Fighting the Sidelines after 1.d4 Nf6 (10.5h Video Running Time) 

Must-Know Strategies and Structures

Before going into the theory of the various sidelines against 1.d4 Nf6, we are going to study typical strategies and pawn structures. This will improve  our overall understanding and greatly help us understand the strategic basis  of various theoretical lines. In this lecture, Papaioannou will deal with the following  themes: 

1) Minority attacks in Hedgehog setups against the London System and  Torre Attack.

2) Typical mistakes in the Jobava System

3) Typical strategies in the Colle System

4) The strategic basics of the line 1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.g3 b5

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Fight the Trompowsky Opening

The second lecture features the so-called Trompowsky Opening. Our repertoire is based on 1.d4 Nf6 2.Bg5 d5

This is the  best move for Black - the following play is based on natural moves. ONCE AGAIN  WE DO NOT NEED TO MEMORIZE CONCRETE THEORY, BUT ONLY NEED TO KNOW WHERE TO DEVELOP OUR PIECES AND THE PLANS AFTER THAT! Note that Papaioannou suggests answering Bxf6 with ...exf6. He explains in great detail how to deal with the arising structures.

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Complete Repertoire against 1.d4 Nf6 2.Nc3

The starting position of this lecture arises after 1.d4 Nf6 2.Nc3 d5

2.Nc3 introduces the Veresov Opening. White's knight on c3 is misplaced from a strategic point of view since it blocks the c-pawn. The first player typically looks for fast development and active piece play to compensate for this positional shortcoming. In this position, White has two main options - 3.Bg5 and 3.Bf4. Definitely, the move 3.Bf4 popularized by GM Baadur Jobava, who won many excellent games with it, is the reason why the Veresov (or Jobava System, as 3.Bf4 is justifyably called) has become popular again. As with 3.Bg5, White aims for  fast development, but by putting the bishop on f4, Nb5 becomes a tricky option. 

Against 3.Bf4, Papaioannou suggests two options. Besides the classical 3...c5, he also introduces the rare but very interesting 3...Bd7!?. 

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Practical Repertoire against the Colle System

The Colle System arises after 1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.e3

This move introduces the flexible Colle System. White has many possible options to develop his pieces. For example - developing the bishops to d3 and b2 with or without c4 - developing the queen's knight to d2 or c3 - play Bd3, 0-0, c3, Nbd2 and so on.

One of the most important positions in this lecture arises after 3...b6 4.Bd3 Bb7 5.0-0 g6!?

Here is how GM Papaioannou justifies this choice himself, "This double-edged idea is my recommendation - we want to trick White! Instead  of playing ...Be7-d5-c5-dc4-ed4-Re8-Bf8-g6-Bg7, we want to give him hanging pawns in the center and immediately develop the bishop to g7, winning several tempi! Of course, in order to do that, we allow him to play a Nc3-Bd3-e3-e4  setup. Then we go ...d6-Nc6-e5, reaching some kind of King's Indian Defence.

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Challenge the London System

The London System, characterized by the moves d4, (Nf3,) and Bf4, can be quite difficult to deal with. White's setup is solid and at the same time contains some poison. For instance, when Black develops in classical style with ...d5 etc., White gets a nice outpost on e5 for his knight, and going along with that, some attacking chances on the kingside.

Papaionnou's suggestion is based on 1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e3 3.Bf4 c5 4.e3 cxd4!

The proposed repertoire against the London System is based on the so-called HEDGEHOG setup! We start by playing a fast ...c5-cxd4! and then arrange our pieces according to the scheme ...  Be7-b6-Bb7-d6-Nbd7-0-0-a6 and ...Re8! (this moves can be played in various order).

This setup is extremely flexbile and does not depend on theory. All you need is a good understanding of the arising positions.

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Ambitious Repertoire against the Torre Attack

The starting position of the Torre Attack is being reached after 1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.Bg5

Torre Attack is named after the Mexican player Carlos Torre Repetto. Like in the London System, White simply develops his bishop, followed in most cases by Nbd2, c3, Bd3 and short castling. In contrast to Bf4, the f6-knight is pinned, so that e2-e4 becomes  an option.

The main position of our repertoire arises after 3...c5 4.e3 cxd4 5.exd4 Be7

We will base our repertoire on exactly the same setup as against the London System! We build a Hedgehog position with the moves ...Be7, ...b6, ...Bb7, ...  d6, ...Nbd7, ...0-0, ...a6, ...Re8 - the order for moves can vary.

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1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.g3 b5 - Full Repertoire for Black

This lecture deals with the so-called Polish System arising after 1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.g3 b5

With 3...b5 we control c4 and quickly solve the problem of neutralising White's Catalan bishop by developing our bishop to b7. We have a case where a more rarely played continuation is quite good!

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