1.d4 - Expert Repertoire against Queen's Indian, Bogo-Indian, Benko, Benoni, Dutch, and Sidelines
Preview by IM Kushager Krishnater
Welcome to the third course of the '1.d4' series for White. Parts 1 & 2 cover the 'QGD variations' against 1.d4. This course will cover all the relevant sidelines except for the King's Indian & Grunfeld. The following critical variations are covered in this course: Modern Benoni, Queen's Gambit Accepted, Queen's Indian, Bogo Indian and Dutch Defence. Apart from that, I also cover the sidelines, such as the Blumenfeld Gambit, The Budapest Gambit, and The Chigorin Defence. The approach has been to play the most principled variations against the critical variations and the practical approach, i.e., less memorization, against sidelines.
Chapter 1 and 2 - Modern Benoni
After the moves: 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 c5 4.d5 we reach the main position of the Modern Benoni
Chapter 1 covers the main move 4...exd5. Now, after 5.exd5 d6 And here, 6.Nc3 is almost universally played. Instead, I recommend a fresh system where we delay Nc3 in most positions and play 6.e4!? g6 7.Bd3 Bg7 8.h3 0-0 9.0-0
Delaying Nc3, White keeps an objective edge and an easy, practical game.
Chapter 2 covers the position after 4...d6 5.dxe6 Bxe6 6.Nc3 Nc6 7.e4
While this is not objectively better, this is quite fresh. Black needs to be extremely precise here in order to equalize.
Chapter 3 - Blumenfeld Gambit
After the moves, 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 c5 4.d5 b5 we reach the Blumenfeld Gambit
Here, I recommend the strategically challenging setup with 5.e4 where we usually have more active pieces than our opponent.
Chapter 4 - Bogo-Indian Defence
After the moves: 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Bb4 we reach the Bogo-Indian Defence.
The Bogo-Indian. While this has a reputation of being solid, after 4.Nbd2 the position usually remains quite sharp. The critical position arises after: 4...0-0 5.a3 Be7 6.e4
Here Black has two setups:
The old main line goes: 6...d5 7.e5 Nfd7 8.Bd3 c5 9.h4 which is quite good for White.
The modern line is 6...d6 where you can choose the ambitious 7.Bd3. White can continue with castle or Nf1-g3 against certain setups. White typically enjoys a spatial edge in these positions.
Chapter 5 - 6 - Queen's Indian Defence
Here I reccomend 4.Bf4. This has never been in fashion but I find this move to be quite interesting. We bring our bishop out before playing e3 on the next move. Our ideal setup would be to play Nc3, e3 and, if possible, d5 later.
The game usually continues: 4...Bb7 5.e3. In chapter 5 you will find all the alternatives and sidelines and in chapter 6 you will find 5...Bb4
Chapter 7 - 8 - Queen's Gambit Declined
Here I recommend the slow 3.Nf3 e6 4.e3
Opening the diagonal for the bishop. We want to take back on c4 and keep a spatial edge. In Chapter 7 we will analyze all the sidelines, and in Chapter 8, you will find the main line that appears after the moves: 4...e6 5.Bc4 c5 6.0-0 a6
This is the main tabiya of the QGA with around ten decent options for White. My recommendation is the practical 7.Bd3. A prophylactic approach against ...b5. White usually gets a good 'IQP' position. This is not one of the most popular moves, thus giving us a practical edge. While this may not be objectively better, White definitely has several testing tries within the system.
Chapter 9 - 10 Benko Gambit
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 b5 This leads to the Benko Gambit. Here, I recommend being ambitious and accepting the offer to grab pawns with 4.cxb5 a6 5.bxa6
Black has two main branching points here.
In Chapter 9 we will check 5...g6 which is the old main line. Here I recommend 6.Nc3 Ba6 7.e4 Bxf1 8.Kxf1 d6 9.g3 Bg7 10.Kg2 0-0
and here I recommend the fresh 11.a4!? Although there are many setups for Black here, we keep a comfortable game in all of these positions. In many of these, we opt for the modern setup with a4 & Ra3.
In Chapter 10 we cover the position after 5...e6
This is the modern way of playing the Benko. The critical position arises after: 6.Nc3 exd5 7.Nxd5 Na6 8.Nf3 Nxd5 9.Qxd5 Nc7
Where I recommend the rare 10.Qd1 with the idea to meet 10...d5 with 11.e4! looking to disrupt Black's center. Further analysis shows that White keeps an objective edge here.
Chapter 11-12 - The Dutch Defence
After the moves 1.d4 f5 we reach the Dutch Defence
In Chapter 11, we will see the setups with 2...e6 (Black can start with 1...e6 as well). Here I recommend the tricky 3.a3, preventing ...Bb4. We prepare Nc3
The main move in this position is 3...Nf6 - the main move in the position. Black tries to develop normally with ...Be7 & ...0-0. Here, I recommend the setup with 4.Nc3 Be7 5.Bf4 0-0 6.e3
We'll follow up with Nf3-h3-Be2 next. White keeps great chances to gain an objective edge.
In Chapter 12, you will find the setups with ...g6. The main line arises after: 1.d4 f5 2.c4 Nf6 3.Nc3
And here, for both 3...d6 or 3...g6, I reccomend the ambitious setup with 4.h4, threatening h5. Typically, White takes huge initiative in these lines.
Chapter 13 - 1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 (2...Bb4+)
2...Bb4 can be met with 3.Nd2, where we should typically transpose to the Bogo-Indian.
After 2...b6 we reach a version of Owen's defence. Here, I recommend going for 3.e4!? grabbing maximum space. After: 3...Bb4 4.Bd2 Bxd2 5.Qxd2 d5 the move 6.Qe3 is fresh and challenging. You'll find deeper analysis in the chapter.
Chapter 14 - Budapest Gambit
After the moves 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e5?! we reach the Budapest Gambit
This is quite harmless, and White has several good ways to fight against it. I recommend the ambitious 3.dxe5 Ng4 4.e3 Nxe5 5.f4 where White is able to build a huge spatial edge. White has a big objective advantage here.
Chapter 15 - Chigorin Defence
The Chigorin Defence arises after the moves 1.d4 d5 2.c4 Nc6
Black tries to put pressure on our center. However, the c6-knight is usually misplaced in these lines. While there are several ways to play against this, I recommend going for the rarer 3.Nf3 Bg4 4.Nbd2!? strengthening the f3-knight. The point behind this is that after: 4...e6, White has the strong 5.Qa4 threatening Ne5. Black has to give up the light-squared bishop with ...Bxf3, giving White an easier game in the process.
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