Principled Repertoire against Vienna and Ragozin 

FM Egor Lashkin     August 11, 2023

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Content  (28 Articles)

Introduction and Free Preview  Free
Chapter 1 - Vienna Variation - 8...Qa5  Closed
Chapter 1 - Memory Booster  Closed
Chapter 2 - Vienna Variation - 8...Bxc3 - 10...Nbd7  Closed
Chapter 2 - Memory Booster  Closed
Chapter 3 - Vienna Variation - 8...Bxc3 - 10...Bd7  Closed
Chapter 3 - Memory Booster  Closed
Chapter 4 - Vienna Variation - 6...b5  Closed
Chapter 4 - Memory Booster  Closed
Chapter 5 - Vienna Variation - 6...h6  Closed
Chapter 5 - Memory Booster  Closed
Chapter 6 - Ragozin Variation - 5...0-0 and Sidelines  Closed
Chapter 6 - Memory Booster  Closed
Chapter 7 - Ragozin Variation - Main Line  Closed
Chapter 7 - Memory Booster  Closed
Chapter 8 - 4...dxc4 5.e4 b5  Closed
Chapter 8 - Memory Booster  Closed
EU-ch rapid - Model game 1 - Sargissian - Riazantsev  Closed
Chessable Masters Final - Model game 2 - Carlsen - Ding  Closed
SWE-chT 1112 - Model game 3 - Gdanski - Grandelius  Closed
Online Olym Div Top-A - Model game 4 - Tabatabaei - Nguyen  Closed
Meltwater Tour Final - Model game 5 - Le Quang Liem - Duda  Closed
FIDE Grand Swiss - Model game 6 - Yilmaz - Wojtaszek  Closed
RUS-CHN Summit Men 12th - Model game 7 - Sarana - Lu  Closed
Speed Chess GP3 - Model game 8 - Yakubboev - Pichot  Closed
Cattolica Primavera op - Model game 9 - Davtyan - Azarov  Closed
Charlotte CCCSA Holiday IM - Model game 10 - Antova - Eckert  Closed
Test Section  Closed

29.90 EUR

Principled Repertoire against Vienna and Ragozin

FM-Egor-Lashkin-Modern-Chess-Team

FM Egor Lashkin (FIDE Rating 2459) has just published his newest in-depth theoretical research - Principled Repertoire against Vienna and Ragozin. Providing an opening repertoire for White against two of the most respectable responses to 1.e4, requires hard work, subtle understanding, and a lot of dedication. After analysing the arising positions for months, FM Lashkin managed to create practical problems for Black in all directions. Sometimes, his in-depth analysis goes to the endgame! And what is even more astonishing, the author also explains how we could put pressure in the arising endgame positions.

The current database consists of 8 very huge theoretical chapters, 10 model games, a Memory Booster, and 15 interactive test positions.

The starting position of the current database arises after 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 Bb4 5.Bg5

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Here is what the author gives in advance for the recommended 5.Bg5:

“This system is known as the main line and the most principled way to challenge the Vieanna and Ragozin, which has lately gained a lot in popularity, including at the highest level. I decided that the best openings should be handled accordingly and spent a lot of months trying to prove some advantage for White, but to little avail. Nevertheless, I have managed to find lines, in which severe pressure is exerted. Black can achieve equality in most of them with best play and due to tons of theoretical knowledge. The arising positions are rich, full of chaos and dynamism, and, even if our opponent finds all the correct moves, then there is plenty of play ahead.

Who is this system for? It can actually suit well a wide range of players:
1) pragmatics - those players, who are looking about objective advantage and the chess truth;
2) attacking players - in the Vienna Chapters there is so much fun for you!!
3) positional and technical players - the main line 5...h6 leads to endgames, which the technical-biased players will enjoy a lot.”

Below, you shall see a brief overview of the different chapters.

Most of the chapters are dealing with the capture of the c4-pawn and the Vienna Variation respectively. Its initial position arises after 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 Bb4 5.Bg5 dxc4 6.e4

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At this point, 6…c5 is Black’s most popular reply, as well as the reaction 7.Bxc4 cxd4 8.Nxd4, which leaves the opponent with a choice.

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Chapter 1 is about the solid 8…Qa5 9.Bd2 Qc5, when 10.Bb5 Bd7 11.Nb3 is more or less forced. 4 retreats of the queen are examined, while, in general, its counterpart finds a perfect spot on the e2-square, which, combined with a timely Bb5-d3 retreat, is an essential part of White’s set-up before launching into a kingside assault. For instance, the e4-e5 push is threatened as early as on move 13, but, as the main line with 11…Qe7 demonstrates it is hard for Black to cope with the advances of the other pawns too.

The sharper 8…Bxc3 9.bxc3 Qa5 10.Bb5, followed by 11.Bxf6 is the subject of the next two chapters - Chapter 2 is treating 10…Nbd7, while analysis of 10…Bd7 can be found in Chapter 3. The situation is quite common in both cases – Black’s king will be lacking safety no matter if he succeeds to castle. The author is providing us with numerous inspired attacking concepts against it.

Chapter 4 is covering 6…b5 7.a4

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The continuation 7…c6?! is a dubious line from the Botvinnik, as the leading text unambiguously confirms. The counterattacking attempts against the e4-pawn 7…Bb7 and 7…h6 seem insufficient for equality either.
The most interesting deviation is 7…c5!? 8.axb5 cxd4, but the author proves that 9.Bxf6 with 10.Qxd4 coming next does not bring any relief to Black even in a seemingly innocuous endgame.

Chapter 5 is dedicated to the other more strategical than adventurous approach 6…h6 7.Bxf6 Qxf6 8.Bxc4 and now 8…c5 (at once or after castling), by which Black is trying to trade the d4-pawn and make use of his pair of bishops in the long run.

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On the contrary, White has to look for his chances in the middlegame and the uncompromising 9.0-0 0-0 10.e5 Qd8 11.Ne4 cxd4 12.Qe2 is corresponding to his intentions. After the flexible 12…Be7! he has to answer the eternal question “Which rook?” should better go to the d1-square. As indicated in the author’s introduction, there are plenty of subtle move orders and tactical intricacies, so the fun is indeed guaranteed. Even more, the devotees of this system for Black will also find stunning ideas for themselves, such as voluntarily exposing the queen to Rc1.

Chapter 6 features the calm preparation of the c7-c5 thrust by 5…0-0 6.e3 Nbd7.

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The main theoretical line goes on with 7.cxd5 exd5 8.Bd3 c5 9.0-0 Bxc3 10.bxc3 Qa5 11.Qc2, when 11…c4 initiates fight for the e4-square, e.g. 12.Bf5 Re8 13.Nd2 g6 14.Bxd7 Nxd7 15.f3 with the central break in the air. The ensuing lines are confirming White’s attacking prospects, besides, he has nice tactical tricks at his disposal.

In Chapter 7, similarly to Chapter 5, the bishop is questioned at once by 5…h6, to which White can take advantage of the move order by means of 6.Bxf6 Qxf6 7.Qb3!

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Black’s most active reply is 7…c5 with a probable transition into the abovementioned endgame after 8.cxd5 exd5 9.e3 0-0 10.dxc5! Bxc3 11.Qxc3 Qxc3 12.bxc3 Nd7 13.Rd1. The author illustrates how White can pose problems after both the sacrifice of the d5-pawn and its protection. In the latter case worth of attention is the refinement 17.h4 over Carlsen – Ding Liren. Three more model games on the item are present in the relevant section.

Finally, in Chapter 8 the immediate 4…dxc4 is the subject, with the idea after 5.e4 to play 5…b5!? instead of transposing to the Vienna by 5…Bb4.

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The critical position is reached after 6.e5 Nd5 7.Nxb5 Nb6, after several natural developing moves like 8.Be3 Nc6 9.Be2 Be7 10.0-0 0-0 11.Nc3 Black’s best way to protect indirectly the vulnerable c4-pawn is 11…Rb8. Then trading it with 12.b3! cxb3 13.axb3 makes sense, for Ra1 has a target. After 13…Bb7 White can exert more pressure by the multifunctional 14.Qb1! with Rf1-c1 coming next and a promising play along the semi-opened files.

SAMPLE LINE

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