Queen's Gambit with ...h7-h6 - Universal Repertoire against 1.d4, 1.Nf3, and 1.c4
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 7.5 hours of video and a PGN database which includes 79 files!
You will find the following lectures:
✅ Lines with cxd5
✅ Lines without cxd5
✅ Facing the Catalan with Nc3
✅ Facing the Catalan without Nc3
✅ Dealing with London System and Rare Lines
Now, we shall take a look at the different lectures.
Lines with cxd5
This course is a repertoire for Black based on the Queen's Gambit. It can be played against all White's main moves except 1.e4.
Let's take a look at the following starting position - 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 h6
This is an old move which has recently become popular. It's a very good and reliable system that has some theory, but it's more important to study it on understanding since knowing how to play the arising positions is more important than concrete knowledge. In addition, this move also works against the 3.Nf3 move order.
With 3...h6, Black prevents White from playing Bg5 after Black plays ...Nf6, which would pin the knight. Sooner or later, White will capture on d5, so cxd5 and exd5 will be played.
Because of that, it's important to study the arising pawn structure and the minority attack. The first lecture is essentially dealing with the minority attack. Papaioannou explains this structure in huge details.
After studying all the subtleties related to the Carlsbad structure, the theory of these line will come quite naturally to you.
Below, you shall see on of the model games.
Lines without cxd5
This lecture features the positions where White refrains from cxd5. Once again, the knowledge of typical plans and ideas is way more important than the concrete theory.
One of the basic positions from the lecture arises after 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 h6 4.Nf3 Nf6 5.Bf4 Bd6
After studying the annotations of Papaioannou, you will understand why 6.Bxd6 is the only correct move here. Even though Papaioannou examines the plans without cxd5, we should always be ready for the arising of the Carlsbad structure
An important benefit from this lecture is that you will get better feeling of the symmetrical positions.
For instance, in the lecture, GM Papaioannou will teach you how to create practical winning chances in this position.
Facing the Catalan with Nc3
The following two lectures will provide you with full solution against the ever modern Catalan Opening.
The main starting position of this lectures arises after 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 h6 4.Nf3 Nf6 5.g3 Nc6! 6.Bg2 Bd6 7.0-0 0-0
The main position for the Catalan with ...h6 and Nc3. In this position, 8.b3 is the best move for White, 8.c5 is playable, and all the other moves lead to an advantage for Black, usually by following the typical plan of ...dxc4 and ...e5! The positions can be very similar, so it's more important to learn the ideas instead of the exact theory.
Also, note that playing ...Nc6 immediately, before ...Bd6 is very important. This move order prevents all dangerous ideas with g3-g4, as well as Qc2 with g3-g4.
Below, you shall take a look at one of the model games.
Facing the Catalan without Nc3
This lectures features the more common type of Catalan where White refrains from Nc3.
The starting position of the variation arises after 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 h6 4.g3 Nf6 5.Bg2 Bd6 6.0-0 0-0
This is a position that you will get quite often against the Catalan. Obviously, against Nc3, we would respond by ...Nc6, getting into the previous lecture. Against all other moves, we respond by ...b7-b6.
Many of your opponents will opt for the position arising after 7.Qc2 b6 8.Nc3 Bb7 9.cxd5 exd5 10.Nb5 Nc6 11.Nxd6 cxd6
This is just one version of the positions with doubled d-pawns that will be discussed in the analysis and the games. The point is that these positions are very difficult for White to play practically, while Black has a choice of many good moves and plans to choose from.
Here is one of the model games.
Dealing with London System and Rare Lines
This lectures deals with all the sidelines that White can choose against the Queen's Gambit setup. For instance, Papaioannou provides simple solutions against Reti, English, Double Fianchetto, and London.
For instance, the following model game shows why the move order 1.d4 d5 2.Bf4 is not so precise for White.