Modern, Pirc, Alekhine, Philidor, Scandinavian, and Sidelines - Expert Repertoire for White
After his excellent two databases on French Defence and Caro-Kann, GM Arjun Kalyan keeps building his 1.e4 repertoire. In his newest project, besides the ever-topical Pirc and Modern, the Indian GM also covers Alekhine, Philidor, Scandinavian, and Sidelines.
Even though the suggested systems are extensively analyzed with very strong engines, the repertoire does not require a lot of memorization. This practical approach makes the entire course very suitable for a practical play.
The database consists of 11 theoretical chapters, 20 test positions, a Memory Booster, and a Video Version (2h and 45min Running Time).
Below, we shall take a look at the different chapters.
Preview by the Author
The database starts with the lines based on 1.e4 g6
The Modern Defence is a go-to opening for many Black players when they need to play for a win, particularly against lower-rated players. It keeps the pieces on the board and the game gets complicated. As White, we should be very happy to face this as we can gain a lot of space in the center and should be better objectively. However, it is important to know our setups and the typical ideas as it is very easy to overextend our centre.
My suggestion for White is 2.d4 Bg7 3.Nc3
The knight usually belongs on c3 in these positions and I prefer to have my pawn on c2. We mostly castle queenside and we do not want to commit too many pawn moves there.
In this position, Black's most popular option is 3...d6.
The continuation 3...c6 is the 2nd most common move in the position. Black prepares the move d5. Here we can just transpose to my recommendation in the Caro-Kann database after Nf3 and d5. But there are better ways to get a big advantage. I suggest 4.Be3 which is the 3rd most popular move in the position but makes the cut partly due to its consistency with the main lines. There are many moves which lead to an edge for White but it is important to be able to remember the details easily.
The critical position for the Modern Defence arises after 3...d6 4.Be3 a6 5.g4!?
This is the 7th most popular move in the position! We are exploiting the knight on g8 and are planning to go h4-h5 next. Black has to try and create some counterplay quickly. We will examine this deeply in the 1st chapter.
Another important brunch arises after 1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3
At this point, Black's most important continuation is 3...g6. This is the main line of the Pirc Defence. There are several ways here to pose serious problems for Black as he is giving up control over the center. I want to go for a system which is critical but also cuts down on the amount of lines we have to remember. My suggestion is 4.Bf4 This is the 10th (!!) most popular move in the position. This is slightly misleading as it may well transpose to Be3/Bg5 lines after a future Qd2, Bh6. It helps get control over the e5 square and delay Black from fighting back in the center. This particular position is the subject of our 2nd chapter.
Sometimes, Black plays 3...c6. The only real point of this move order seems to be able to get the move Qa5 quickly. It allows us to expand in the center freely with 4.f4. We punish Black for going for a non-developing pawn move so early.
Another important position arises after 3...e5 4.Nge2
This is a rare system against the Philidor but I think it poses a lot of practical problems for Black. It takes him out of his comfort zone in the positions after Nf3. There are two different plans here- to go h3,g4 or get the knight to g3. We will decide based on Black's development. We will look at this in the 4th and 5th chapters.
Against the Alekhine Defence, I suggest the so-called Four Pawns Attack arising after 1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.c4 Nb6 4.d4 d6 5.f4
We have four pawns in the center of the board. We will aim to keep control over these pawns and finish our development. If we manage to achieve that we would usually be much better. the most ambitious move gaining a lot of space in the center.
The important tabiya is being reached after 5...dxe5 6.fxe5 Nc6 7.Be3 Bf5 8.Nc3 e6 9.Nf3
There are a few different plans for Black here. I believe that the best plan is definitely to castle short and break with f6 which we will look at in the 7th chapter. We will look at sidelines in the 6th chapter. Castling queenside is quite risky with our central pawns and a4-a5 comes very quickly.
The Scandinavian Defence is also extensively covered in this course.
In case of 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Nf6, my suggestion is the simple 3.d4 Nxd5 4.Nf3
We do not rush with the move c4. I have a general rule in openings to play the most necessary move first to preserve flexibility. Here the knight belongs on f3 while we can play without c4.
The first important crossroads in the Scandinavian Defence arises after 3...Qxd5 4.Nc3
Now, instead of the usual 3...Qa5, Black has two important deviations - 3...Qd8 and 3...Qd6.
Concerning 3...Qd8, I always felt strongly that this just could not be sound wasting two moves with the queen and I had zero preparation against this opening until I became a GM. In recent times it has been played by a few strong players, albeit in mostly blitz games. There are a few ways to get an edge here and we will try to go for the most ambitious one.
The move 3...Qd6 has gotten popular over the last few years. The queen is safer here compared to a5 but also less threatening. He stops us from getting the bishop to the ideal h2-b8 diagonal. My suggestion against this system is 4.d4 Nf6 5.Nf3 c6 6.g3 We want to fianchetto the bishop and prepare the move Bf4. I like this move also because it is consistent with our general plans.
3...Qa5 is the main line in the Scandinavian and probably the most fighting line for Black. It is not completely sound but the queen does have the potential to create some play on the queenside. My suggestion here is 4.d4 Nf6 5.Nf3
There are many different plans here for Black. Modern theory has established that the best lines for Black are those with the move Bf5 - either directly or after c6. The other lines are more or less refuted with correct play.
The last chapter examines two minor options - 1...Nc6, and 1...b6. It goes without saying that White keeps an advantage with a precise play.
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