Dreev's Ultimate 1.d4 d5 vs Sidelines: The Missing Third
When a player commits to 1...d5, the preparation typically focuses on what happens after 2.c4—the Queen's Gambit Declined, the Slav, the Semi-Slav. But what about everything else? The London System, the Jobava London, the Veresov, 2.Bg5, 3.g3 setups—these sidelines have quietly grown into a substantial portion of modern tournament practice, yet they've remained neglected territory. Players memorize the main lines, then improvise against the rest. The gap between preparation and reality has only widened.
Dreev's Ultimate 1.d4 d5 vs Sidelines by GM Alexey Dreev and GM Pier Luigi Basso completes the trio. Having already collaborated on Queen's Gambit Declined - Arsenal for Black and Queen's Gambit Declined with ...Be7 for Black: The Complete System versus Bf4 and Bg5, the authors now deliver the final piece: a complete, principled repertoire against every 1.d4 d5 sideline White can choose. The result is a unified Black system where strong positional principles replace the need for endless memorization.
Revolutionary Simplicity Against the London
The heart of this course is the Classical London setup, where the authors unveil a genuinely fresh concept: 8...g6. This modest-looking move is, in Dreev's words, "revolutionary." While 8...b6 has been Black's standard choice for years, it runs into 9.e4 with a lasting pull for White. The 8...g6 solution changes everything: by delaying kingside castling and preparing ...b6 in improved circumstances, Black eliminates White's h4-h5 attacking prospects and reaches an objectively sound position. The top engines confirm it—this is the best version of Black's setup, hiding in plain sight.
Beyond the London, the course systematizes every 1.d4 d5 sideline through universal principles. Against 2.Bf4, the answer is always 2...c5. Against 2.Bg5, Dreev recommends the radical 2...f6. The Jobava London meets 3...e6 4.Nb5 Bb4+, the 3.g3 Catalan-style setup encounters 3...c5 followed by 5...h6, avoiding Nxd4xc6. Every recommendation is built on clear strategic logic, not arbitrary computer moves.
Variation Map
London System (1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Bf4)
- 3...c5 4.e3 Nc6 5.Nbd2 e6 6.c3 Bd6 7.Bg3 O-O 8.Bd3 g6 → Chapter 5 (main novelty)
- 9.O-O b6 (improved ...b6 setup)
- 9.Qe2 Nh5 (Warmerdam's recent World Cup choice) → Chapter 6
- 7.Bxd6 Qxd6 → Chapter 2
- 7.dxc5 → Chapter 3
- 7.Bg5 / 7.Ne5 / 7.Bd3 → Chapter 4 (joint treatment)
- 8.Bb5 → Chapter 7
London via 1.d4 d5 Nf3 Nf6 3.c3
- 3.c3 (move-order twist) 3...Bf5 4.Qb3 Nbd7 → Chapter 8
Jobava London (2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Bf4)
- 3...e6 4.Nb5 Bb4+ → Chapter 9
Immediate London (2.Bf4)
- 2...c5 (universal answer) → Chapter 10
Catalan-style 3.g3
- 3.g3 c5 4.Bg2 cxd4 5.O-O h6 → Chapter 11 (waiting move to keep ...e5 strong)
- 5...Nc6 6.Nxd4 e5 7.Nxc6 (is an unwanted knight trade)
- 5.Nxd4 e5 (strong central duo)
Veresov (2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Bg5)
- 3...h6 (subtle reply) → Chapter 12
Pseudo-Trompowsky (2.Bg5)
- 2...f6 (radical and concrete) → Chapter 13
Torre-style (2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Bg5)
- 3...Ne4 4.Bf4 f6 (similar approach to 2.Bg5) → Chapter 14
A Platinum Course: Guaranteed Evolution
As a Platinum Course, Dreev's Ultimate 1.d4 d5 vs Sidelines is not a static theoretical product. It is a living repertoire with guaranteed long-term development.
Updates (Real Value): Free updates are provided every 6 months for 2 years. The timing depends on the release month and is always exactly 6 months apart. All updates are automatically included. Each update delivers substantial, practical improvements, not cosmetic changes.
What updates may include (always something important):
- New theoretical developments
- New video explanations
- New chapters
- New model games
- New exercises
- New learning tools
User Involvement: Users can ask questions and upload their own games. The strongest and most instructive material is selected and integrated into future updates.
This is not a theoretical gamble. It is a framework designed to handle all White sidelines after 1.d4 d5—the London System in all forms, the Jobava London, the Veresov, 2.Bg5, 3.g3 setups, and the rare moves that appear in practical play. The course systematically neutralizes each approach, ensuring no surprise can derail your preparation.
Course Features
- 14 Chapters covering every 1.d4 d5 sideline except 2.c4
- 30 Test Positions to verify understanding
- 5 Training Positions to practice against the computer
- Memory Booster for efficient recall
- To Go Version of every chapter for quick study
- Video Instruction explaining key ideas and critical positions
- Multilingual PGN Availability (English, German, French, Spanish)
With this course, the 1.d4 d5 landscape is complete. Combined with the authors' earlier QGD works, Black players now possess a comprehensive, interconnected system against every first-move option White can choose. No gaps, no guesswork—just principled chess backed by decades of elite-level experience from two authors who understand that a complete repertoire means leaving nothing to chance.