1.d4 According to Lucas Van Foreest: Fight the Queen's Gambit Declined - Part 1
Modern Chess releases the seventh installment in the 1.d4 According to Lucas van Foreest series, authored by GM Pier Luigi Basso and GM Lucas van Foreest. This course addresses White's options against the Queen's Gambit Declined after 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3, focusing on Black's sharpest responses: 4...dxc4 (Vienna Variation) and 4...c5 (Semi-Tarrasch complex).
The repertoire adopts what Basso calls "the 1.d4 Squeeze Repertoire" philosophy—selecting the most challenging lines for Black rather than following mainstream theoretical paths. Against the Vienna, the course advocates 5.e4 Bb4 6.Bxc4 Nxe4 7.0-0 Nxc3 8.bxc3 Be7 9.Qe2, bypassing the heavily analyzed 9.Ne5 in favor of fresh, practical positions.
Repertoire Structure
The course systematically covers the following branches:
Main Vienna Variation (4...dxc4)
- 5.e4 Bb4 6.Bxc4 Nxe4 7.0-0 Nxc3 8.bxc3
- Chapter 1: 8...Nf6 (solid retreat, played by Carlsen, Caruana, Anand, Kramnik)
- Chapter 2: 8...Be7 9.Qe2 (repertoire recommendation)
- Chapter 3: 8...Bd6 (Van Foreest's own weapon for Black)
- Chapter 4: 5...b5 6.e5 Nd5 7.Nxb5 Nb6 (modern counterplay setup)
- Chapter 5: 5...c5 (rare alternative)
Semi-Tarrasch Complex (4...c5)
- 5.cxd5 cxd4
- Chapter 6: 5...Nxd5 6.e4 Nxc3 7.bxc3 cxd4 8.cxd4 Bb4+ 9.Bd2 Bxd2+ 10.Qxd2 0-0 11.h4 (anti-positional approach against mainstream 11.Bc4)
- Chapter 8: 6.Qa4+ (alternative to 6.Qxd4)
- Chapter 9: 6.Qxd4 exd5 (critical endgame structure)
Tarrasch Defense (4...c5)
- Chapter 7: 5.cxd5 exd5 (classical Tarrasch structure)
Sidelines
- Chapter 10: 4...Ne4 (Paravyan's tricky idea vs. Sarana)
Course Components
The course includes:
- 10 theoretical chapters with detailed analysis
- 30 interactive test positions for practical training
- Memory Booster for retention of critical lines
- Video version (3 hours 18 minutes) with explanatory lectures
- TO-GO versions of each chapter for mobile study
- 15-minute repertoire overview (Basso's signature format)
- Multilingual PGN files: English, French, German, Spanish
Strategic Context
This course complements the existing 1.d4 According to Lucas van Foreest series. Players building a complete repertoire should note:
- 4...Bb4 (Ragozin Variation) was addressed in Fight the Ragozin
- 4...a6, 4...h6, 4...Nbd7 will be covered in the forthcoming Part 2 of this QGD series
Complete Series Overview
Browse all courses in the series: 1.d4 According to Lucas van Foreest collection
Previous releases include:
- Fight the Ragozin (4...Bb4)
- Fight the Nimzo-Indian Defense
- Fight the King's Indian Defense
- Fight the Benoni Defense
- Fight the Grünfeld Defense
- Fight the Benko Gambit
Theoretical Approach
The repertoire prioritizes practical discomfort over theoretical fashion. In Chapter 6 (Semi-Tarrasch), the recommended 11.h4 appears in only 64 games but has been employed by Gukesh, Bluebaum, Nakamura, and Giri.
As Basso notes: "Semi-Tarrasch players want something solid and clear, so we go for very unclear positions."
Similarly, the Vienna recommendation 9.Qe2 (Chapter 2) avoids the theoretical maze of 9.Ne5, offering White practical chances without requiring encyclopedic preparation.
The line against 5...b5 (Chapter 4) addresses one of the most popular modern approaches to the QGD, where Black accepts structural compromises for active piece play.
Target Audience
This course is designed for ambitious players seeking a fighting repertoire against the QGD. The coverage assumes familiarity with fundamental QGD concepts but provides complete theoretical grounding in the selected lines. The multilingual PGN support extends accessibility to non-English-speaking tournament players.
The interactive test positions and Memory Booster components address the practical challenge of retaining sharp theoretical lines under time pressure. The 15-minute repertoire format allows rapid pre-game review of critical variations.
INTRODUCTION BY GM PIER LUIGI BASSO
SAMPLE CHAPTER
SAMPLE VIDEO