Practical Repertoire against 1.c4 and 1.Nf3
This product includes all the videos from the workshop as well as the PGN file related to the training sessions. Overall, the material consists of 6 hours of video and a PGN database which includes 71 files!
You will find the following lectures:
✅ 1.c4 e6 2.Nc3 Bb4 - Practical Repertoire for Black
✅ 1.c4 e6 2.g3 d5 - Easy Solution for Black
✅ 1.Nf3 Nf6 2.g3 b6 - Systems with c2-c4
✅ 1.Nf3 Nf6 2.g3 b6 - Systems without c2-c4
Now, we shall take a look at the different lectures
Preview by GM Grigor Grigorov
1.c4 e6 2.Nc3 Bb4 - Practical Repertoire for Black
The starting position of this lecture arises after 1.c4 e6 2.Nc3 Bb4
The system with 2...Bb4 is very suitable for NID/QID players. This line leads to similar middlegame patterns with Nimzo-Indian and Queen's Indian Defences. Since this line is relatively less popular, the theoretical overload is considerably less than in all other directions of the English Opening. The vast majority of the arising middlegames are not based on concrete theory.
The typical plans and ideas that are discussed in the lecture are more than sufficient for you to start playing this line. There is also another important practical benefit of playing this system. We immediately get an imbalance since Black often spoils White's structure with ...Bxc3. In return for the bishop pair, Black enjoys a superior pawn structure.
Creating such imbalances early in the game is one of the most efficient strategies when we are fighting for a win. Depending on White's next move, we are going to get a different type of position. You will find extensively annotated model games covering the continuations 3.Qb3, 3.Qc2, 3.e4, 3.Nf3, and other moves that allow the formation of doubled pawns in White's camp. In all the cases, Black enjoys a solid position with chances to play for a win.
Below, you shall take a look at one of the model games.
1.c4 e6 2.g3 d5 - Easy Solution for Black
This lecture is dedicated to the move order 1.c4 e6 2.g3
This line can be particularly annoying for Queen's Indian players since Black is not in time to develop his bishop on b7. In this case, our suggestion is 2...d5. It turns out that White cannot get proper Catalan with 3.d4 in view of 3...dxc4 followed by ...c7-c5. In this case, Black makes use of the fact that compared to the Catalan, he saved a tempo on ...Nf6. This direction is extensively analyzed in the lecture. The central position of the lecture arises after 3.Bg2 d4 4.Nf3 Nc6 5.0-0 Bc5!
For some reason, this strong move advocated by Magnus Carlsen is not that popular. Actually, Black gets a favourable version of the Schmid Benoni with colours reversed. The bishop is only temporarily on c5. It's mission is to support the centre until Black completes the development. In the future, the bishop will retreat and the c5-square will be occupied by the knight. In the lecture, you see how to fight against all the setups White might choose. As a matter of fact, Black is fighting for an advantage in this line!
Below is one of the model games discussed in this lecture.
1.Nf3 Nf6 2.g3 b6 - Systems with c2-c4
This is one of the most fundamental lectures in the entire camp. The material is dedicated to the following move order: 1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 b6 3.g3 Bb7 4.Bg2 e6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Nc3 White can also start with b2-b3 which will not make any difference. 6...0-0.
As you can see, all the time White can transpose to Queen's Indian Defence by playing d2-d4. This position is covered in the camp Understand the Queen's Indian Defence.
At this point, White's most ambitious choice is Re1 followed by e2-e4. In this case, the line 7...d5 8.cxd5 Nxd5 9. e4 Nxc3 10.bxc3 c5 seems very promising for Black.
In the lecture, you will find an in-depth analysis of this position. Against all the setups based on b2-b3, Black will go for a Hedgehog type of position by playing ...c7-c5. In this lecture, you will find an explanation of the must-know Hedgehog middlegames and endgames. In this way, you will manage to play the arising positions armed with deep conceptual understanding.
Below, you shall take a look at one of the model games.
1.Nf3 Nf6 2.g3 b6 - Systems without c2-c4
The last lecture of the camp is dedicated to White's Reti setups without early c2-c4. The main starting position of the lecture arises after 1.Nf3 Nf6 2.g3 b6 3.Bg2 Bb7 4.0-0 e6 5.d3
This time, we will be mainly dealing with White's plans based on e2-e4. White is aiming at reaching the so-called King's Indian Attack. The main suggestion for Black here will be 5...d5 followed by ...Nbd7. It turns out that Black is perfectly ready to meet the advance e2-e4 under different move orders. Usually, we will be getting symmetrical endgames with equal chances. Equality, however, does not mean a draw. In the annotated model games, you will see how to create winning chances in all these seemingly equal positions. Therefore, this lecture will also help you elevate your endgame understanding.
Ambitious players are provided with a very decent backup option - 5...c5 6.e4 d6 when Black keeps the structure flexible. It turns out that it's not that easy for White to find a constructive plan against this setup.
At the end of this lecture, you will find the so-called Odds&Ends section which provides simple solutions against two tricky move orders - 1.c4 e6 2.Nf3 and 1.c4 e6 2.e4.
Here is one of the model games discussed in the lecture.