses and unsafe king.
B) 9.0-0 Bc3 10.Bxc3 Nxc3 11.Qe1 Nb4 12.Nb1 [12.Qe5 f6 13.Qh5+ Kf8= Black will take
on d3 and his better structure will compensate for the slightly misplaced king.] 12…Nxd3
13.Qxc3 Nf4 14.Qe3 Ng6= In Kramnik – Giri, Dortmund 2018, Black had great chances.
Black even gained play against the hanging pawns after the over-optimistic 15.c4 dxc4.

4…b6 5.Nc3 Bb7

216
Position after: 5…Bb7

6.cxd5

6.Bd3 Bd6 7.0-0 0-0

A) 8.cxd5 exd5

Position after: 8…exd5

A1) 9.Qc2 c5 10.b3 [10.dxc5 bxc5 11.Nb5 Be7 12.Rd1 Nc6 13.a3

Position after: 13.a3

217
 13…g6= Black should stop Bf5 before going …Rc8. He has a very good version of the
hanging pawns, which cannot be easily targeted.] 10…Nc6 11.a3 cxd4 The easiest
choice. (In case you want a more complicated game, 11…g6 followed by …Rc8 is the way
to go.) 12.exd4 Re8= The position is nearly symmetrical and it can be argued that Black
has even made the slightly more useful moves.
A2) 9.b3 a6 10.Bb2 Nbd7
A2.1) 11.Ne2 Qe7 Black should avoid any Ne5 business. The control of central squares
is pivotal. 12.Ng3 g6 Black can’t do without this move, but as we will see, it will become
useful quite soon. 13.Rc1 Ne4 14.Qc2 Rac8 15.Qe2 h5!

Position after: 15…h5!

Black has dangerous kingside prospects and there is no time for White to take the pawn.
In Harikrishna – Navara, Prague 2018, White was right to bail out as follows. 16.Ne5
Nxe5 17.dxe5 Bxe5 18.Bxe5 Qxe5 19.Nxe4 dxe4 20.Bxa6 Bxa6 21.Qxa6 Ra8 22.Qe2
Rfd8=
A2.2) 11.Rc1 Qe7 12.Ne2 Ne4 In general these types of positions are very dangerous
for White. Black controls the center and the kingside, and is rock-solid on the queenside.
13.Qc2 [13.Ng3 f5 14.Qc2 c6³ Black has great kingside prospects, whereas White lacks
a plan.] 13…Rac8

218
Position after: 13…Rac8

It’s essential to avoid the following. 13…f5 14.Ne5! 14.Ng3 f5 If Black wants to, he can
transpose to 11.Ne2 with 14…g6, but it would allow White a simplification attempt. The
text is more ambitious. 15.Qe2 Ra8 There is no need to worry about this loss of a tempo.
White is still left without a plan. 16.Rc2 Rf6 17.Rfc1 c6= The computer insists on equality,
but it may be the horizon effect. I would take Black over White any day here, because
his kingside play is certainly more substantial than any of White’s ideas.
B) 8.b3 Nbd7 9.Bb2 a6 10.Rc1 Qe7 11.Na4 This is the way most player have attempted to
play this position. White prepares c5 and Ne5. However, Black has a very adequate
answer. [11.cxd5 exd5 This transposes to 6.Bd3, 8.cxd5.] 11…dxc4 12.bxc4 c5 13.Ne5
Rfd8
B1) 14.f4 cxd4 15.Bxd4 [15.exd4 b5!

219
Position after: 15…b5!

16.c5 bxa4 17.cxd6 Qxd6 18.Qxa4 h6³ Black’s better structure and the d5-square control
is worth more than White’s passive bishop pair.] 15…Bc5= Black still has …b5 on the
agenda.
B2) 14.Qe2 cxd4 15.exd4 b5!

Position after: 15…b5!

Not a necessary choice by any stretch of imagination, but a very promising one. In return
for the pawn Black gets the crucial d5-square. 16.cxb5 axb5 17.Bxb5 Nd5 18.f4 [18.g3

220
 Nxe5 19.dxe5 Bb4© Black has the better pieces and the safer king for the pawn.] 18…
h6© Black can even afford to make this waiting move. In general, Black’s compensation is
long-term in the shape of the d5-square control and the safer king.

6…exd5 7.Bb5+

White includes this check in order to hinder the b7-bishop. However, it can be described as
too subtle to be dangerous.
7.Bd3 Bd6 8.0-0 0-0 This transposes to 6.Bd3, 8.cxd5.

7…c6 8.Bd3 Nbd7 9.0-0 Bd6

Position after: 9…Bd6

10.e4

10.b3 0-0 11.Bb2 Qe7 Black has similar play to the 6.Bd3, 8.cxd5 line.

10…dxe4 11.Nxe4 Nxe4 12.Bxe4 Nf6 13.Bg5 h6

221
Position after: 13…h6

14.Bxf6

A) 14.Re1 0-0 15.Bh4 Re8= After White retreats the bishop, the rook trade followed by …c5
comes.
B) 14.Bh4 0-0 15.Qc2 Be7 16.Bxf6 If White retreats with the bishop, then …c5 comes.
16…Bxf6 17.Bxc6 Rc8 18.d5 Qd6 19.Rac1 Rc7 20.Rfd1 Rfc8 21.Qa4

Position after: 21.Qa4

222
 21…Bxc6 22.dxc6 Qe6= Black will equalize the game with …Rxc6.

14…Qxf6 15.Ne5 0-0 16.f4 Rad8 17.Qa4 a5 18.Qc4

Position after: 18.Qc4

18…Bb8=

Here …Ba7 is a very nice maneuver Black can use to his benefit.

b) 4.Bd3
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.e3 d5 4.Bd3

223
Position after: 4.Bd3

4…c5 5.b3

A) 5.0-0 c4 A traditional way to grab space. 6.Be2 b5 7.b3 Bb7 8.a4 a6 9.c3 Nbd7= Black’s
light-squared bishop may not be the best in the world, but he has a space advantage and
White’s pieces are rather passive.
B) 5.c3 White plays the Slav a tempo up with reversed colors. 5…Nbd7 6.Nbd2 b6!

Position after: 6…b6!

224
 Fianchettoing the bishop takes the sting out of White’s main constructive plan, i.e. e3-e4.
7.0-0 Bb7 8.Qe2 Be7= 9.e4 This is of course harmless with the black pieces pointed at that
square, but otherwise White has no constructive plan.

5…b6

Take note of the move order. Black plays …b6 before …Bd6, so that after dxc5 he can
always recapture with the pawn.

6.0-0 Bb7 7.Bb2 Nc6 8.Nbd2 Bd6 9.Ne5

Position after: 9.Ne5

This plan is almost exclusively played, as it’s hard to find other active possibilities for White.
9.a3 0-0 10.Ne5 This transposes to the main line.

9…0-0 10.a3

White can’t go without taking the b4-square away from Black’s knight sooner or later.
10.f4 Nb4 11.Be2 Rc8 12.a3 Nc6 13.Bd3 Ne7 This transposes to 10.a3. This may be in fact
the more accurate move order for White, as it excludes the possibility of 11…Ne4 from the
main line.

10…Ne7

A typical maneuver. The knight is often redirected via f5-d6 to e4 after White plays f4.

225
11.f4 Rc8

Position after: 11…Rc8

11…Ne4 This is another very good move here, but for the sake of simplicity I suggest a
move that leads to the same position that is reached in the 10.f4 line.

12.Qf3

12.Qe2 This move doesn’t take control of the e4-square, which is easily exploitable.
12…Ne4 13.dxc5 Nxc5!

226
Position after: 13…Nxc5!

The bishop sacrifice is now strategically forced, as otherwise Black takes on d3 with a huge
positional advantage. However, there is not enough compensation. 14.Bxh7+ Kxh7
15.Qh5+ Kg8 16.Rf3 f6 17.Rh3 fxe5 18.fxe5 Bc7 19.Qh7+ Kf7 20.Qh5+ Ng6!

Position after: 20…Ng6!

Black gives one piece back, instead of going for an unnecessary draw with the following.
20…Kg8. 21.Rg3 Qh4 22.Qxg6+ Ke7 23.Nf3 Qh6 24.Qxg7+ Qxg7 25.Rxg7+ Rf7 26.Rg6
Kf8µ Black is close to winning, as 27.Ng5 is met by 27…Rg7; 27.b4 Na4 28.Bd4 Bd8!
29.Rxe6 Nc3!µ

12…b5!

227
Position after: 12…b5!

A great resource. Now …c4 is a big threat.

13.dxc5

13.Bxb5 cxd4 14.Bxd4 Rxc2 15.Qd1 Rc8= Both …Ne4 and …Nf5 are on the agenda, with
fully comfortable play.

13…Bxc5 14.b4 Bb6 15.Nb3

228
Position after: 15.Nb3

15…Ne4=

Black owns great squares on e4 and f5 for his knights and can kick back the e5-knight with
…f6. White’s f4 expansion can backfire.

229
 Chapter 9
2.Nf3 e6 3.g3

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.g3

Chapter Guide
Chapter 9 – 2.Nf3 e6 3.g3

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.g3 c5

a) 4.c4
b) 4.Bg2 cxd4 5.Nxd4 d5 6.0-0 e5 7.—
c) 4.Bg2 cxd4 5.Nxd4 d5 6.0-0 e5 7.Nf3

a) 4.c4
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3

2.g3 e6 3.Bg2 c5 4.Nf3 This transposes to the line with 2.Nf3. I am not going to cover 4.c3
here or in the main line, as it is a a very lame move, after which I consider Black’s opening
problems immediately solved.

2…e6 3.g3

230
Position after: 3.g3

3…c5!

Black uses the lack of the pawn on c4 and the impossibility of d4-d5 to immediately
undermine White’s center.

4.c4

A) 4.Bg2 This is analyzed in the next two subchapters.

B) 4.c3= As mentioned in the note to 2.g3 this kind of play gives up any chances of an
opening advantage. There’s no point learning theory here – just play chess.

4…cxd4 5.Nxd4

5.Bg2?! A well-known mistake. 5…e5!

231
Position after: 5…e5!

6.Nxe5 This is impossible in view of 6…Qa5+. 6.0-0 Nc6 7.e3 dxe3 8.Bxe3 d6 9.Nc3 Be7³
Fortunately for him, White has quite substantial compensation for the pawn, but it is still far
from equality.

5…d5 6.Bg2 e5!

Principled play. I see no reason not to take the space in the center if allowed.

7.Nb3

7.Nf3 d4 8.0-0 Nc6 This transposes to 4.Bg2.

7…d4 8.0-0 Nc6 9.f4

9.Bg5 Bg4!

232
Position after: 9…Bg4!

The most precise move, played in order to stop the undermining e3 move.10.N1d2 [10.h3
Be6 11.N1d2 h6 12.Bxf6 gxf6³ The crucial point now is that f4 is ineffective due to the
weakness of the g3-pawn. That’s why including …Bg4 and h3 was very beneficial for Black.]
10…Be7³ Black has the better game thanks to his central control.

9…e4 10.f5 g6

Position after: 10…g6

233
11.Na3

White sacrifices the pawn to speed up his development, which is the best idea.
A) 11.Bg5 Be7 12.Bxf6 Bxf6 13.Bxe4 0-0 14.N1d2 a5³ Black has tremendous
compensation for the exchange in the shape of the bishop pair and many holes in White’s
position waiting to be exploited.
B) 11.fxg6?! hxg6 White’s problem is that his kingside is way too weakened. 12.Bg5 Be7
13.N1d2 Ng4 Getting to the h2- and e3-squares. 14.Bxe7 Qxe7 15.Nxe4 Rxh2

Position after: 15…Rxh2

16.Bf3 Rh3 17.Qd2 Qe5 18.Qf4 Qxf4 19.gxf4 Ke7³ Black is more active in this endgame.

11…Bxf5 12.Nb5 Ng4 13.h3

13.Bf4 Everything is quite forced here. 13…Rc8 14.N5xd4 Nxd4 15.Nxd4 Rxc4 16.Nxf5
Qxd1 17.Raxd1 Bc5+

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Position after: 17…Bc5+

18.e3 gxf5 19.Rc1 Bxe3+ 20.Bxe3 Nxe3 21.Rxc4 Nxc4 22.Rxf5 Ke7 23.Bxe4 Nd6=
Cederloef – Panyushkin, email 2015.This will liquidate to a draw very soon.

13…Nge5 14.N5xd4 Bd7 15.Kh1 Bg7 16.Nb5 0-0 17.Nc5 f5=

Both sides have their trumps. White has very active knights, but the better structure is on
Black’s side plus the g2-bishop is shut out of play.

b) 4.Bg2 cxd4 5.Nxd4 d5 6.0-0 e5 7.—

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.g3 c5!

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Position after: 3…c5!

4.Bg2

Another very logical developing move for White.

4…cxd4 5.Nxd4 d5 6.0-0 e5!

As after 4.c4, Black fights for space and potentially even tries to take over the initiative in the
early stage of the game. White has three equally valid knight retreats, but none of them
poses Black serious problems.

236
Position after: 6…e5!

7.Nb3

The knight is passive on b3 and Black can start thinking about taking over the initiative.
7.Nb5 White threatens Bxd5. 7…a6 8.N5c3 Be6 9.Bg5 The only logical follow-up. Black
gets a choice between two pawn moves in the center. 9…d4

Position after: 9…d4

10.Ne4 Nc6 11.c3 White should try to break Black’s center. 11…Be7 12.cxd4 exd4 13.Bxf6
gxf6= We have a double-edged game in prospect. The whole line with 7.Nb5 certainly
requires more practical tests.

7…Be6

237
Position after: 7…Be6

8.Nc3

A) 8.Bg5 Nbd7
A1) 9.e4 dxe4 10.Nc3 [10.Bxe4 Qc7 11.Bg2 Be7 12.Nc3 0-0= Black has an easy plan of
putting the rooks on the d- and c-files.] 10…Be7 This transposes to the line with 9.Nc3
Be7 10.e4.
A2) 9.Nc3 Be7

238
Position after: 9…Be7

A2.1) 10.e4 dxe4 11.Nxe4 [11.Bxf6?! Giving up the bishop voluntarily is not a
recommended idea. 11…Nxf6 12.Nxe4 Qc7³ Black has the bishop pair for nothing.]
11…Nxe4 12.Bxe7 Qxe7 13.Bxe4 Nf6 14.Bg2 0-0 15.Re1 Qc7= Both sides have pawn
majorities on opposite flanks, which balance each other out. See how Kasparov came
close to outplaying Kramnik from here in the model game in Part IV of this book.
A2.2) 10.f4 exf4 11.Bxf4 [11.gxf4 h6 12.Bxf6 Nxf6 13.f5 Bd7 14.Nxd5 0-0 15.e4

Position after: 15.e4

15…Bc6= White is overextended and Black’s bishop pair is powerful in an open

position.] 11…0-0= Black is simply a tempo up compared to the 8.Nc3, 10.Bxf4 line.
B) 8.c4 Nc6 9.cxd5 Nxd5

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Position after: 9…Nxd5

10.N1d2 [10.Bd2 Be7 11.Nc3 0-0 12.Nxd5 Bxd5= Not much is going on here; 10.Nc3
Nxc3 11.bxc3 Rc8 12.Be3 Qxd1 13.Rfxd1 f6= The endgame is easier for Black thanks to
his better structure.] 10…h6 11.Ne4 Qb6 12.Nd6+ Bxd6 13.Bxd5 Bxd5 14.Qxd5 Rd8
15.Be3 Qb4= Black is ready to go …Be7 with perfect play.
C) 8.e4 Nc6 9.exd5 Nxd5 10.Qe2 Qc7 11.Rd1 Rd8

Position after: 11…Rd8

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 12.c4 [12.Bd2 Be7 13.Nc3 Nxc3 14.Bxc3 f6= Black is well positioned to castle and get a
harmonious position.] 12…Nb6 13.Rxd8+ Qxd8 14.c5 Nd5 15.Bd2 Be7 16.Na3 0-0 17.Nc4
Qc7 18.Rc1 Bf6= White is advanced on the queenside, but …Nde7-f5 is a good source of
counterplay.

8…Be7 9.f4 exf4

Position after: 9…exf4

10.gxf4

10.Bxf4 0-0 11.Qd3 Nbd7 The knight maneuver to c4 is very effective.

12.Rad1 Nb6 13.Nd4 Nc4 14.Rb1 Rc8 15.b3 Nd6= Black is well positioned and can play
against the c3-knight with …Qa5.

10…g6

Stopping f5.

11.Kh1

11.Nd4 Nc6 12.Nxe6 fxe6 13.e4 d4 14.Ne2 Qb6 15.Kh1 0-0-0= Black’s king is safer, so he
can look forward to the future.

11…Nc6 12.Be3 0-0 13.Nd4 Qd7 14.Nxe6 fxe6

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Position after: 14…fxe6

15.Bg1

15.Qd3 Nh5 Black uses the fact that the e3-bishop is now tied to the defense of the f4-
pawn. 16.Rad1 Rad8 17.Bc1 Qc8= The e2-e4 advance is not a big deal.Black plans …Ng7-
f5.

15…Bb4 16.Qd3 Rac8 17.Rad1

Position after: 17.Rad1

242
17…Bxc3

Giving White the two bishops against the two knights seems risky, but chess is a concrete
game. Black’s main idea is to shut in White’s light-squared bishop.

18.Qxc3 Ne7 19.Qb3 Qc6

The critical line runs as follows.

20.Bxa7 Qxc2 21.Qxb7

Position after: 21.Qxb7

21…Nf5=

The game is double-edged, but equal. Note that the g2-bishop is caged.

c) 4.Bg2 cxd4 5.Nxd4 d5 6.0-0 e5 7.Nf3

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.g3 c5! 4.Bg2 cxd4 5.Nxd4 d5 6.0-0 e5! 7.Nf3

243
Position after: 7.Nf3

This is the real try that Black has to deal with.

7…Nc6 8.c4 d4

This transposes to 4.Bg2.

9.e3

White’s chances lie in undermining Black’s center.

9…Be7 10.exd4 exd4 11.Bf4 0-0 12.Ne5 Qb6

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Position after: 12…Qb6

Defending c6 and hitting b2.

13.Qb3

A) 13.Re1 Nxe5 14.Bxe5 Rd8 15.Nd2 Be6 16.Qb3 Bb4

Position after: 16…Bb4

A lot of pieces are under attack now and exchanges are imminent. 17.Bxf6 gxf6 18.Red1

245
 Rac8 19.a3 [19.Qf3 This is quite similar to the line with 19.a3. 19…Kg7 20.Qxb7 d3 21.a3
Bxd2 22.Qxb6 axb6 23.Rxd2 Rxc4 24.Rad1 Bf5 25.Bf1 Rc2 26.f3

Position after: 26.f3

26…h5= Neither side can make progress.] 19…Bxd2 20.Qxb6 axb6 21.Rxd2 Rxc4 22.Bxb7
Bf5= Black’s strong passed pawn is the key to a good endgame.
B) 13.Nxc6 bxc6 14.Nd2 Be6 15.Qb3 Rac8= White is the one having to be more careful
with …c5 in prospect.

13…Na5!

A very important and logical resource.

14.Qxb6

14.Qb5 Be6 15.b3 Rac8 Now Black is ready to meet 16.Bd2 as follows. 16…Nc6. 16.Qxb6
axb6 17.Nd2 Nh5 A universal resource once White puts his knight on d2 and blocks the way
back for his bishop. 18.Nd3 g5 19.Bf3 Ng7 20.Be5 Nc6= It’s a complex game with equal
chances.

14…axb6

Note that Black is threatening …Nb3!.

15.Nd2 Nh5

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Position after: 15…Nh5

16.Nb3

16.Rfe1 Nxf4 17.gxf4 There are many ways to continue here. The simplest is as follows.
17…Bb4 18.Rad1 Be6 19.a3 Bxd2 20.Rxd2 Rad8 21.b4

Position after: 21.b4

21…Nxc4 22.Nxc4 Bxc4 23.Re4 b5 I played 23…g6 and also drew easily in Kopylov –
Jarmula, 2021. The text is simply more clinically accurate. 24.Rexd4 Ra8= All the moves are

247
self-explanatory. The game should liquidate to a draw.

16…Bf6 17.Nxa5 Nxf4 18.gxf4 Rxa5

Position after: 18…Rxa5

19.Rfe1

19.Bd5 Be6 20.Bxe6 fxe6 21.Nd3 Rc8 22.Rfc1 g5= The blockading knight will be
undermined by …e5.

19…g5 20.Nd3

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Position after: 20.Nd3

20…h6=

We have followed Dietrich – Scherer, email 2011. The position is balanced. White enjoys the
better structure; Black has the bishop pair.

249
 Chapter 10
London System

1.d4 Nf6 2.Bf4

Chapter Guide
Chapter 10 – London System

1.d4 Nf6
a) 2.Bf4 Move Order
b) 2.Nf3 Move-order

a) 2.Bf4 Move Order

1.d4 Nf6 2.Bf4

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Position after: 2.Bf4

This move order prevents our main line queen sortie by means of 2…e6 3.e3 c5 4.Nd2!. On
the other hand, White can no longer transpose to the Queen’s Gambit after …d5, so this is
what I recommend.

2…e6 3.e3 c5 4.Nd2

Although this move order prevents the …Qb6 sortie, we can still utilize this idea in a slightly
different version. However, this excludes some of White’s options, for example a
transposition to the position with 2.Nf3 e6 3.Bf4 d5 4.c3 is not possible. I recommend 4…d5
followed by a rare, but very interesting line.

4…d5

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Position after: 4…d5

5.Ngf3

5.c3 This is an altogether harmless move order. 5…Bd6 Had White preserved his pawn on
c2, he would possess the idea of dxc5 followed by c2-c4, with hopes of an edge. Now,
however, he is toothless.

Position after: 5…Bd6

A) 6.Bb5+ Nc6 7.Bxc6+ White gives up a bishop in return for weakening Black’s structure.

252
 7…bxc6 8.Bxd6 Qxd6 9.Ngf3 0-0 10.Qa4 cxd4 11.cxd4 c5!

Position after: 11…c5!

An important resource. Black immediately breaks the attempted grip on the dark squares.
12.Qa3 [12.0-0] 12…Qa6!

Position after: 12…Qa6!

A1) 13.Qxc5 Rb8 14.Qa3 Qxa3 15.bxa3 Ba6 16.Nb3 Bc4 17.Nfd2 Rfc8= Black has an
obvious compensation for the pawn.

253
 A2) 13.Qxa6 Bxa6 14.dxc5 Rab8 15.Nb3 [15.b3 Rfc8 16.Rc1 Nd7 17.c6 Rb6= Black
regains the pawn with equality.] 15…Bc4 16.Nfd2 Ng4!= This strong move, threatening
…Ne5 and not allowing f2-f4, solves Black’s opening problems on the spot.

Position after: 16…Ng4!=

A3) 13.dxc5 Qxa3 14.bxa3 Ba6 15.Rc1 Rfc8 16.Nb3 Ne4 White will find it troublesome to
finish his development. The computer suggests nothing better than the following. 17.Nfd2
Nf6

Position after: 17…Nf6

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 18.Nf3 [18.f3 Rc7 19.Kf2 Nd7 After this, the position is pleasant for the second player.]
18…Ne4=
B) 6.Bg3 0-0 7.Ngf3 Qc7!

Position after: 7…Qc7!

Black intends …Nbd7 and …e5, taking advantage of not having developed the queenside
knight to c6.
B1) 8.Ne5 The only try to keep control of the e5-square. Black has a very straightforward
and satisfactory response. 8…b6 9.Bd3 Ba6 10.Bxa6 Nxa6= The plan is to go Nb8-c6
and if White doesn’t trade but plays f4, then …Ne7-f5 is positionally dangerous for White.
B2) 8.Bd3 Nbd7 9.0-0 Bxg3 10.hxg3 b6= Black is ready for …Bb7 and …e5. I would start
worrying a little as White, who has no activity and a slightly spoiled structure.

5…Qb6

Keeping in line with our concrete approach to the London System.

6.Rb1

White basically has no other reasonable moves than this.

6…cxd4 7.exd4 Bd7

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Position after: 7…Bd7

An idea that is well known from the Advance French Defense. Since Black has firmly put his
central pawns on the light squares, it’s very logical to follow it up with trading the light-
squared bishop.

8.c3 Bb5

This position certainly requires more practical tests, but I see no trace of a problem for
Black. The critical continuation according to the engine is as follows.

9.h4

The engines suggest the flank pawn march more and more often nowadays!

9…Nbd7 10.h5 h6

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Position after: 10…h6

11.Bxb5 Qxb5 12.Qe2 Qxe2+

12…Qa4!? This is an option in case you are in a more belligerent mood.

13.Kxe2

Position after: 13.Kxe2

13…b5=

257
With an equal endgame with quite a lot of play left.

b) 2.Nf3 Move-order
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.Bf4

Position after: 3.Bf4

This is the London System, which has long been considered a relatively harmless opening.
However, in recent years the optics have changed thanks to the efforts of many strong
grandmasters. White has found many new interesting ways to pose Black practical
problems. I advise not to go into the main lines, but instead use the fact that we have not
committed to the …d5 move yet.

3…c5 4.e3

4.c3 Nc6 5.e3 Nh5

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Position after: 5…Nh5

5…d5 This would enter the main line of the London System, which we want to avoid. The
text is positionally very safe. Black simply goes after the bishop. 6.Bg5 [6.Bg3 Nxg3 7.hxg3
d5= If anyone can be better, it is Black with his bishop pair.] 6…Qb6

Position after: 6…Qb6

A) 7.Qb3?! This has been White’s most popular choice here, but it fails to impress. 7…h6
8.Bh4 g5 9.Bg3 Nxg3 10.hxg3 Bg7 11.Nbd2 d5³ White has nothing in return for the bishop
pair.

259
 B) 7.Qc2?! d5 8.Be2 h6 9.Bh4 Bd7 10.Nbd2 g5 11.Bg3 cxd4 12.exd4 Nxg3 13.hxg3 g4!

Position after: 13…g4!

14.Nh4 h5³ White’s knight ends up misplaced and g4-h5 is not really weakening because
Black castles long anyway.
C) 7.Na3 d5 8.dxc5 Bxc5 9.b4 Be7 10.Bxe7 Nxe7 11.Bb5+ Nc6 12.0-0 0-0= The position
is structurally imbalanced, but equal. Black has a solid basis in the form of his center.
D) 7.Nbd2 Sacrificing the b2-pawn is White’s best try for an edge. 7…h6

Position after: 7…h6

260
 D1) 8.Bh4 Qxb2

Position after: 8…Qxb2

Black has to accept the challenge. It leads to hair-raising complications. 8…d5 9.Ne5 Nf6
10.Rb1 Otherwise after this alternative, the whole …Qb6 escapade would turn out not to
make much sense and Black could end up in a passive position. The outcome of the
arising complications turns out to be total equality. 9.Rc1 d5 10.Rb1! Sacrificing another
pawn is the only way to keep the initiative going. 10…Qxc3 11.Bb5 Bd7 12.Ne5 Nxe5
13.dxe5 Bxb5 14.Rxb5 Qxe5

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Position after: 14…Qxe5

15.Rxb7 [15.Qa4 Bd6 White has nothing better than the following. 16.Rxb7+ This
transposes to 15.Rxb7.] 15…Bd6 16.Qa4+ This also transposes to 15.Rxb7. 16…Kf8
17.Qd7 Kg8 18.g4 Kh7 Now it’s important to meet every capture with the right rook
move.
D1.1) 19.Qxf7 Rhb8!

Position after: 19…Rhb8!

The point is easy to remember: when White’s queen is so close to the king, it’s pivotal to
keep the h8-square available. 20.Rd7 Qa1+ 21.Ke2 Qxh1 22.Qxh5 Rb1! Black achieves
a forced draw. 23.Nxb1 Qxb1 24.Rxd6 Rf8!

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Position after: 24…Rf8!

The point. White has no way to avoid a perpetual check. 25.Rxe6 Qc2+ 26.Kf1 Qd1+
27.Kg2 Qf3+ 28.Kf1 Qd1+=
D1.2) 19.gxh5 Rab8! 20.Rxa7 Ra8! Continuing to chase the rook. 21.Rb7 Rhb8! Now
Black has to move this rook to preserve the option of …Rxa2. 22.Rxb8 Rxb8 23.Kf1
Qxh5! 24.Qxd6 Rb2! Black is two pieces down at the moment, but inevitably gets back
one of them and has the attack against the white king. 25.Qxc5 Qxh4 26.Qc3 Qa4!

Position after: 26…Qa4!

263
 The big point. 27.Qxb2 Qd1+ 28.Kg2 Qg4+ 29.Kf1 Qd1+=
D2) 8.Nc4 Qc7 9.Bh4 d5 Black inevitably trades the h5-knight for White’s dark-squared
bishop, reaching a nice position with the bishop pair, as follows. 10.Nce5 [10.g4 g5
11.gxh5 gxh4 12.Nce5 a6=] 10…cxd4 11.exd4 Bd6 12.Bb5 g5 13.Bg3 Nxg3 14.hxg3 f6=

4…Qb6!?

Position after: 4…Qb6!?

A very concrete try. White has to do something about the hanging b2-pawn and there is no
way to deal with it without making concessions.

5.Na3

A) 5.Nc3 a6 Preventing Nb5 and renewing the threat of …Qxb2.

A1) 6.Rb1 d6= This time I find it easier to go for a flexible structure, because the b2-pawn
is not hanging. Black’s pawns nicely control the central squares and restrict the white
pieces.
A2) 6.Na4 Qa5+ 7.c3 c4N

264
Position after: 7…c4N

A logical space grab that has not been played before. 8.Nd2 d5 9.b4 Qd8 10.g3 (10.g4?!
Bd6 11.g5 Ng8 This leads to overextension for White.) 10…Be7= The position is closed,
so a complex strategic battle is in prospect. However, note that both the a4-knight and the
f4-bishop are awkwardly placed.
A3) 6.a3 d5 7.Be2 Bd7 8.0-0 cxd4

Position after: 8…cxd4

A3.1) 9.exd4 Qxb2!?

265
Position after: 9…Qxb2!?

Taking the pawn allows Black to fight for the advantage. But in case you don’t feel the
need to enter any complications, then 9…Be7 leads to equality. 10.Qd2 Qb6 11.Rab1
Qa7!

Position after: 11…Qa7!

A very convenient square for the queen, where it is not bothered by further attacks and
keeps d4 under fire. 12.a4 Nc6= I would say it can be hard for White to prove
compensation in practice. I will not investigate the line further, as there is always an

266
 option of 9…Be7 as well, and it can be argued that Black has already equalized here.
A3.2) 9.Qxd4 Qxd4 10.Nxd4 [10.exd4 Be7= Both …0-0 and …Rc8 follow, with good
queenside play.] 10…Be7= Black has absolutely no problems. He even enjoys having
more pawns in the center.
B) 5.Qc1 White protects the pawn, but places the queen passively and doesn’t fight for the
initiative. Therefore this approach should not bother us too much. 5…Nc6 6.c3 Nh5

Position after: 6…Nh5

7.Bg3 [7.Bg5?! h6 8.Bh4 g5 9.Bg3 d5³ Black can trade the knight for the bishop when he
pleases. He has the bishop pair and more space.] 7…Nxg3 8.hxg3 d5 9.Bd3 g6 10.Nbd2
Bg7= The closed nature of the position doesn’t allow Black to exploit the bishop pair. On
the other hand, he is very safe and solid.
C) 5.b3 This move creates potential queenside weaknesses in White’s camp, so we can be
happy about it. 5…d5 6.Be2 [6.Bd3 Bd6= This is similar to 6.Be2 Bd6.] 6…Bd6= Black can
easily solve the problem of his light-squared bishop by playing …b6 later.
D) 5.Nbd2 Qxb2 White doesn’t threaten Nb5, so Black can safely take this pawn now.
6.Rb1 Qc3 7.Be2 d5 This position is already new and needs more tests. I will show the
critical line as follows. 8.0-0 Be7

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Position after: 8…Be7

9.Ne5 Importantly, Black has to avoid the following. 9…0-0? 10.Ndc4! The queen gets
trapped; 9…Nbd7 10.Bb5 a6 11.Bxd7+ Nxd7 12.Rb3 Qa5 13.Nxd7 Bxd7 14.Rxb7 cxd4
15.exd4 Qa4!= The material equality has been restored at the cost of White losing the
initiative. Black is ready to castle.

5…cxd4 6.Nb5

6.Nc4!? An interesting sacrifice. Black has to be wary. 6…Qb4+ 7.c3 dxc3

268
Position after: 7…dxc3

8.a3 [8.bxc3 Qc5 9.Nd6+ Bxd6 10.Bxd6 Qd5 11.Qxd5 Nxd5 12.e4 Nf6 13.Nd2 b6 14.a4
Nc6 15.Bb5 Na5= The game is dynamically balanced, Black is restricted and it’s not so
easy to untangle. On the other hand, White has no clear follow-up.] 8…c2+ 9.axb4 cxd1=Q+

Position after: 9…cxd1=Q+

10.Kxd1 Na6 11.b5 d5 12.bxa6 dxc4 13.Bxc4 bxa6 14.Ke2 [14.Bxa6 This is less
challenging. 14…Bxa6 15.Rxa6 Nd5= Black should be able to quickly finish his
development.] 14…Nd5 15.Bxd5 exd5 16.Rhd1 Be7 17.Rxd5 Be6 18.Rdd1 Bc4+ 19.Ke1
Bb4+

269
Position after: 19…Bb4+

20.Nd2 Rc8 21.Be5 Bb5= The superb bishops compensate for Black’s worse structure.

6…Nd5 7.Qxd4 Qxd4 8.Nfxd4 Nxf4

Position after: 8…Nxf4

9.exf4

9.Nc7+?! Kd8 10.Nxa8 Nd5 The stranded knight on a8 means White has to be very careful

270
in order not to lose quite quickly and he certainly has no way to equalize.
A) 11.Be2? b6 12.Bf3 Ba6!

Position after: 12…Ba6!

Stopping c4 and Nb5. 13.0-0-0 [13.a4 Nc6 14.Nb5 Bb7 15.Bxd5 exd5 16.Nac7 Nb4!–+
Black’s …a6 is next, with a won position.] 13…Kc8–+ Black wins, not even by the
immediate …Bb7 (which allows some hopes connected with Nb5), but by …Nf6 first.
B) 11.e4?! Nf6 12.Nb5 Nc6 13.e5 Otherwise …b6 and …Bb7 wins a piece. 13…Ng4 14.f4
f6 15.exf6 gxf6

271
Position after: 15…gxf6

A sad sign for White is that he doesn’t even have a very useful move available. 16.g3 a6
17.Nc3 b5 18.Be2 h5 19.Nb6 Bb7 20.0-0-0 Nb8µ Black inevitably wins the knight for little
compensation.
C) 11.0-0-0? b6–+ The knight, and the game, is lost for White.
D) 11.Nb5 Nc6 12.a3 b6 13.c4 Nf6 14.Nxa7

Position after: 14.Nxa7

White has to give up a piece in order not to lose. 14…Nxa7 15.Nxb6 Bb7 16.b4 Kc7
17.Na4 g5³ White’s connected passed pawns are not easy to advance, whereas Black’s
minor pieces offer him plenty of possibilities.

9…Kd8 10.Nf3!

272
Position after: 10.Nf3!

The best move. White threatens Ng5 or Ne5.

10…f6 11.0-0-0 a6 12.Nd6 Bxd6 13.Rxd6 Ke7 14.Rd2 b5 15.Be2

Position after: 15.Be2

15…Bb7=

The endgame is roughly equal. Black’s hope is to trade as many pieces as possible and

273
capitalize on his better structure.

274
 Chapter 11
Trompowsky, Jobava & Torre Attacks

1.d4 Nf6

Chapter Guide
Chapter 11 – Trompowsky, Jobava & Torre Attacks

1.d4 Nf6
a) 2.Bg5 d5 3.—
b) 2.Bg5 d5 3.Bxf6
c) 2.Nc3
d) 2.Nf3 e6 3.Bg5

a) 2.Bg5 d5 3.—
1.d4 Nf6 2.Bg5

275
Position after: 2.Bg5

This is the Trompowsky Attack. It has never enjoyed a great reputation, but nevertheless is
one of the most solid offbeat weapons.

2…d5!

Position after: 2…d5!

Central strategy is the best – it is as simple as that!

276
3.e3

A) 3.Nd2 c5 4.dxc5 [4.e3 This transposes to the line with 3.e3 c5 4.Nd2.] 4…e6 5.e4 This
was played many times by Andreikin, so there is certainly some sense to it. 5…Bxc5 6.Qe2
The point. White intends to long castle. 6…h6 7.Bh4 Be7 Sooner or later Black has to
break the pin. 8.0-0-0 0-0 9.e5 Nfd7 10.Bxe7 Qxe7 11.f4 a5!

Position after: 11…a5!

Push these pawns forward. 12.Ngf3 a4 13.a3 b5! A logical follow-up. 14.c3 Nc6 15.Kb1
Rb8 Black’s threat is …d4 followed by …b4. 16.Qe3 Qc5= Black should be completely fine
in the endgame having fixed the queenside structure and having potential kingside
prospects with …f6 or …g5.
B) 3.Nf3 c5
B1) 4.Bxf6 gxf6 This transposes to 3.Bxf6.
B2) 4.c3 Ne4

277
Position after: 4…Ne4

B2.1) 5.Bh4?! cxd4 6.Nxd4 Qb6 7.f3 [7.Qb3? Qh6!–+ White is dead lost because of the
double attack.] 7…Qh6 8.g3 Nd6µ White has misplaced pieces and weaknesses.
B2.2) 5.Bf4 cxd4 6.cxd4 Qb6 7.Qc1 Nc6 8.Nc3 Bf5! An enterprising pawn sacrifice for
the initiative. 9.Nxd5 Qa5+ 10.Nc3 e5! The point. Another pawn sacrifice! 11.dxe5 Nxc3
12.Bd2 Bb4 13.Bxc3 Bxc3+ 14.bxc3

Position after: 14.bxc3

14…Rc8³ Black has a serious initiative.

278
 B3) 4.dxc5 e6 5.e3 Bxc5 6.Nbd2 Nc6 7.Bd3 h6 8.Bh4 0-0 9.c4 [9.0-0?! After this most
natural move White already runs into trouble. 9…e5!

Position after: 9…e5!

A space grab. 10.e4 g5 11.Bg3 dxe4 12.Nxe4 Nxe4 13.Bxe4 Qxd1 14.Rfxd1 f6µ White’s
pieces are well restricted by the pawn chain.] 9…d4 10.exd4 Bxd4 11.Qb1 g5!

Position after: 11…g5!

There is no need to fear this slight weakening. 12.Bg3 Bb6 13.0-0 Nh5 14.b4!

279
Position after: 14.b4!

White has to wrestle for the initiative. 14…Nxg3 15.hxg3 g4 16.c5 gxf3 17.cxb6 fxg2
18.Rd1 Qxb6= White has good compensation for the pawn, but that’s all.
B4) 4.e3 This transposes to 3.e3 c5 4.Nf3.
C) 3.Nc3 c5 4.e3 [4.Bxf6 gxf6 This transposes to 3.Bxf6 gxf6 4.Nc3.] 4…Nc6 This
transposes to 3.e3 c5 4.Nc3.
D) 3.c4?! A very irresponsible move. 3…Ne4!

Position after: 3…Ne4!

280
 D1) 4.Bf4? Surprisingly enough, this already loses. 4…e5! 5.dxe5 Bc5 6.e3 Bb4+ 7.Ke2
Qh4 8.g3 Qh5+ 9.f3 [9.Nf3 dxc4–+ White’s king is lethally compromised.] 9…g5 10.Qxd5
Bf5–+ White is completely lost.
D2) 4.Nf3 Nxg5 5.Nxg5 dxc4 6.e3 e6 7.Nf3 b5µ White has no good way to regain the
pawn.

3…c5 4.c3

A) 4.Bxf6 gxf6 This transposes to 3.Bxf6 and 4.Nd2 Nc6 5.c3 transposes to 4.c3.
B) 4.Nc3 Nc6
B1) 5.Bxf6 This transposes to 3.Bxf6.
B2) 5.Bb5 cxd4 6.exd4 Bg4 7.Nge2 [7.f3 Bf5

Position after: 7…Bf5

8.Nge2 This transposes to 7.Nge2.] 7…e6 8.f3 Bf5 9.g4 Bg6 10.Nf4 Bd6= White is a little
more active, but he also has many weaknesses.
B3) 5.Nf3 cxd4 6.exd4 h6 This is a simple solution. Black invites the trade on f6 in order
to develop his king’s bishop. 7.Bxf6 exf6 8.Bd3 Bb4 9.0-0 Kf8!³ Black is ready to play …
g6 and hide his king on g7 with a very comfortable position. The rook is better placed on
h8 than f8, having some potential business on the h-file. That’s why we don’t castle.
C) 4.Nf3 Ne4 5.Bf4 Qb6 6.Qc1 Nc6 7.c3 f6 This transposes to 4.c3 Nc6 5.Nf3.
D) 4.dxc5 Ne4 5.Bh4 g5 6.Bg3 Bg7 7.c3 Nxc5= Black enjoys free piece play.

4…Nc6 5.Nd2

281
5.Nf3?! Qb6

Position after: 5…Qb6

A) 6.Qc1 Ne4 7.Bf4 f6

Position after: 7…f6

A1) 8.Nbd2?! g5 9.Bg3 h5 Everything is forced now.

282
Position after: 9…h5

10.Nxe4 [10.dxc5 Qxc5 11.Nxe4 dxe4 12.Nd2 This transposes to 10.Nxe4.] 10…dxe4
11.dxc5 Qxc5 12.Nd2 h4 13.Bc7 Qf5 14.h3 e5 15.b4 Qd7 16.b5 Qxc7 17.bxc6 Qxc6µ In
addition to being a pawn up, Black has the bishop pair.
A2) 8.h3 cxd4 9.exd4 e5 10.Be3 exd4 11.cxd4 [11.Nxd4 Bc5 12.Nd2 Nxd4 13.Nxe4
dxe4 14.cxd4 Bb4+

Position after: 14…Bb4+

15.Bd2 Qxd4 16.Bb5+ Kf8 17.Bc3 Be6 18.0-0 Bxc3 19.bxc3 Qe5³ Black’s king is slightly

283
 misplaced, but it’s not enough to compensate for the pawn.] 11…Bb4+ 12.Nc3 Qa5
13.Bd2 Bf5 14.Be2 Rc8³ Black intends to pressure White along the c-file with …Ne7.
B) 6.Qb3 c4 7.Qxb6 axb6 8.Nbd2 b5 9.Be2 e6³ White has no time to stop …b4, so he is in
trouble.

5…cxd4 6.exd4 h6 7.Bf4 Bf5 8.Qb3

A natural attack, but White in fact doesn’t achieve anything.

8…Qc8

Position after: 8…Qc8

9.Ngf3 e6=

Black has a pretty good Queen’s Gambit Declined reversed.

b) 2.Bg5 d5 3.Bxf6
1.d4 Nf6 2.Bg5 d5! 3.Bxf6

284
Position after: 3.Bxf6

3…gxf6 4.e3

A) 4.Nf3 c5

Position after: 4…c5

A1) 5.c3 Nc6 6.e3 e5 7.Bb5 Rg8 8.g3 Qb6 9.Qa4 Bd7µ Black intends to castle long, with
a clear advantage.
A2) 5.Nc3 cxd4 6.Qxd4 e6

285
Position after: 6…e6

A2.1) 7.e4 Nc6 8.Bb5 Bd7 9.Bxc6 bxc6³ Regardless of the computer evaluation, I
believe the position should be assessed as slightly better for Black, at least in practical
terms. The bishop pair and the strong center are big assets.
A2.2) 7.0-0-0 Nc6 8.Qa4 b5!

Position after: 8…b5!

An amazingly strong pawn sacrifice. 9.Nxb5 Bd7 10.Qf4 [10.Qh4 a6 11.Nbd4 Ne5!
12.Nxe5 fxe5 13.Qxd8+ Kxd8 14.Nf3 Bg7³ Black’s compensation for the pawn is great.

286
 He has the bishop pair and the strong center.] 10…e5 11.Qh4 Nb4 12.a3 Nxc2 13.Rxd5
Rc8 14.Kd1 Qb6 15.e3 Qc6!

Position after: 15…Qc6!

An important nuance. Black is threatening …Nxe3+. 16.Nc3 Nxa3 17.Bd3 Be7 Calmly
continuing the development. 18.Qe4 Be6 19.Ke2 Qb6 20.bxa3 Qb2+ 21.Nd2 Qxc3³
Black retains a slight edge thanks to the bishop pair.
A3) 5.e3 cxd4 6.exd4 Rg8!N

Position after: 6…Rg8!N

287
 Taking aim at the g2-pawn is very irritating. 7.Bb5+ Nc6 8.0-0 Bh3 9.Ne1 Qd7
Threatening …Bxg2. 10.Nd2 a6 11.Bxc6 Qxc6µ Black’s bishop pair and the safer king
bring him a substantial advantage.
A4) 5.dxc5 e5 6.e4 dxe4 7.Qxd8+ Kxd8 8.Nfd2 f5 The central pawn should be protected.
9.Nc3 Bxc5 10.0-0-0 Bd4 11.Nb3 Nc6 12.Ne2 Ke7 13.Nbxd4 exd4 14.Nxd4 Be6= The
position is roughly balanced.
B) 4.c4 e5 5.e3 exd4 6.Qxd4 Nc6 7.Qxd5 Qxd5 8.cxd5 Nb4 9.Na3 [9.Bb5+ c6 9…Ke7
This is also perfectly viable, but the text is more enterprising. 10.dxc6 bxc6 11.Ba4 Ba6
12.Ne2 Nd3+ 13.Kf1 0-0-0 14.Bxc6 Nc1 15.Nbc3 Nxe2 16.Nxe2 Rd2 17.Bf3 Rxb2³ Black
is a pawn down, but exerts great pressure.] 9…a6 10.Nf3 b5³ The d5-pawn will be lost and
White is greatly restricted.
C) 4.g3 c5 White is not too well prepared for this central strike. 5.dxc5 Na6!?N

Position after: 5…Na6!?N

A very inspiring novelty. The knight will be excellently placed on c5. 6.Bg2 Nxc5
C1) 7.e3 Bg7 8.Ne2 Both captures on d5 are met by 8…Qb6! with a big advantage. 8…f5
9.Nbc3 e6³ White’s bishop is very restricted and Black has promising queenside
prospects.
C2) 7.Qxd5? The queen will become hopelessly stranded. 7…Qb6 8.b3 Be6 9.Qd4 Rd8
10.Qb2 Bh6! Much more direct than 10…Bg7. 11.e3 Bg4!

288
Position after: 11…Bg4!

12.Ne2 Bg7µ Black’s overwhelming initiative is self-evident.

C3) 7.Bxd5 e6 8.Bg2 Qxd1+ 9.Kxd1 f5= The bishop pair and the better king placement
offer Black full compensation. We are in for an interesting fight.
D) 4.Nc3 c5 5.e4 [5.e3 e6 This transposes to 4.e3 c5 5.Nc3; 5.Nf3 This transposes to
4.Nf3 c5 5.Nc3.] 5…dxe4 6.dxc5 f5 Black preserves the strong central pawn, which
guarantees him great play. 7.Qxd8+ Kxd8 8.0-0-0+ Bd7 9.g4

Position after: 9.g4

289
 White has to break Black’s pawn chain. 9…Bh6+ 10.Kb1 Bg7 11.gxf5 [11.Nge2 fxg4
12.Nxe4 Nc6³ The bishop pair favors Black in an open position.] 11…Bxc3 12.bxc3 Kc7=
Black takes on f5 and gets the better structure, although White’s piece activity should
compensate for that.

4…c5

Position after: 4…c5

5.dxc5

A) 5.Nc3 e6 6.Qh5 cxd4 7.exd4 Nc6 8.0-0-0 [8.Nf3 Bd7 9.Bd3 f5= Black will put his queen
of f6 and then he can castle with great play.] 8…Bd7 9.Nge2 f5= Similar to the 8.Nf3 line,
Black puts his queen on f6 and castles long with great play.
B) 5.c4 dxc4
B1) 6.d5 Rg8!?N

290
Position after: 6…Rg8!?N

Not the only reasonable option, but certainly the most interesting one. 7.g3 b5 8.a4 Bb7
9.e4 e6 10.axb5 exd5 11.Nh3!

Position after: 11.Nh3!

White has to find this strange move in order not to end up slightly worse. The point is that
White should develop while keeping the c4-pawn under fire. 11…f5 12.exd5 Qxd5
13.Qxd5 Bxd5 14.Rg1 Nd7 15.Nf4 Be4= The game remains complex, but approximately
equal.

291
 B2) 6.Bxc4 cxd4 7.exd4 Bg7 8.Nc3 0-0 9.Nge2 Nc6 10.0-0 f5 11.d5 Ne5 12.Bb3 Qd6=
White has his trumps, but Black has the bishop pair and good piece play.
C) 5.Nf3 This transposes to 4.Nf3 c5 5.e3.
D) 5.c3 e5 6.Nf3 Nc6 This transposes to 4.Nf3 c5 5.c3.

5…Nc6

Position after: 5…Nc6

6.Bb5

A) 6.Nc3 e6 7.Qh5 Bxc5 8.0-0-0 Qe7

292
Position after: 8…Qe7

A1) 9.Nge2 a6 10.Nd4 [10.Nf4 Most often played, but surely flawed. 10…Bd7 11.Ncxd5

Position after: 11.Ncxd5

The only logical follow-up. 11…exd5 12.Nxd5 Qe5 13.Qxe5+ Nxe5 14.Nxf6+ Ke7
15.Nxd7 Nxd7µ White has three pawns for the piece, which is simply not enough in this
case.] 10…Bd7 11.Nb3 Ba7 12.e4 d4 13.Ne2 Qd6= Black is ready to castle with a good
position.
A2) 9.Nf3 a6 Now in order not to end up worse, White has to play the following very

293
 unnatural maneuver. 10.Na4! Ba7 11.c4!

Position after: 11.c4!

11…dxc4 12.Nc3 Bd7 13.Ne4 [13.Bxc4 f5 14.e4 f4 15.Rd2 0-0-0= I would prefer to be
Black with his a7-g1 pressure.] 13…c3! This disruptive move works very well. White can
win the exchange only at the cost of getting his king’s shelter shattered. 14.Nd6+ Kd8
15.Nxf7+ Kc7 16.Nxh8 cxb2+ 17.Kxb2 Qb4+

Position after: 17…Qb4+

Incidentally, Black can also play 17…Rxh8 with pretty good compensation if he doesn’t

294
 want a draw. 18.Ka1 Qc3+ 19.Kb1 Qb4+=
A3) 9.Bb5?! Bd7 10.Nge2 0-0-0³ Black is simply better thanks to the bishop pair and the
strong pawn mass.
B) 6.Nf3 e5 7.c4 d4! 8.exd4 e4!

Position after: 8…e4!

The point. This typical resource guarantees Black an edge. 9.Nfd2 Qxd4 10.Nc3 Qe5
11.Be2 f5 Of course, the central pawn has to be protected. 12.Nb3 Be6 13.0-0 Rg8 14.Kh1

Position after: 14.Kh1

295
 14…Rd8 15.Qc1 Nd4³ Black’s central pawn mass and his active pieces guarantee him a
better position.
C) 6.c3 e6 7.b4 The only logical continuation, trying to hang on to the extra pawn. 7…a5
8.Bb5 Bg7 Black should continue his development unperturbed. 9.Ne2 0-0 10.Bxc6 bxc6
11.a3 f5

Position after: 11…f5

12.Ra2 Ba6 13.0-0 Bc4 14.Rd2 Qf6= Black’s bishop pair and the strong center provide
ample compensation for the pawn.

296
Position after: 14…Qf6=

D) 6.c4?! A premature advance, which allows Black to take over the game. 6…d4 7.exd4
[7.Nf3 Bg4 8.exd4 Bxf3 9.Qxf3 Nxd4 10.Qd3 e6µ Black takes on c5 with a much better
game thanks to the centrally placed knight.] 7…Qxd4 8.Qxd4 Nxd4 9.Bd3 e6µ Black has
the bishop pair and, more importantly, the c4-pawn is very badly placed, obstructing the
bishop.

6…e6 7.c4 dxc4 8.Nd2 Qd5!?

Position after: 8…Qd5!?

The most clinically accurate move, although there is nothing wrong with 8…Bxc5.

9.Ngf3 Qxc5 10.Bxc4 Bg7 11.Rc1 Qb4 12.0-0

297
Position after: 12.0-0

12…0-0=

Black’s worse structure is offset by his bishop pair.

c) 2.Nc3
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nc3 d5

Position after: 2…d5

298
3.Bf4

This is the so-called Jobava London System, popularized by the famous Georgian player.
As an antidote, we will follow the path chosen against the “father” of the system – by the
World Champion, Magnus Carlsen himself.
A) 3.Bg5 This transposes to 2.Bg5 d5 3.Nc3.
B) 3.Nf3 c5

Position after: 3…c5

B1) 4.e3 e6
B1.1) 5.Be2 Nbd7 6.0-0 a6= Black has straightforward play with …b5, …Bd6, …Bb7
etc.
B1.2) 5.Bd3 c4 6.Be2 a6 7.a4 White has to stop Black’s queenside expansion. 7…Nc6
8.Ne5 Otherwise after 8.0-0 Bd6 White can’t take control over the e5-square and
already runs into some problems. However, the text move doesn’t help. 8…Qc7 9.f4
Rb8³ Black has free-flowing queenside play.
B1.3) 5.dxc5 Bxc5 6.Bd3 Nc6 7.0-0 e5!

299
Position after: 7…e5!

Grabbing central space. 8.e4 d4 9.Ne2 [9.Nd5 Nxd5 10.exd5 Qxd5 11.Re1 Be6 12.Be4
Qd6 13.Bxc6+ Qxc6 14.Nxe5 Qb6³ Black’s bishop pair is unopposed.] 9…h6 White’s
play seems very straightforward and threatening, but it’s only illusory. 10.Ng3 0-0
11.Nh4 Re8 12.Nhf5 Bf8 13.f4 White’s attack gets rolling, right? Not really! 13…Nd7!³
White’s problem is that his attack doesn’t really work because Black firmly controls the
e5-square.
B1.4) 5.Bb5+?! Most popular, but not good at all. 5…Nbd7 6.0-0 a6 7.Be2 [7.Bd3?! c4
8.Be2 b5µ White is essentially a tempo down and without counterplay.] 7…Bd6³ Black is
clearly better with superior central control.
B2) 4.Bf4 Nc6 5.e3 Bg4 6.Be2 [6.Bb5 e6 7.h3 Bxf3 8.Qxf3 cxd4 9.exd4 Qb6 10.Bxc6+

300
Position after: 10.Bxc6+

10…Qxc6= Black has no problems and some nice c-file play in prospect.] 6…e6 7.0-0
Rc8 8.h3 Bxf3 9.Bxf3 cxd4 10.exd4 Bd6= 10…Qb6 11.Ne2 Qxb2 This is also possible if
you’re ready for a wild ride. White’s bishop pair vanishes and his pieces end up
awkwardly placed. I would conclude that he is worse, but the engine insists on equality.
B3) 4.dxc5 Ceding the center like this is not recommended in general. 4…Nc6

Position after: 4…Nc6

B3.1) 5.Bg5?! d4!

301
Position after: 5…d4!

B3.1a) 6.Bxf6? A further mistake, which already loses. 6…exf6 7.Ne4 Bf5 8.Nd6+
[8.Nfd2 Qd5–+ White is terribly busted. There’s nothing he can do.] 8…Bxd6 9.cxd6
Qb6–+ White is much too undeveloped to survive.
B3.1b) 6.Na4 Qa5+ 7.c3 b5 8.b4 Qxa4 9.Qxa4 bxa4 10.b5 dxc3 11.bxc6 e6 12.Be3
Rb8µ Black’s advantage is close to decisive due to White’s limited development
possibilities.
B3.2) 5.e4 d4

302
Position after: 5…d4

6.Ne2 [6.e5?! dxc3 7.Qxd8+ Nxd8 8.exf6 cxb2 9.Bxb2 exf6 10.Bb5+ Bd7 11.Bxd7+
Kxd7 12.0-0-0+

Position after: 12.0-0-0+

12…Kc7µ White has serious trouble defending the c5-pawn; 6.Nb5?! e5 7.Bd3 Bxc5µ
Black’s space edge is the defining factor of the position.] 6…e5 7.Ng3 Bxc5 8.Bd3 This
transposes to 4.e3 c5 5.dxc5.
B3.3) 5.e3 e6 6.a3 Bxc5 7.b4 Bd6 8.Bb2 a6 9.Bd3 Qc7 10.e4 [10.0-0 Ne5 11.e4 This
transposes to 10.e4.] 10…Ne5 11.0-0 0-0 12.Re1 Nxf3+ 13.Qxf3 Bxh2+ 14.Kh1 d4

303
Position after: 14…d4

15.Ne2 Be5 16.Bxd4 Bxd4 17.Nxd4 e5³ White’s weakened king is the factor that
doesn’t even allow him to claim equality.
B3.4) 5.a3!

Position after: 5.a3!

This is already the only equalizing move! 5…d4 6.Na2 e5 7.Nb4!

304
Position after: 7.Nb4!

This strange maneuver works well. 7…Bxc5 8.Nxc6 bxc6 9.e3 0-0 10.exd4 exd4 11.Be2
Re8 12.0-0 Bg4= White has the sounder structure, but Black is more active.

3…a6

The simplest choice. Black stops Nb5 forever and intends …e6 and …c5.

4.e3 e6 5.Nf3

5.Bd3 c5 6.dxc5 [6.Nf3 This transposes to 5.Nf3 c5 6.Bd3.] 6…Bxc5 7.Nf3 This transposes
to 5.Nf3 c5 6.dxc5.

5…c5 6.Be2

A) 6.a3 b5
A1) 7.Bd3 Bb7 8.0-0 In Jobava – Carlsen, 2016, the most accurate option was 8…c4!.

305
Position after: 8…c4!

8…Nbd7 This is also good, but White can bail out with 9.dxc5.
9.Be2 Be7³ Black’s space advantage and promising queenside prospects are not
compensated by anything.
A2) 7.Ne5 Nbd7 8.Be2 Bb7 9.0-0 Nxe5 10.Bxe5 Rc8= I would say Black has the easier
play on the queenside than White has anywhere else.
B) 6.Bd3?! c4 7.Be2 b5 8.0-0 Bb7³ This is essentially the line with 6.Be2 with a tempo up
for Black.
C) 6.dxc5 Bxc5 7.Bd3 b5 8.0-0 [8.e4 Bb7 9.e5 {After 9.exd5 both the pawn and the knight
capture are acceptable.} 9…Nfd7 10.0-0 Nc6 11.Re1 Be7= Black has a pretty good
version of the French structure. White has to watch out for …g5 and …Nc5.] 8…Nbd7

6…b5 7.0-0 Bb7

306
Position after: 7…Bb7

Black has very good queenside play. A few sample lines are as follows.

8.a4 b4 9.Na2

9.Nb1 Nc6 10.c3 c4 11.a5 Otherwise White runs the risk of getting low on space. 11…Be7=
Alternatively 11…Nxa5 is also fine, but leads to unnecessary complications. The position is
objectively equal now, but the a5-pawn could be in danger later in the game.

9…c4 10.Ne5 Nc6 11.b3

307
Position after: 11.b3

11…c3=

The queenside has become blocked, but Black is not worse in the center or on the kingside
either.

d) 2.Nf3 e6 3.Bg5
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.Bg5

Position after: 3.Bg5

After this move I recommend a similar approach to the main line.

3…c5 4.e3 h6 5.Bh4

5.Bxf6 Qxf6 6.Nbd2 We should be aware that White threatens Ne4. Fortunately it can be
very easily prevented without making concessions. 6…d5 7.c3 Nc6

308
Position after: 7…Nc6

A) 8.Bb5 Bd6 9.0-0 0-0 10.Re1 [10.dxc5 Bxc5 11.e4 Bb6= Black does not need to fear the
isolated pawn, because his pieces are superbly placed.] 10…Qd8!= The queen will feel
much better on c7.
B) 8.Bd3 Bd6 9.0-0 0-0 10.dxc5 Bxc5 11.e4 Bb6 12.Qe2 Bd7= Playing exd5 is never really
an option due to …Rfe8 coming.

5…Qb6

This is analogous to my London System recommendation.

6.Nbd2

6.Qc1?! Too passive to be threatening in any way. 6…cxd4 7.exd4 Nc6 8.c3 d5= Black’s
main idea is to trade the knight for White’s dark-squared bishop, obtaining a nice bishop
pair. The position is close to equal with a small preference for Black.

6…Qxb2 7.Bxf6 gxf6

309
Position after: 7…gxf6

8.Bd3

A) 8.Rb1 Qxa2 9.Bd3 cxd4

Position after: 9…cxd4

A1) 10.Nc4?! White threatens Ra1, but Black can easily prevent this. 10…Qa4 11.Nxd4
Nc6 Now it’s very problematic for White to demonstrate full compensation. 12.Nb5 d5!

310
Position after: 12…d5!

13.Ncd6+ [13.Nc7+? Kd7 14.Nxa8 dxc4 15.Be4+ Bd6 16.0-0 Ke7–+ The a8-knight will
be lost at the end of the day.] 13…Bxd6 14.Nxd6+ Kf8 15.0-0 Ne5³ White can take back
one pawn, but it will be hard for him to demonstrate sufficient compensation for the
second one.
A2) 10.exd4 This transposes to 8.Bd3; 10…d5 This transposes to 9.exd4.
B) 8.Be2!? Perhaps the most cunning of White’s options. 8…cxd4 9.Rb1 A very important
moment. 9…Qxa2 10.Nc4 Qa4 This line doesn’t work for Black with the bishop on e2
because of 11.Qxd4!. So Black has to refrain from taking the pawn. 9…Qa3 10.Nxd4 Qe7
The queen gets out of the harm’s way, anticipating Nb5 or Nc4. Next Black wants to
develop with …Bg7 and …0-0. 11.Nb5

311
Position after: 11.Nb5

The critical try. Otherwise Black can simply realize the above-mentioned plan. 11…Qd8
12.c4 a6 13.Qa4 The point of the whole 11.Nb5 operation. White keeps the knight on b5
and wants to bring the other knight into action in order to occupy the d6-square. 13…Nc6
Alternatively 13…Be7 is worse because of 14.c5!.
14.Ne4 Be7 15.c5 Kf8!= It’s not hard to notice that the king is much better off on f8 than it
would be after 15…0-0 16.Ned6 (with the threat of a kingside attack by White). Now
Black’s idea is simply to trade queens with …Qa5+. Then he always has the option to give
up his extra pawn in order to free his queenside pieces, for example as follows. 16.Nbd6
Qa5+ 17.Qxa5 Nxa5 18.a4 f5 19.Ng3

312
Position after: 19.Ng3

19…b5!= An equal endgame will appear on the board.

8…cxd4 9.exd4 Nc6 10.Rb1

White should give up the a2-pawn in order not to lose the d4-pawn.

10…Qxa2 11.0-0 d5!

Position after: 11…d5!

313
It’s important to restrict the d2-knight. 11…Qa5 This may appear good, but Black runs into
difficulties after the following. 12.Ne4! Be7 13.Rb5 White follows with d4-d5, with
tremendous activity for the pawn.

12.c4 Nb4

12…Be7 This is also fine, but I recommend a more practical approach. We will give back
one pawn in order to finish development and reach safety for the king.

13.Ra1 Qb2 14.Qe2 Bg7!

Position after: 14…Bg7!

A partial return of material for finishing the development.

15.cxd5 0-0 16.dxe6 Bxe6=

White keeps sufficient compensation for the pawn, but Black has succeeded in solving his
development and king safety problems, so he can look forward to the future.

314
 Part IV
Analyzed Games

Chapter Guide
Analyzed Games

1) Kramnik-Carlsen, Stavanger 2014

2) Gelfand-Grischuk, Amsterdam 2019
3) Chatalbashev-Socko, Graz 2015
4) Shirov-Adams, Bilbao 2014
5) Mamedyarov-Leko, Elista 2008
6) Bacrot-Topalov, Nanjing 2010
7) Rambaldi-Neiksans, Drancy 2016
8) Vakhidov-Milliet, London 2014
9) Kramnik-Kasparov, Moscow 2001
10) Serner-Laghetti, ICCF email 2018

1) Kramnik-Carlsen, Stavanger 2014

Kramnik, Vladimir (2783)
Carlsen, Magnus (2881)
Stavanger 2014

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 Bb4+ 4.Bd2 Bxd2+ 5.Qxd2 d5 6.Bg2 c6 7.Nf3 Nbd7 8.0-0 0-0
9.Rc1 b6 10.cxd5 cxd5 11.Na3 Ne4 12.Qe3 Ba6

315
Position after: 12…Ba6

The world champion has equalized comfortably, as mentioned in Chapter 1.

13.Ne5 Nd6 14.Nc2 Nxe5

An attempt by Carlsen to unbalance the position, as he always strives to outplay his

opponents out of equal positions.

15.dxe5 Nc4 16.Qd4 Qe7 17.b3 Na5

316
Position after: 17…Na5

Black correctly assesses that the knight will come back into play from its temporary outpost
on the rim.

18.e4

The way to try for an edge was as follows. 18.Qb4 Qxb4 19.Nxb4 Bb7 20.f4 However, Black
is extremely solid and I wouldn’t expect him to have problems holding.

18…dxe4 19.Bxe4 Rac8 20.Ne3 Bb7 21.Rxc8 Rxc8 22.Rd1 Bxe4 23.Qxe4 h6

Position after: 23…h6

The position has a drawish character due to its symmetrical structure and limited material.
The game continued for many moves without the balance being upset.

24.b4 Nc6 25.a3 b5 26.Kg2 a5 27.Rc1 Qd7 28.bxa5 Nxa5 29.Rxc8+ Qxc8 30.a4 bxa4
31.Qxa4 Qb7+ 32.Kh3 Nb3 33.Nc4 Nd4 34.Nd6 Qd5 35.f4 Ne2 36.Ne4 Qd3 37.Kg2
Nd4 38.Qa8+ Kh7 39.Nf2 Qd2 40.Qe4+ g6 41.Qd3 Qb2 42.Kf1 Kg7 43.Ng4 h5 44.Ne3
Nf3 45.Nf5+ exf5 46.Qxf3 Qxh2 47.e6 fxe6 48.Qc3+ Kh7 49.Qc7+ Kh6 50.Qe7 Qb2
51.Qg5+ Kh7 52.Qe7+ Qg7 53.Qxe6 Kh6 54.Qe8 Qa1+ 55.Kg2 Qb2+ 56.Kh3 Qf6
57.Qc8 h4 58.g4 fxg4+ 59.Qxg4 g5 60.fxg5+ Qxg5

½-½

2) Gelfand-Grischuk, Amsterdam 2019

317
 Gelfand, Boris (2686)
Grischuk, Alexander (2759)
Amsterdam 2019

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.c4 Bb4+ 4.Nbd2 0-0 5.a3 Be7 6.e4 d6 7.Be2 Nfd7 8.b4 e5 9.d5 a5
10.Bb2 axb4 11.axb4 Rxa1 12.Qxa1 c5 13.dxc6 Nxc6 14.Bc3

Position after: 14.Bc3

Up to this point, the game has proceeded according to my recommendation.

14…Nb6?!

I recommend a strong maneuver here. 14…Qc7 15.0-0 Nd8! Without this, Black probably
can’t equalize.

15.0-0 Be6 16.b5 Nb8 17.c5!

318
Position after: 17.c5!

White trades a flank pawn for a central one and gains the initiative.

17…dxc5 18.Nxe5 Bf6 19.Rd1 N8d7 20.Nxd7 Bxc3 21.Qxc3 Nxd7 22.f4!

Position after: 22.f4!

The best move, grabbing space and hinting at f4-f5. Black is in trouble.

22…Qe7 23.Nc4?!

319
This is a big relief for Black.
23.Nf1!± Getting the knight to e3 or g3 was the right way to proceed, preserving a big
advantage.

23…Bxc4!

Position after: 23…Bxc4!

The trade of the awkwardly placed bishop suddenly makes Black’s game easy.

24.Bxc4 Nb6 25.Bf1 Qc7 26.Qe3 c4 27.g3 g6 28.Rc1 Rc8 29.Rc2 Qc5

The players agreed to a draw as the game is about to liquidate into a drawn endgame.

½-½

3) Chatalbashev-Socko, Graz 2015

Chatalbashev, Boris (2547)
Socko, Bartosz (2611)
Graz 2015

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Nf3 b6 5.e3 0-0 6.Bd3 d5 7.cxd5 exd5 8.0-0 Ba6 9.Bxa6
Nxa6 10.Qa4 Qc8 11.Ne5 Bd6 12.Bd2 Re8 13.f4 c5 14.Be1 Nc7 15.Bh4 Ng4

320
Position after: 15…Ng4

All of these moves were mentioned in Chapter 4.

16.Rae1?

16.Nxg4 Qxg4 17.Bf2 In hindsight this would have been the lesser evil, but it’s no fun
playing the position with a backwards pawn and a weak bishop after 17…c4³.

16…Nxe3!

321
Position after: 16…Nxe3!

Black has calculated the outcome of this move very well.

17.Rxe3 cxd4 18.Rg3 dxc3 19.Bf6 g6!

Position after: 19…g6!

This may look scary at first, but in fact White’s threats can be parried and Black’s material
advantage is telling.

20.Qc2 Qe6 21.Nxg6?!

A desperate attempt.
21.Ng4 This was the last chance according to the engine, although probably still lost after
the following. 21…Qe2 22.Qc1 [22.Qxc3 h5! This doesn’t leave any good retreat square for
the knight.] 22…Qxb2 23.Qd1 Re2!

322
Position after: 23…Re2!

24.Bxc3 Bc5+ 25.Kh1 Qc2–+

21…Qxf6 22.Ne5+ Kh8 23.Rh3 Qg7 24.Rg3 Bxe5 25.Rxg7 Bd4+ 26.Kh1 Bxg7

Position after: 26…Bxg7

Black has a huge material plus and the game is never in doubt.

27.f5 d4 28.bxc3 dxc3 29.Qb3 Kg8 30.Qc4 Rac8 31.f6 Bxf6 32.Rxf6 Re1+ 33.Rf1 Rxf1+

323
34.Qxf1 Ne6 35.h4 c2 36.Qc1 h6 37.Kh2 Nd4

0-1

4) Shirov-Adams, Bilbao 2014

Shirov, Alexei (2701)
Adams, Michael (2752)
Bilbao 2014

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qc2 d5 5.cxd5 exd5 6.Bg5 h6 7.Bh4 c5 8.dxc5 0-0 9.e3
Be6 10.Nf3 Nbd7 11.Be2 Rc8 12.c6 bxc6 13.0-0

Position after: 13.0-0

Up to this point, all the moves have followed the main line suggested in chapter 3.

13…Qa5?!

I recommend 13…c5. The important point is that Black takes the d4-square under control.

14.Rac1?!

White misses his chance for 14.Nd4!². The positional threat of Nxe6 is very unpleasant to
deal with. That’s why we should start with 13…c5.

14…c5!

324
Position after: 14…c5!

Now White won’t get a second chance for Nd4.

15.Rfd1 Rfe8 16.a3?!

White evidently struggles to find a good way to proceed and creates weaknesses in his own
camp.
16.h3 The engine suggests this waiting move with approximate equality.

16…Bxc3 17.bxc3

17.Qxc3 Qxc3 18.bxc3 c4!³ After this White would rather put the pawn back on a2, in order
not to lose control over the b3-outpost.

17…Ne4 18.c4

Giving Black a passed pawn is not a pleasant decision to make, but otherwise the c3-pawn
may be fixed as a target with …c4.

18…Nb6 19.Nd2 Nxd2 20.cxd5 Bxd5 21.Qxd2 Qa4!

Black concentrates on advancing the passed pawn instead of grabbing the relatively
irrelevant a3-pawn.

325
Position after: 21…Qa4!

22.Bg3 Bb3 23.Re1 c4 24.Qb4?!

24.Qd4 c3 25.Be5!

Position after: 25.Be5!

This was a better defense.

24…Qxb4 25.axb4 Nd5 26.Bg4 Nxb4 27.Bxc8 Rxc8

326
White can’t avoid giving back the exchange.

28.Be5 Nd3 29.Bc3 Rc5 30.Bd4 Rc7?

Adams lets Shirov off the hook for a moment.

Position after: 30…Rc7?

30…Rd5! This would have led to the later game continuation.

31.Bc3?

31.Kf1 This continuation finds Black struggling to make progress, as his rook is much more
passive than in the game.

31…Rc5! 32.Bd4 Rd5!

327
Position after: 32…Rd5!

Now the rook assumes the right position.

33.Bxa7 Nxe1 34.Rxe1 Rd3 35.f3 c3 36.Bd4 c2 37.Bb2 Rd1

White is paralyzed and it’s a question of whether he can build a fortress or not. Adams
managed to win, although not without inaccuracies along the way. I will omit any
commentary on the rest of the game, as it would be more fitting for an endgame book.

38.Kf2 f5 39.h4 h5 40.Bc1 Kf7 41.Bb2 g6 42.Bc1 Bd5 43.Ke2 Bc4+ 44.Kf2 Bd3 45.e4
fxe4 46.fxe4 Bc4 47.e5 Be6 48.Bg5 Ke8 49.Ke2 Bg4+ 50.Kf2 Kd7 51.Bc1 Be6 52.Ke2
Kc6 53.Kf2 Kd5 54.Bf4 Kd4 55.Bh6 Kc3 56.Re3+ Kd4 57.Re1 Kd5 58.Bf4 Kc4 59.Bh6
Rd4 60.Ra1 Kc3 61.Ra6 Bc4 62.Rd6 Re4 63.Rxg6

328
Position after: 63.Rxg6

63…Rxe5 64.Rc6 Rf5+ 65.Kg3 Kd3 66.Rc7 Re5 67.Bf4 Rf5 68.Bh6 Rd5 69.Re7 Rd6
70.Bc1 Rg6+ 71.Kf2 Be6 72.Re8 Bd5 73.Re3+ Kc4 74.Rg3 Rf6+ 75.Ke1 Be4 76.Rg8 Bf5
77.Rg7 Bg4 78.Rc7+ Kd3 79.Re7 Rd6 80.Kf2 Rb6 81.Rc7 Rb1 82.Bh6 Rd1 83.Rc6 Rb1
84.Rd6+ Ke4 85.Rc6 Bd1 86.Bg5 Rb5 87.Bc1 Rf5+ 88.Ke1 Re5 89.Kf2 Kd5 90.Rc8 Re2+
91.Kf1 Re4 92.Bg5 Be2+ 93.Kf2 Bc4 94.Rd8+ Kc6 95.g3 Re5 96.Bh6 Rf5+ 97.Kg2 Bd5+
98.Kg1 Kc7 99.Re8 Bf3 100.Bc1 Bd1 101.Re3 Kd6 102.Rc3 Kd5 103.Bf4 Kd4 104.Rc7
Rd5 105.Kf2 Kd3 106.Rc6 Bg4 107.Bc1 Bd7 108.Rc7 Be6 109.Re7 Rf5+ 110.Kg1 Re5
111.Bf4 Re4 112.Bh6 Ke2 113.Rc7 Rc4 114.Re7 c1=Q+ 115.Bxc1 Rxc1+ 116.Kg2 Rc6
117.g4 hxg4 118.h5 Ke3 119.Kg3 Ke4 120.Kh4 Kd4

0-1

5) Mamedyarov-Leko, Elista 2008

Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar (2731)
Leko, Peter (2747)
Elista 2008

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.Nc3 Bb4 5.Bg5 h6 6.Bh4 g5 7.Bg3 Ne4 8.Qc2 Bb7 9.Nd2
Bxc3 10.bxc3 Nxg3 11.hxg3 Qe7

329
Position after: 11…Qe7

I recommend 11…d6 immediately. But the character of the position stays essentially the
same.

12.e4 d6 13.Bd3 Nd7 14.Nf1 0-0-0 15.Ne3 h5!

Position after: 15…h5!

A thematic plan in this structure. Black wants to trade his backwards h-pawn in order to
prevent it being fixed as a weakness. A maneuvering phase begins.

330
16.0-0-0 Rdg8

Here and on the next moves, the immediate 16…h4! is good and gives Black the better
chances.

17.Kb1 Kb8 18.Rh2 g4 19.Ka1 Rg5 20.Rhh1 Nf6 21.Rb1 Rhg8 22.Rhe1 Rh8 23.Rb5 Nd7
24.Qd2 h4

Position after: 24…h4

Finally Black executes the desired break, but this may not in fact be the best moment for it in
view of the game continuation.

25.gxh4 Rxh4 26.g3 Rh8 27.Qe2 Rhg8 28.Rxg5 Qxg5 29.Rh1 Nf6 30.Rh4

331
Position after: 30.Rh4

White has managed to target the g4-pawn, tying Black’s pieces to its defense. The game
continued for a long time, but it was equal all along.

30…Qa5 31.Nd1 Bc6 32.Kb2 Qg5 33.Ne3 Bb7 34.Nf1 Bc6 35.Ne3 Bb7 36.Nf1 Bc6
37.Nh2 e5 38.d5 Bd7 39.Nf1 Qg7 40.Qe3 Kc8 41.Qh6 Kd8 42.Qxg7 Rxg7 43.Rh8+ Rg8
44.Rh6 Ke7 45.Kc2 Rg7 46.Ne3 Rh7 47.Rxh7 Nxh7 48.Kd2 Kf6 49.Nc2 Kg5 50.Na3 Nf6
51.Nb5 Bxb5 52.cxb5

332
Position after: 52.cxb5

Black has illusory winning chances, as the position is closed and the knight is free to
maneuver. However White correctly assessed that there was no way for Black to make
progress.

52…Ng8 53.Ke3 Ne7 54.c4 Ng8 55.Bc2 Nf6 56.Kd2 Nd7 57.Kc3 Nc5 58.Bb1 Kh5
59.Bc2 Nd7 60.Kd2 Nf6 61.Ke3 Kg6 62.Bd3 Kg7 63.Be2 Kf8 64.Bd1 Ke7 65.Be2 Kd8
66.Bd1 Kc8 67.Be2 Kb7 68.Bf1 a6 69.Be2 axb5 70.cxb5 Kc8 71.Bd1 Kd8 72.Be2 Ke7
73.Bd1 Kf8 74.Be2 Kg7 75.Bd1 Kh6 76.Be2 Kg5 77.Bf1 Ng8 78.Be2 f5 79.exf5 Nf6
80.Bc4 Kxf5 81.Bb3 Kg5 82.Bc4 Ng8 83.Bd3 Nh6 84.Bc2 Kf6 85.Bd3 Nf7 86.Be2 Kg5
87.Bd3 Nd8 88.Be4 Nb7 89.Bd3 Nc5 90.Bc2 Nd7 91.Bd3 Nf6 92.Be4 Kh6 93.Kd3 Kh5
94.Ke3 Kg5 95.Kd3 Ng8 96.Ke3 Nh6 97.Kd3 Nf7 98.Ke3 Kf6 99.Kd3 Ng5 100.Ke3
Nh3 101.Ke2 Ng5 102.Ke3 Nf7 103.Kd3 Nd8 104.Ke3 Nb7 105.Bd3 Nc5 106.Be4 Na4
107.Kd2 Kg5 108.Bc2 Nc5 109.Ke3 Nd7 110.Ke4

½-½

6) Bacrot-Topalov, Nanjing 2010

Bacrot, Etienne (2716)
Topalov, Veselin (2803)
Nanjing 2010

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Nf3 b6 5.Bg5 h6 6.Bh4 g5 7.Bg3 Ne4 8.Qc2 Bb7 9.e3
Bxc3+ 10.bxc3 d6 11.Bd3 f5 12.d5 Na6 13.Nd4 Nac5 14.0-0 Qe7 15.f3 Nxd3 16.Qxd3
Nc5 17.Qc2 0-0 18.dxe6 Qh7!

333
Position after: 18…Qh7!

The outcome of the opening is excellent for Black, as mentioned in Chapter 5.

19.e4!? f4!

An instructive moment – all about the initiative in the opposite-colored bishops positions.
19…fxe4?! This was what White hoped for, as 20.f4! would give the first player chances to
break through the dark squares on the kingside.

20.Bf2 Rae8

The position is tough for White, who has no activity compared to Black.

21.a4 g4 22.fxg4?

Position after: 22.fxg4?

A bad choice in a difficult position.

22.Nf5 Nxe6 23.fxg4! Ng5 24.c5! Bxe4 25.Qa2+ d5 26.cxb6 axb6 27.Bh4! A very difficult
computer line that could keep Black’s advantage to the minimum.

22…Bxe4 23.Qd2 Qg6

The immediate 23…h5! could have put White on the ropes, but the text is still strong.

24.h3 h5!

334
Position after: 24…h5!

25.Bh4

Black’s play has been almost exemplary until now, but here he commits an inexplicable
mistake.

25…Nxe6?

25…hxg4 This was the obvious way to go instead. 26.e7 Rf7 27.Rxf4 Rxf4 28.Qxf4 gxh3
29.g3 Nd3 30.Qf6 Qxf6 31.Bxf6 Ne5µ Black has serious winning chances.

26.Nxe6 Qxe6 27.Rxf4

27.gxh5!² This would have been slightly more advantageous to White!

27…Rxf4 28.Qxf4 hxg4 29.Re1 Qg6 30.hxg4 Bc6

335
Position after: 30…Bc6

A peaceful outcome is very hard to avoid for either side.

31.Rxe8+ Bxe8 32.Bd8 Qb1+ 33.Qf1 Qxf1+ 34.Kxf1 Bxa4 35.Bxc7 Bb3 36.Bxd6 Bxc4+

½-½

7) Rambaldi-Neiksans, Drancy 2016

Rambaldi, Francesco (2554)
Neiksans, Arturs (2627)
Drancy 2016

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.f3 0-0 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.bxc3 c5 7.e4 Nc6 8.Bd3 Ne8 9.Ne2
b6 10.Be3 Ba6 11.0-0 Nd6

336
Position after: 11…Nd6

This position was reached in Chapter 7 via a different move order. Black gets an
advantageous opposite-colored bishops middlegame.

12.dxc5 Nxc4 13.Bxc4 Bxc4 14.Rf2 Qe7?!

Position after: 14…Qe7?!

An instructive moment. The following trade-off on the queenside isn’t in Black’s interest, as
White gets rid of the weak a3-pawn and the passive rook.

337
14…Qc7³ Playing this, followed by …Rfd8 would have been more promising for Black.

15.cxb6 axb6 16.Bxb6 Rxa3 17.Nd4 Ne5 18.Nc2

Position after: 18.Nc2

18…Rxa1

I find the draw agreement premature here, as Black still has the better bishop and more
compact structure, so he could have tried for a win without risk.

½-½

8) Vakhidov-Milliet, London 2014

Vakhidov, Jahongir (2502)
Milliet, Sophie (2387)
London 2014

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.d4 e6 3.e3 d5 4.Bd3 c5 5.b3 Nc6 6.0-0 Bd6 7.Bb2 0-0 8.Nbd2 b6 9.Ne5 Bb7
10.f4 Rc8 11.a3 Ne7 12.Qf3 b5 13.dxc5 Bxc5 14.b4 Bb6 15.Nb3 Ne4

338
Position after: 15…Ne4

As mentioned in Chapter 8, this is already more comfortable for Black.

16.Bd4 Nf5 17.Bxb6?!

This exchange vacates the d4-square, presenting Black with a good pawn break opportunity
in the near future.
17.Qh3 It was more advisable to play this in order to create some threats on the kingside.
Nevertheless, after 17…Qe7³ Black would have a slightly better game.

17…axb6 18.Qe2?!

The more active 18.Qh3 was still the way to go.

18…d4!

339
Position after: 18…d4!

Black breaks through in the center in order to sharply increase the scope of her pieces.

19.exd4 Nxd4 20.Nxd4 Qxd4+

The first 20 moves have been a resounding success for Black.

21.Kh1 Nc3 22.Qf2?!

Position after: 22.Qf2?!

340
I’m not sure the endgame is even holdable for White. Black plays the next part remarkably
well.

22…Qxf2 23.Rxf2 Rfd8 24.Nf3 g6

24…Be4 Trading the bishops was worth considering, but there’s no need to rush, as White
is paralyzed.

25.Nd2 Ra8 26.Rff1 Ra7 27.Kg1 Rda8 28.Nb1 Nd5 29.Bxb5 Nxb4

The trade of the b-pawns further weakens White’s structure.

30.Rc1 Rc8?!

Position after: 30…Rc8?!

This gives White some holding chances.

30…Be4! This was available as a precise killing blow.

31.c3 Nd5 32.g3 Ba6 33.Bxa6 Rxa6 34.Ra2?!

White should have desperately fought for space with 34.c4!.

34…Ra5 35.Rb2 Rac5 36.Rb3 h6 37.Kf2?

341
Position after: 37.Kf2?

A clear mistake, which allows Black to increase her structural advantage.

37…g5! 38.fxg5 hxg5

Now Black gets a passed pawn and White’s h-pawn is a potential weakness.

39.Ke2 Kg7 40.Kd3 b5 41.Nd2 Rd8

Black’s endgame play has been exemplary and her only mistake was agreeing to a draw in
this winning position.

½-½

9) Kramnik-Kasparov, Moscow 2001

Kramnik, Vladimir (2802)
Kasparov, Garry (2838)
Moscow 2001
This was a heavyweight battle between two of the greatest players of all time. Their
inaccuracies can be mainly accounted for by the rapid time control.

1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 e6 3.g3 c5 4.Bg2 cxd4 5.0-0 Nf6 6.Nxd4 e5 7.Nb3 Be6 8.Bg5 Nbd7 9.e4

342
Position after: 9.e4

As mentioned in the theoretical part earlier, more critical is the following line. 9.Nc3 Be7
10.f4

9…dxe4 10.Nc3 Be7 11.Nxe4 Nxe4 12.Bxe7 Qxe7 13.Bxe4 Nf6 14.Bg2 0-0

Position after: 14…0-0

Black is absolutely fine out of the opening and the position remains double-edged enough
for the better player to prevail.

343
15.Re1 Qc7 16.Qe2 Nd7 17.c4 Rac8 18.Nd2?!

Position after: 18.Nd2?!

A step in the wrong direction. It’s just a little too passive and Black starts to get a small plus.
18.c5= White should have opted for liquidation instead.

18…f5 19.b3 e4?!

Slightly premature.
19…Rce8³ This was advisable, and only then …e4, once the bishop on e6 is defended.

20.Nf3?!

20.f3! White needed to challenge the central pawn with this move.

344
Position after: 20.f3!

It would have allowed for an equalizing liquidation, for example as follows. 20…Rce8 21.fxe4
f4 22.gxf4 Rxf4 23.e5 Giving back the extra pawn to stop Black from establishing a dark-
squared blockade. 23…Rf5 24.Nf3 Nxe5 25.Nxe5 Bf7= More trades will follow.

20…Nf6

It would have been more accurate to bring the knight closer to the d3-outpost. 20…Nc5!
21.Nd4 Bd7³

21.Nd4 Bd7 22.Qe3?!

345
Position after: 22.Qe3?!

White drifts.

22…Ng4 23.Qf4 Ne5 24.Rad1 Rce8 25.Nc2 Bc6 26.Nb4 Qe7 27.Nxc6 bxc6 28.Qe3
Rd8?!

Position after: 28…Rd8?!

Black shouldn’t have allowed White to break his central bind too easily.

346
28…Rf6!µ The idea is …Re6. This was one attractive option, with a significant edge for
Black. 28…h5! This could have been included first as well.

29.h3?!

29.f3! More to the point. The missed opportunity to break Black’s central bind runs as a
hidden theme in this game.

29…h6?!

Squandering the advantage.

29…Rfe8! This stops the f-pawn moves. Black can fight for the d4-square with …c5 next.

30.f4 exf3

30…Ng6 After this Black could still have definitely played for a win, as the bishop is
restricted and Black has a protected passed pawn.

31.Rxd8

½-½

10) Serner-Laghetti, ICCF email 2018

Serner, Arpad (2407)
Laghetti, Gaetano (2484)
ICCF email 2018

1.d4 Nf6 2.Bg5 d5 3.e3 c5 4.Bxf6 gxf6 5.dxc5 Nc6 6.Bb5 e6 7.c4 dxc4 8.Nd2 Qd5
9.Ngf3 Qxc5 10.Bxc4 Bg7 11.Rc1 Qb4 12.0-0 0-0 13.b3 Rd8 14.Qe2 Bd7

347
Position after: 14…Bd7

The knight transfer to g3 and h5 is not something Black has to fear excessively, as this
game shows.

15.Ne4 f5 16.Ng3 Qa5 17.Nh5

Position after: 17.Nh5

The knight may look alarming here, but there is no way for the queen to join it, so one piece
alone does not suffice to upset the balance on the kingside.

348
17…Bh8 18.Rfd1 Be8 19.Nf4 h6 20.g3 Bg7

It is hard for either side to make progress. White opts for some pawn advances which,
however, do not necessarily improve his position.

21.Rxd8 Rxd8 22.e4 fxe4 23.Qxe4 Rd6 24.a4 Qc5 25.h4 Kf8

Position after: 25…Kf8

Stepping out of any tactics on the a2-g8 diagonal.

26.Re1 Qb4 27.Nd3 Qb6 28.Nf4 Qb4 29.Nd3 Qa5

Black decides to avoid the move repetition, probably assessing his position as slightly better.

30.Qf4 Ke7 31.Qe4 a6 32.Nf4 Bd7 33.Kf1 Kf8 34.Re3 e5!

349
Position after: 34…e5!

In the last couple of moves Black has improved his position more than White and he decides
it’s the correct moment to lash out.

35.Rd3 Qc5 36.Rxd6 Qxd6 37.Nd3 Bh3+

Position after: 37…Bh3+

38.Ke1 f5 39.Qd5 Qxd5 40.Bxd5 e4 41.Nf4 Bc3+ 42.Nd2 Bg4 43.Bxc6 bxc6 44.Ne2 Bb4
45.Nd4 Kf7 46.Nc2

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A curious endgame has emerged, which was agreed drawn. In over the board play, Black
would probably be the one still trying for a win based on his bishop pair.

½-½

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Table of Contents
Key to Symbols 3
Introduction 4
Chapter 1 – Bogo-Indian with Bd2 5
Chapter 2 – Bogo-Indian with Nd2 38
PART II – The Nimzo-Indian 72
Chapter 4 – 4.e3 105
Chapter 5 – 4.Nf3 135
Chapter 6 – 4.f3 163
Chapter 7 – Other Sidelines 181
PART III – Other Systems After 1.d4 Nf6 213
Chapter 9 – 2.Nf3 e6 3.g3 230
Chapter 10 – London System 250
Chapter 11 – Trompowsky, Jobava and Torre Attacks 275
PART IV – Analyzed Games 315
a) 3.g3 – All 5
b) 3.Nf3 Bb4+ 4.Bd2 c5 13
c) 3.Nf3 Bb4+ 4.Bd2 Bxd2+ 26

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