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1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 - Aggressive Repertoire against 2...e6, 2...c5, and 2...d5 

GM Mihail Marin     December 24, 2021

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Content  (120 Articles)

Introduction and Free Preview  Free
Video Introduction  Closed
Video Lecture 1  Closed
Video Lecture 2  Closed
Video Lecture 3  Closed
Video Lecture 4  Closed
Video Lecture 5  Closed
Video Lecture 6  Closed
Video Lecture 7  Closed
Video Lecture 8  Closed
Video Lecture 9  Closed
Video Lecture 10  Closed
Video Lecture 11  Closed
Video Lecture 12  Closed
Video Lecture 13  Closed
Video Lecture 14  Closed
Video Lecture 15  Closed
Video Lecture 16  Closed
Video Lecture 17  Closed
Video Lecture 18  Closed
Video Lecture 19  Closed
Video Lecture 20  Closed
Video Lecture 21  Closed
Video Lecture 22  Closed
Introduction  Closed
Chapter 1 - Flohr - Mikenas Attack  Closed
Chapter 1 - Memory Booster  Closed
Chapter 2 - 3...d5  Closed
Chapter 2 - Memory Booster  Closed
Chapter 3 - 3...d5 4.e5 Ne4  Closed
Chapter 3 - Memory Booster  Closed
Chapter 4 - 3...d5 4.e5 Ne4 5.Nf3 Be7  Closed
Chapter 4 - Memory Booster  Closed
Chapter 5 - 3...d5 4.e5 Ne4 5.Nf3 Bc5  Closed
Chapter 5 - Memory Booster  Closed
Chapter 6 - 4...d4  Closed
Chapter 6 - Memory Booster  Closed
Chapter 7 - 4...d4, 8...h6  Closed
Chapter 7 - Memory Booster  Closed
Chapter 8 - 4...d4, 9...cxd4  Closed
Chapter 8 - Memory Booster  Closed
Chapter 9 - 4...d4, 7...b6  Closed
Chapter 9 - Memory Booster  Closed
Chapter 10 - 4...d4, 7...e5  Closed
Chapter 10 - Memory Booster  Closed
Chapter 11 - 4...d4, 8...exd4  Closed
Chapter 11 - Memory Booster  Closed
Chapter 12 - 4...d4, 10...Be7  Closed
Chapter 12 - Memory Booster  Closed
Chapter 13 - 7.Nf3  Closed
Chapter 13 - Memory Booster  Closed
Chapter 14 - 7.Nf3, 8...Na6  Closed
Chapter 14 - Memory Booster  Closed
Chapter 15 - 7.Nf3, 8...Na6 9.0-0 Bd6  Closed
Chapter 15 - Memory Booster  Closed
Chapter 16 - 7.Nf3 b6  Closed
Chapter 16 - Memory Booster  Closed
Chapter 17 - 3...c5  Closed
Chapter 17 - Memory Booster  Closed
Chapter 18 - 3...c5, 8...dxe5  Closed
Chapter 18 - Memory Booster  Closed
Chapter 19 - 1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 c5 3.Nf3 d5  Closed
Chapter 19 - Memory Booster  Closed
Chapter 20 - 1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 c5 3.Nf3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4 Nc7  Closed
Chapter 20 - Memory Booster  Closed
Chapter 21 - 1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 c5 3.Nf3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4 Nxc3  Closed
Chapter 21 - Memory Booster  Closed
Chapter 22 - 1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 c5 3.Nf3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4 Nxc3 6.dxc3 Qxd1 7.Kxd1 f6  Closed
Chapter 22 - Memory Booster  Closed
Chapter 23 - 1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 c5 3.Nf3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4 Nxc3 6.dxc3 Qxd1 7.Kxd1 Nc6  Closed
Chapter 23 - Memory Booster  Closed
Chapter 24 - 1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 c5 3.Nf3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4 Nb4  Closed
Chapter 24 - Memory Booster  Closed
Chapter 25 - 2...c5 & 3...d5 - 5...Nb4 & 7...Nf4+  Closed
Chapter 25 - Memory Booster  Closed
Chapter 26 - 2...c5 & 3...d5 - 8...Ne6  Closed
Chapter 26 - Memory Booster  Closed
Chapter 27 - Introduction to the Anti-Gruenfeld  Closed
Chapter 27 - Memory Booster  Closed
Chapter 28 - Anti-Gruenfeld - 5...h5  Closed
Chapter 28 - Memory Booster  Closed
Chapter 29 - Anti-Gruenfeld - 5...Bg7  Closed
Chapter 29 - Memory Booster  Closed
Chapter 30 - Anti-Gruenfeld - 6...Nxc3  Closed
Chapter 30 - Memory Booster  Closed
Chapter 31 - Anti-Gruenfeld - 6...0-0  Closed
Chapter 31 - Memory Booster  Closed
Chapter 32 - Anti-Gruenfeld - 6...Nc6 & 7...e5  Closed
Chapter 32 - Memory Booster  Closed
Chapter 33 - Anti-Gruenfeld - 7...Bf5  Closed
Chapter 33 - Memory Booster  Closed
Chapter 34 - Anti-Gruenfeld - 7...Bg4  Closed
Chapter 34 - Memory Booster  Closed
Chapter 35 - Hedgehog with 7.Re1 - 7...Ne4  Closed
Chapter 35 - Memory Booster  Closed
Chapter 36 - Hedgehog with 7.Re1 - 7...d5  Closed
Chapter 36 - Memory Booster  Closed
Chapter 37 - Hedgehog with 7.Re1 - 7...d5 9...cxd4  Closed
Chapter 37 - Memory Booster  Closed
Chapter 38 - Hedgehog with 7.Re1 - 7...d5 9...0-0  Closed
Chapter 38 - Memory Booster  Closed
Chapter 39 - Hedgehog with 7.Re1 - 7...d5 9...cxd4  Closed
Chapter 39 - Memory Booster  Closed
Chapter 40 - Hedgehog with 7.Re1 - 7...d5 12...Nd7  Closed
Chapter 40 - Memory Booster  Closed
Chapter 41 - Hedgehog with 7.Re1 - 7...d6  Closed
Chapter 41 - Memory Booster  Closed
Chapter 42 - Hedgehog with 7.Re1 - 7...d6 8...e5  Closed
Chapter 42 - Memory Booster  Closed
Chapter 43 - Hedgehog with 7.Re1 - 7...d6 8...a6  Closed
Chapter 43 - Memory Booster  Closed
Chapter 44 - Hedgehog with 7.Re1 - 7...d6 10...0-0  Closed
Chapter 44 - Memory Booster  Closed
Chapter 45 - Hedgehog with 7.Re1 - 7...d6 12...Nbd7  Closed
Chapter 45 - Memory Booster  Closed
Chapter 46 - Hedgehog with 7.Re1 - 7...d6 13...Rac8  Closed
Chapter 46 - Memory Booster  Closed
Chapter 47 - Hedgehog with 7.Re1 - 7...d6 13...h5  Closed
Chapter 47 - Memory Booster  Closed
Test Section  Closed

59.00 EUR

1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 - Aggressive Repertoire against 2...e6, 2...c5, and 2...d5

GM-Mihail-Marin-fb1e77797f

We are happy to introduce the newest opening project by GM Mihail Marin - 1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 - Aggressive Repertoire against 2...e6, 2...c5, and 2...d5.

This huge database includes 48 theoretical chapters, a Memory Booster, and a Video Version with almost 5h and 30min of running time. Additionally, at the end of the database, you will find 47 interactive test positions.

Below, you shall take a look at how GM Mihail Marin presents the course.

The starting position of the current survey arises after 1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3

diagram1-4f8e921e1b

The systems examined in this database are logical complements to the previous databases, focusing on 1.c4 c5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.d4 and 1.c4 e5 2.Nc3, respectively. For more than a decade, I have advocated 2.g3 through all the channels (books, Video DVDs and not least my own games), the move order based on 2.g3, irrespective of White's first move.

Time has come to widen a bit my understanding. The lines examined here are more ambitious, aiming at putting Black under pressure at an early stage. Unlike the previous two English databases published by Modern Chess, we cannot talk about a complete repertoire. For instance, if Black wishes to play the King's Indian, nobody can stop him (Petrosian would add that we should not stop him, but this is subjective). Here is the map of the examined variations.

One of the three main moves is 2...e6.

Another major direction is 2...c5 3.Nf3

diagram2-edeb3f92d8

Against most answers, White can play 4.d4, transposing to the systems examined in the 1.c4 c5 database. Against most answers, White can play 4.d4, transposing to the systems examined in the 1.c4 c5 database. There are two moves with independent value, though - 3...e6 (If Black gets ambitious in the centre with 3...d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5, I recommend the equally ambitious 5.e4! yielding White the initiative in all the lines.) 4.g3 b6

diagram3-eb8bed93dc

This is the system we examine here, one of my favourite weapons with Black, the English Hedgehog. After 5.Bg2 Bb7 6.0-0 Be7, my suggestion is 7.Re1.

diagram4-c9155baf50

Decades of practise have convinced me that this is the only way of challenging the Hedgehog. I have played this system regularly but did not always win with White. On the contrary, I have frequently won with Black and lost only for reasons that are not connected with the opening. White needs a  firm hand in order to maintain control.

Note that instead of 4...b6, I do not examine 4...d5, leading to either the Tarrasch or the Semi-Tarrasch defences. The former is not too popular nowadays, while our specific move order against the latter is more restrictive than the usual one,  starting with 1.d4.

Another frequently played move is 2...d5 which is a proposal to transpose to a Gruenfeld, that we kindly decline. My main line goes 3.cxd5 Nxd5 4.Nf3 g6 5.h4 

diagram5-46e94bd453

Clearly our favourite move in this whole repertoire. Other systems have been tried here, but Black seems to be doing reasonably well in all of them.

Against 2...е6, my suggestion is 3.e4.

diagram6-9b6a5b96a5

This ambitious move, gaining space in the centre, is known as the Flohr-Mikenas Attack. While the word "Attack" is self-understood, I should make some specifications regarding the godfathers of the system. It is true that starting with 1948, Vladas Mikenas has played it regularly, contributing to its development up to rather it acquired modern shapes. With Salo Flohr,  things are circumstantial. He played it a few times in the '30s and books refer to his game with Kashdan in 1933, but the curious fact is that two years earlier he had this position with... black against Nimzovitsch! In fact, the first player using it regularly (that happened in the '20s and the '30s) was the German IM Carl Johan Margot Carls, who used to play only 1.c4. Many of his games maintain certain theoretical interests. According to the database, he was the second to play the "Flohr Mikenas Attack" after an old game played in 1903.   (please refer to the next comment). Since Black needs to challenge White's territorial ambitions, play tends to become concrete at an early stage.

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