I.

Modern
(1.b3 e5 2.Bb2 Nc6 3.e3)
3 basic positions
a) e5+d5+Bd6
b)e5+Bd6
c)e5+d6

• 1 e5+d5+Bd6
1. b3 e5 2. Bb2 Nc6 3. e3 Nf6 4. Bb5 Bd6 5. Na3 Na5 6. Be2 (threat Nb5) a6 7. c4 O-O 8. Nc2 (threat c5) Re8 9. d3 Nc6

r1bqr1k1/1ppp1ppp/p1nb1n2/4p3/2P5/1P1PP3/PBN1BPPP/R2QK1NR w KQ - 0 10

and now 10.g4 (the aggressive continuation) or Nf3 (the positional continuation)

➢ if 5...e4 then

6.Nc4 Be7 7. Bxc6 dxc6 8. Ne2 O-O 9. O-O

or
1. b3 e5 2. Bb2 Nc6 3. e3 Nf6 4. Bb5 Bd6 5. Na3 e4 6. Nc4 Be7 7. Bxc6 bxc6 8. Ne2 O-O 9. O-Od5 10. Ne5 Qe8 11. f4

➢ or 6.Nh3 with the idea if Qe7 Nb1, if a6 (or c6) Be2 and 0-0+f4 and king-side attack.

2 (3...d5) one of the main variations

1. b3 e5 2. Bb2 Nc6 3. e3 d5 4. Bb5 (8 tabiyas)

4...Bd6
5.f4 f6 6.Nh3 (6...Nf7 7.fxe Bxe 8.d4 Bd6 9.0-0 0-0 10.Nf4 =) Nh6 7.Qh5+ Nf7 8.Nc3 a6 9.Be2 Be7 10.0-0-0 =
5.f4 Qh4+ 6.g3 Qe7 7.Nf3 Bg4 8.h3 BxN 9.QxB Nf6 10.fxe Bxe 11.d4 Bd6 12.c4 Qe6 Kf2
7...f6 8.Nc3 Be6 9.0-0 Nh6 10.fxe fxe 11.e4 d5 12Nd5
5.f4 Qe7 6.Nf3 Bg4 7.h3 BxN 8.QxB Nf6 9.fxe Bxe 10. d4 Bd6 11.c4 Qe6 12.0-0 0-0 13.Nc3 a6 14.cxd Nxd 15.BxN bxB 16.e4 NxN
17.BxN
4...f6 5.d4
if 5...exd 6.Qxd (idea 0-0-0)
if 5...e4 6.Be2 (idea queen-side play + Nh3-f4+h4)
4...e4 5.Ne2 Qg5 6.c4 (gambit) Qxg2 6.Rg1 Qxh3 (idea Nc3+0-0-0)
4...Qg5 5. Nf3 Qxg2 6. Rg1 Qh3 7. Rg3 Qh5 8. Bxe5
(idea Bxc7 (or Bxg7) and pressure to the exposed Queen-exchanges to endgame with a pawn up).

1. b3 e5 2. Bb2 Nc6 3. e3 d5 4. Bb5 Bd6 5. f4 Qe7 6. Nf3 Bg4 7. fxe5 Bxe5 8. Bxe5 Bxf3 9. Qxf3 Qxe5 10. Bxc6 bxc6 11. 0-0 Nf6 12.Nc3 0-0
 r4rk1/p1p2ppp/2p2n2/3pq3/8/1PN1PQ2/P1PP2PP/R4RK1 w - - 0 13

13.Qf4 and now 13...Qe7 or 13...Rfe8

idea: pressure on f file and attack the weak queen-side pawns with a rook. Better ending. (?)
Imbalances: semi-open ‘b’ and ‘f’. weak queen-side pawns.
play:

Rapport-Antipov 2013 (blitz)

➢ If 5...Qh5+ 6.g3 Qe7 7.Nf3 Bg4 we have the same position.
➢ Rozman’s suggestion fxe+d4+c4+Kf2
8.h3 BxN 9.QxB Nf6 10.fxe Bxe 11.d4 Bd6 12.c4 Qe6 (or 12...0-0 13.c5) 13.Kf2 0-0 (or 13...Ne4 14.Kg2 0-0 15.cxd) 14.cxd Nxd 15.Bc4
Nce7 (or 15...Nb4) 16.e4 +-

• Instead 6...f6 (with best play black is at least equal, if plays risky 5...exf4 + Qh4+ has a temporary initiative, but with precise defense is
lost)

1. b3 e5 2. Bb2 Nc6 3. e3 d5 4. Bb5 Bd6 5. f4 f6 6. fxe5 fxe5 7. Nf3 Nh6 8.0-0 Bg4 9.h3 Bh5 10.Nh2 RxR 12. Nxf1 and black is
somewhat better according to Stockfish
if 8...0-0 9.Bxc6 bxc6 10. Nxe5 with a pawn versus 2 bishops and initiative
if 7...Qe7 8. Nxe5 Bxe5 9. Bxc6 bxc6 10. Qh5 Kd8 11. Qxe5 with material advantage+initative

r1bk2nr/p1p1q1pp/2p5/3pQ3/8/1P2P3/PBPP2PP/RN2K2R b KQ - 0 11

in both variations exchanges to opt for an endgame

(eg 11...Nf6 12.QxQ KxQ 13.BxNf6 )
main imbalance material inequality

• if 4...Qg5 5. Nf3 Qxg2 6. Rg1 Qh3 7. Rg3 Qh5 8. Br1b1k1nr/ppp1q1pp/2nb4/1B1pN3/8/1P2P3/PBPP2PP/RN1QK2R b KQkq -

0 8xe5
idea Bxc7 (or Bxg7) and pressure to the exposed Queen-exchanges to endgame with a pawn up.

Playable is 4...Ne7 (gambit for the initiative and attack)r1b1k1nr/ppp1q1pp/2nb4/1B1pN3/8/1P2P3/PBPP2PP/RN1QK2R b KQkq - 0 8

5.Bxe5 a6 6.BxN NxN 7.Bg3 (best, but playable is 7.Bb2 Qg5 8.Kf1 ) h5 8.h4 d4 9.Ne2

• 3 ( 3...d6 ) immediate d4 aiming to 0-0-0

1. b3 e5 2. Bb2 Nc6 3. e3 Nf6 4. Bb5 d6 5. d4 exd4 6. Qxd4 Bd7 7. Bxc6 Bxc6 8. Nf3 Be7 9. Nc3Qd7 10. O-O-O
 r3k2r/pppqbppp/2bp1n2/8/3Q4/1PN1PN2/PBP2PPP/2KR3R b kq - 0 10

if 5...Bd7 6.Ne2 (and not d5?) or 6.dxe

• 2...f6

1. b3 e5 2. Bb2 f6 3. e4

idea: e4+d4, king-side majority, ‘d’ file exchange some pieces and king-side pawn storm

illustrative game :
https://www.365chess.com/view_game.php?g=752486&m=12
Fendrich vs. Lahlum (2218), 1999

II. Classical
(1.b3 d5 2.Bb2 )
3 basic positions

• a) (2...Nf6+...Bf5), London reverse

????????
no f4, h3+g4+(d3)+(if ...h6 g5+Rh1 and 0-0-0)
➢ if 4...e6
1. b3 d5 2. Bb2 Nf6 3. e3 Bf5 4.Nf3 e6 5.h3 h6 6.d3 Be7 (Bd6) 7.Nd2 0-0 8.g4 Bh7 9.g5 hxg 10.Nxg Nc6 Rg1

imbalances: opposite castling, pawn storm, probably 2 bishops

play: mutual king attacks
typical maneuvering: Qf3+Be2+0-0-0+h4-h5+NxB
breakthroughs:

➢ if 4...Nd7 5.Be2 e6 6.Nh4 Bg6 7.0-0 Bd6 8.f4 0-0 9.NxB hxN c4 with 2 bishops

imbalances:
play:
typical maneuvering:
breakthroughs:

➢ if 4.Nf3 e6 5.h3 Bd6 6.g4

• b) (2...Bg4)
double fianchetto and 2 bishops

1. b3 d5 2. Bb2 Bg4 3. g3 c6 4. Bg2 Nd7 5. Nf3 Ngf6 6. O-O e6 7. d3 Bd6 8. Nbd2 O-O 9. h3 Bh5 10. e4 e5 11. Qe1 Re8
 r2qr1k1/pp1n1ppp/2pb1n2/3pp2b/4P3/1P1P1NPP/PBPN1PB1/R3QRK1 w - - 0 12

idea: g4+Nh5xBg6 retaining the two bishops ??

imbalances: black space at the center, better black-squared bishop, possible off-side black light-squared bishop,
play:
typical maneuvering: gain space both at queen-side and king-side, Nh4-f5 or NxBg6, if ...Qe7 then a3
breakthroughs:f4 (pressure along ‘f’), e4 (freeing Bg2)

illustrative game:
Nakamura-Kramnik 2018 (blitz)

• c) (2...c5)
1. b3 d5 2. Bb2 c5 3. e3 Nc6 4. Bb5 Bd7 5. Nf3 Nf6 6. O-O e6 7. Bxc6 Bxc6 8. Ne5 Rc8 9. d3 Be7 10. Nd2 O-O 11. f4

2rq1rk1/pp2bppp/2b1pn2/2ppN3/5P2/1P1PP3/PBPN2PP/R2Q1RK1 b - - 0 11

• king-side attack
Nd2-f3+Qf3-g3-(h3)+Rf3+g3 but the continuation is far from obvious, perhaps it involves pawn advances, or the transfer of Bb2 via c1 to the king-
side Some attention must given in the black counter-play on the queen-side.
• (Of course if black defenses well at the king-side, white can play on the center+queen-side)
• usually white refrains of an early f4, but deploys it on a later stage, after Ne5

➢ c5+d5+Nd7+a6

III. English
(1...c5)
2 basic positions

a) formation: f4+e3+Bb5+Nf3-f5+d3 and king-side attack

1. b3 c5 2. Bb2 Nc6 3. f4 d5 4. e3 Nf6 5. Bb5 Bd7 6. Nf3 e6 7. O-O Be7 8. Bxc6Bxc6 9. Ne5 Qc7 10. d3 O-O 11. Nd2

r4rk1/ppq1bppp/2b1pn2/2ppN3/5P2/1P1PP3/PBPN2PP/R2Q1RK1 b - - 0 11

king-side attack (??)

imbalances: 2 bishops in a rather closed position, space at the king-side and queen-side respectively, superior black knight
theater : white king-side, black queen-side and center. But since white has nothing decisive yet is wise to take precautions eg a4
typical maneuvering: (Nxc6+Nd2-f3-e5), Qf3-h3, Rf3-h3+g4-g5+Qh5
breakthroughs: ...b5+...c4 (preventive a4), ...d4 (where dxe4 opens ‘e’ and ‘c’, and activates Bb2 and Bc6 if is still there) white possible g4-g5

b) formation c5+d6+e5

1. b3 c5 2. Bb2 Nc6 3. e3 d6 4. Nf3 e5 5. c4 f5 6. Nc3 Nf6 7. d4 cxd4 8. exd4 e4 9. d5 exf3 10. dxc6 Qe7

r1b1kb1r/pp2q1pp/2Pp1n2/5p2/2P5/1PN2p2/PB3PPP/R2QKB1R w KQkq - 0 11

IV. 1...Nf6 (Indian variation)

g3+Bg2

1. b3 Nf6 2. Bb2 g6 3. Bxf6 exf6 4. c4 Bg7 5. Nc3 f5 6. Rc1 O-O 7. g3 d6 8. Bg2Nd7 9. e3 Re8 10. Nge2 Nf6 11. O-O

r1bqr1k1/ppp2pbp/3p1np1/5p2/2P5/1PN1P1P1/P2PNPBP/2RQ1RK1 b - - 0 11

imbalances: 2 bishops (semi-closed position), central majority (blocked by f5), space at the queen-side (and at the center after d4), powerful Bg2
(aiming at b7) Bg7 may be hindered by d4+e3, half-open ‘e’,
theater: queen-side
breakthroughs:
typical maneuvering: if d4+e3 black must liberate Bg7
Nf4+h5,

or
1. b3 Nf6 2. Bb2 g6 3. Bxf6 exf6 4. c4 d5 5. cxd5 Qxd5 6. Nc3 Qa5 7. g3 c6 8. Bg2 Bg7 9. Nf3
white must guard Nc3, and kick away the black queen with a3

➢ alternatively g3+Bg2+d4+(c4)

basic pawn formations

➢ ...d5+...e5
attack to e5 with pieces, black defenses with Bd6+Qe7 (+f6)

➢ ...c5+...d5 (+...e6)

control of e5 and occupation: f4+Ne5+attack to the king-side

(d4 leaves c2 as backward)

➢ ...d5+...e6

f4+Ne5 and king-side attack

➢ ...e5+d6

immediate d4 (and if ...e4 then d5)

or Ne2+f4+king-side attack
 ➢ ...g6

Bxf6 and c4 (??)

or d4+e3+Nc3+Qd2+0-0-0 and f3+g4+g5

➢ ...f6+e5 (+d5)

e4

➢ ...c5+...d6+...e5 (+f6)

stonewall formation ??

d4 with intention to leave d6 isolated (??)

➢ ...b6

or Nc3+d4+Qd2+0-0-0

or e3+g3+Nf3+Bg2+0-0

smirnof’s recomentations

✗ d5+c5

Indian defense with reverse colours. e3 stops ...d4. First tabiya is Nd2-f3, Ne5+f4, Q+R to f3-g3 or h3. Ne5 threatens NxBc6 to damage pawn
structure. If ...a6 before Bb5, then d4+c4 (not imediately), and centralization.

✗ d5+e6 (not immediate c5)

c4+Nc3 with pressure and creation of an isolani with cxd+d4. In general is good to play c4 when black CANNOT play ...d4. In general d4 must be
played after 0-0, because sometimes Bb4+ is annoying. In general two tabiyas (plans), the second is c4 and creation of an isolani

✗ c5+Nc6

Nf3 (to prevent ...e5, and if ...e6 then d4). If cxd then Nxd and if ...e5 then Nxc6 and pressure on the black center with second fianchetto
(g3+Bg2) c4+Nc3 and Rooks on ‘c’ and ‘d’ files.

✗ d5+e6

suggests Ne2+d4

✗ d5+e5

he suggests not f4, but Nf3+d4 (even c4 is good with the idea c5+Nxe5)., destroying the black center eg if ...e4 then Ne5.