Position after: 15...Nc4!

Otherwise White plays 5a5, 4d2, 5fa1 etc and stands better.

16.Bxc4 Qxc4 17.Bc5!!

A fantastic idea, but the only problem is that Black’s game is still playable afterwards.
17.5a4 4c7 18.4e2 1h5DZ

17...dxc5! 18.Ra4 Qb4 19.Rxb4 cxb4 20.Na2 a5 21.c4 Nd7²


Position after: 21...Nd7²

The engines would have you believe that White is much better, but I would take that with a pinch of
salt.
Conclusion to Chapter 5
I don’t suppose it was expected that a book entitled “The Modernized Modern” would feature not
one, but two full-blown chapters on the Classical Pirc. However, as line 5.1) indicates, it may well be
necessary if we are to keep to our core theme: play 1...g6 and 2...%g7 by all means, but then be
willing to compromise somewhat on dynamism or originality so as to get positions we can play
repeatedly without worrying that we might be lost by force. (Although chapter II.4 broke with this
habit somewhat, I think the main-line Austrian Pirc is exhaustively enough analysed that Black won’t
be lost by force.) It’s important to play through this particular chapter with a view to thinking about
possible transpositions from 7.a4 or another waiting move, and to internalise the importance that the
a4-push has in general for White in these systems.


 Chapter 6
Classical Pirc Other 7th moves

1.e4 g6 2.d4 Bg7 3.Nf3 d6 4.Be2 Nf6 5.Nc3 0-0 6.0-0 c6

Chapter Guide

Chapter 6 – Classical Pirc Other 7th moves

1.e4 g6 2.d4 %g7 3.1f3 d6 4.%e2 1f6 5.1c3 0-0 6.0-0 c6

6.1) 7.%e3
6.2) Independent tries after 7.h3
6.3) 7.5e1 1bd7 8.a4
6.4) 7.5e1 1bd7 8.%f1 e5
6.5) 7.5e1 1bd7 8.%f1 e5 with 11.a5
6.6) 7.a4 4c7 8.h3
6.7) Lines with all three of a4, h3 and 5e1

Introduction to Chapter 6
As already hinted in the last chapter, if White isn’t going to develop his bishop on move 7 then the
most useful prophylactic/waiting move available is a4, with 5e1 being a close second. (If there is time


to make a third prophylactic move then h3 is possible.) This chapter really gets going in line 6.3
where after 7.5e1 1bd7 we consider 8.a4 (in this case, 8...e5 is not really possible) and we contrast
that with 8.%f1 e5 9.a4, where even the slight delay of one move causes the position to descend into
one rife with tricks (lines 6.4 and 6.5.)
Since developments of the c1-bishop will almost inevitably lead to transpositions to the previous
chapter, there are two combinations that remain to be discussed: 7.a4 with just h3 (6.6) and the mix of
all three waiting moves. Neither of these seem as critical as the combination of the best developing
move with the best waiting move, i.e. 7.%g5 4c7 8.a4 as discussed in the final two subchapters of
chapter 5.

6.1) 7.Be3

1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.Be2 0-0 6.0-0 c6

In this subchapter we’ll examine another related bishop move, the ‘poor cousin’ of those from the last
chapter (7.%f4 and 7.%g5).

7.Be3 b5!

Position after: 7...b5!

8.Nd2!?

This is quite a powerful concept, removing the counter ...1g4 from the equation.
A) 8.a3 is too slow: 8...1bd7 9.4d2 4c7 followed by ...e5.
B) 8.e5 1g4! This is why people put the bishop on f4 or g5, and less often on e3 unless they have


 already played h3. 9.%f4 b4! Marin’s suggestion.

Position after: 9...b4!

B1) 10.1e4 dxe5 11.1xe5 [11.dxe5 4d5!=] 11...1xe5 12.%xe5 %xe5 13.dxe5 4d5=
B2) 10.1a4 Oddly, the knight is less vulnerable here. 10...dxe5 11.dxe5 4a5 12.c3

Position after: 12.c3

12...bxc3 [12...1d7?! This is too much finesse. 13.cxb4! 4xb4 14.%d2 4b8 15.e6 fxe6 16.h3 5xf3


 17.hxg4v] 13.1xc3 1xe5 14.1xe5 %xe5 15.%xe5 4xe5 16.%f3 Black has problems with
development, which necessitate the immediate return of the material. 16...1a6!=

Position after: 8.Nd2!?

8...Bb7!?

This is worth considering because now White can’t really play f4 as he would normally like.
A) 8...b4 9.1a4 1bd7 10.a3 a5 11.c3v is too early.
B) 8...1bd7?! 9.f4 e5 10.dxe5 dxe5 11.f5!ǭ
C) 8...e5 This is possible, but not very ‘Modern’. 9.dxe5 dxe5


Position after: 9...dxe5

Black’s queenside is a lot weaker than normal, and I think he has a disadvantage after a move like
10.a4!? [10.1b3 b4 11.1a4 1xe4! 12.4xd8 5xd8 13.5ad1m] 10...b4 11.1a2v

9.e5

9.f4 b4 10.1a4 c5!DZ

9...Nfd7 10.f4


Position after: 10.f4

10...Nb6

Trying to keep both of White’s knights occupied defending the possible outposts on d5 and c4.
10...c5 leads to some interesting play, but arguably still not good compensation for the inevitably
sacrificed b5-pawn. 11.dxc5 dxe5 12.f5 1c6 13.%xb5 1d4 14.1b3v

11.Bf3 N8d7!

Using tactics to protect the b5-pawn. If you are wondering what setup White wants if Black continues
developing sedately, look at the following line: 11...a6 12.5e1 18d7 13.a4 b4 14.1ce4 4c7 15.c4v

Position after: 11...N8d7!

12.a3

A) This move (going to h4 with the idea of a later f5 thrust) is White’s new idea, but right here it is
too early. 12.4e1 b4 13.1e2 4c7 14.1e4 1d5 15.%f2 c5DZ
B) 12.1xb5 %a6! 13.%xc6 5c8


Position after: 13...Rc8

14.%xd7 [14.d5 %xb5 15.%xb5 1xd5 16.%f2 1xf4 17.exd6 exd6DZ] 14...4xd7 15.a4 1d5 16.5f3
1xe3 17.5xe3 dxe5 18.dxe5 %xb5 19.axb5 4xb5m

12...Qc7 13.Qe1

There isn’t really a prophylactic plan available anymore and so White has to go ‘full speed ahead’ on
the kingside.

13...a5 14.Qh4 b4 15.axb4 axb4 16.Nce4 Nd5 17.Bf2 c5


Position after: 17...c5

Mass simplifications will follow. I have not been able to find any advantage for White here.

18.exd6

A) 18.f5!? dxe5 19.fxg6 hxg6 20.1g5 15f6 21.%xb7 4xb7 22.dxc5 5xa1 23.5xa1 5c8=
B) 18.c4 bxc3 19.bxc3 5xa1 20.5xa1 cxd4 21.cxd4 5a8= Material is too reduced for White’s central
bind to be of much effect.

18...exd6


Position after: 18...exd6

19.Nc4!?

This positional approach seems like the most dangerous one, forcing Black to play a couple of non-
intuitive moves.
19.f5 %xd4 20.%xd4 5xa1 21.5xa1 cxd4 22.1g5 15f6=

19...cxd4 20.Ncxd6 Rxa1 21.Rxa1 Bc6

21...5a8 22.5d1!v

22.f5 h6!=


Position after: 22...h6!=

The idea is ...g5 and ...1f4.

6.2) Independent tries after 7.h3

1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.Be2 0-0 6.0-0 c6 7.h3

Position after: 7.h3


There are three improving moves (h3, 5e1, a4) at White’s disposal. I treat them in increasing order of
flexibility.

7...Qc7 8.e5

8.%f4 Pretty much anything else lets us transpose into other material with ...e5, so this is the main
alternative. 8...1bd7 9.e5 1h5

Position after: 9...Nh5

A) 10.exd6 exd6 11.%h2 1hf6= Black is fine and can continue with ...1b6 and ...%e6. The
exception, once again, is if White plays 12.d5?! but this can be adequately met by 12...1xd5
13.1xd5 cxd5 when Black could have chances of an edge.
B) 10.%g5N Curiously, this typical move is a novelty. 10...dxe5 11.%xe7 exd4!? 12.%xf8 1xf8
13.1xd4 1f4m White is being forced into passivity by the threat of ...%xh3 and ...5d8.

8...dxe5


Position after: 8...dxe5

9.Nxe5

9.dxe5 is almost never a good idea when White does not have f4 available. 9...5d8 10.%d3 1d5
11.1xd5 cxd5 12.%f4 1d7!? The knight heads to e6 with gain of tempo and it is difficult to see how
White will get any pressure.

9...Nd5

Black cannot really allow the c1-bishop to get to f4 without trading pieces first.

10.Nxd5 cxd5


Position after: 10...cxd5

11.c3!?

An interesting sacrifice, which Black should accept.

It turns out that after 11.%f4 4b6 12.4d2 1c6 13.c3 f6! 14.1g4 g5 15.%h2 f5!ĩ

Position after: 15...f5!ƒ

followed by ...f4 and ...h6, it is difficult for White to reactivate the h2-bishop in spite of the slight


advantage machines confer upon him.

11...Bxe5

11...1c6 gives White the tempo he needs to consolidate everything: 12.1d3 %f5 13.%f4 4b6 14.b4v
with some pressure on the queenside, that can only be alleviated by Black if he consents to play with
an IQP.

12.dxe5 Qxe5 13.Bh6 Rd8 14.Re1 Nc6 15.Bb5 Qd6 16.Qe2 Be6=

Position after: 16...Be6=

White has some attacking ideas, but as of now these are quite vague and he must also look out for
Black liquidating the centre with ...d4.

6.3) 7.Re1 Nbd7 8.a4

1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.Be2 0-0 6.0-0 c6 7.Re1

This is more useful than 7.h3 as far as preparing moves go.

7...Nbd7


Position after: 7...Nbd7

8.a4

A) 8.%f4 In this version I suggest following a Petroff-esque plan mentioned in the notes to 7.%f4.
8...4c7 [The nuanced 8...4a5!? has been suggested as well.] 9.e5 1h5 10.%g5 f6 11.exf6 exf6
12.%e3 d5

Position after: 12...d5


 Here Black is not forced to play ...f5 first (unlike the lines where White played 4d2 instead of 5e1)
because his knight on h5 is not in danger of being trapped.
A1) 13.1h4 1f4 14.%xf4 4xf4 15.g3 4d6 16.%d3 1b6 [16...f5!?w] 17.1xg6 hxg6 18.%xg6Ů
Velicka, P – Konopka, M Zlin 1998
A2) 13.4d2 f5 14.%h6 1hf6 15.%xg7 .xg7 16.%d3 1e4DZ This is a reasonable Stonewall position
for Black.
B) 8.e5!? White wants to offer the standard sacrifice e5-e6, in arguably its best version yet. 8...dxe5
9.dxe5 [9.1xe5 1xe5 10.dxe5 4xd1 11.5xd1 1d7 12.f4 f6= does not promise anything] 9...1d5
10.1xd5 cxd5

Position after: 10...cxd5

11.4d4!? [If White liquidates the centre Black should be okay: 11.4xd5 1xe5 12.4c5 b6 13.4e3
1g4 14.4f4 1f6 15.4h4 %b7=; 11.%f4 1c5 12.4d2 %g4 13.h3 %xf3 14.%xf3 e6= This is a very
sound structure for Black.] 11...e6 12.%d3 b6 Black is prepared to play ...f6 in many lines, and can
otherwise play for ideas such as ...a5 and ...%a6.
C) 8.%f1 is the main move, but let’s just see what happens if White doesn’t follow it up with the
right prophylaxis. 8...e5 9.%e3 1g4! A move that should be almost automatic in this line. 10.%g5
4b6


Position after: 10...Qb6

11.h3 [11.%e7 5e8 12.%xd6 exd4 13.1a4 4d8w] 11...exd4 12.1a4 4a5 13.hxg4 4xa4 14.%e7 5e8
15.%xd6 1b6= Black has very fluent development and should not be worried about anything.
D) 8.h3 4c7 Now White is somewhat at a loss for constructive moves to play other than a4, and
should transpose to material covered elsewhere.

8...Qc7!

I dislike the positions which arise after 8...e5 9.dxe5 dxe5 10.4d6v.


Position after: 8...Qc7!

9.a5

A) If White wants to play the bishop to e3, it makes sense to preface that with a4 at some stage. We
will see another version in subchapter 6.6. 9.%e3 e5 [9...b6 is another playable possibility.] 10.dxe5
dxe5 11.a5 5d8 The canonical way to redeploy the pieces. The d7-knight will come to e6. 12.4b1
1f8 13.4a2 %e6 14.%c4?! b5! 15.axb6 axb6 16.4b3 b5 17.%xe6 1xe6w Hracek, Z – Shirov, A
Pardubice 1994

Position after: 17...Nxe6³

B) The position after White has played all three improving moves, i.e. that after 9.h3, is discussed in
subchapter 6.7.

9...e5 10.d5

10.%f1 5e8 11.d5 is another implementation, but with White’s bishop not on c4 I would have few
reservations about playing 11...cxd5 12.1xd5 1xd5 13.4xd5 1f6=.

10...cxd5 11.exd5 a6 12.Nd2 b5 13.axb6 Nxb6=

Black does not have major problems in this position.


Position after: 13...Nxb6=

6.4) 7.Re1 Nbd7 8.Bf1 e5

1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.Be2 0-0 6.0-0 c6 7.Re1 Nbd7 8.Bf1

Position after: 8.Bf1

The most common move. In my opinion, it is less accurate to hold back on a4. Not because Black
wants to play ...b5 (he can’t), but because a5 is a more productive use of time than %f1.


8...e5! 9.a4

By contrast to the 8.a4 lines, White cannot really claim an advantage after 9.dxe5 dxe5 because the
f1-bishop would need to spend another tempo to get to c4. The typical 10.4d6 5e8 11.%g5 h6 12.%h4
g5 13.%g3 1h5= gives Black equality at the very least.

9...exd4! 10.Nxd4 Nc5

Position after: 10...Nc5

11.f3

The critical 11.a5 will be seen next.

A) 11.%g5 stops ...d5, but only temporarily: 11...4b6! 12.5b1 5e8 13.a5 4c7 14.f3 1e6DZ
B) 11.%f4 5e8 12.f3 d5! Black equalises and avoids the IQP, although the position is a bit dull.
13.exd5 5xe1 14.4xe1 1xd5 15.%e5 1e6=
C) 11.b4?! Interestingly, attacking the knight gives Black a significant possibility based on not
moving it! This move leaves the c3-knight undefended and the long diagonal open. 11...1g4!


Position after: 11...Ng4!

12.f3 [12.bxc5? 4h4–+; 12.h3 1xf2 13..xf2 4f6+ 14.1f3 4xc3Ů; 12.%e3 1xe3 13.5xe3 1e6w]
12...1e6 13.1ce2 1xd4 14.1xd4 c5 15.1b3 %e6 16.fxg4 %xb3 17.5a3 %e6w Black has a better
structure.

11...d5!

In this line White can avoid having to take on d5, but Black nevertheless gets good counterplay by the
simple expedient of placing a knight on e6 and pushing ...f6.


Position after: 11...d5!

12.e5 Ne8 13.f4 Nc7 14.Be3 f6!?

14...15e6 15.1xe6 %xe6 16.%c5 5e8DZ

15.Nxc6 bxc6 16.Bxc5 Rf7 17.exf6 Qxf6 18.g3 Ne6©

Position after: 18...Ne6©

Between the pressure on the kingside and that on the b-file, Black has more than enough
compensation.

6.5) 7.Re1 Nbd7 8.Bf1 e5 with 11.a5

1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.Be2 0-0 6.0-0 c6 7.Re1 Nbd7 8.Bf1 e5 9.a4 exd4! 10.Nxd4
Nc5 11.a5!?


Position after: 11.a5!?

Just as in the last chapter, this space-grabbing move is a strong contender for White’s attention.

11...Re8

A normal enough move, and best, but now Black’s knight can’t go to c7; this is why I think 11.a5 is
White’s best.
11...d5 12.e5 1fd7 13.b4 1e6 14.1xe6 fxe6 15.f4v White is developing an annoying bind on the
dark squares.

12.f3 d5


Position after: 12...d5

13.e5

13.%e3?! should have been met in Hernandez Onna, R – Rizouk, A Balaguer 2003 by 13...dxe4N
14.1xc6 bxc6 15.4xd8 5xd8 16.%xc5 exf3 17.5ad1 %f5 18.5xd8+ 5xd8 19.gxf3 1d7w when
White’s structural deficiencies are the more worrying.

13...Nh5!

I am less convinced by a line like 13...1fd7 14.f4 1f8 15.a6! which gives White major strategic
gains. It is then easy to fall into a bind: 15...1ce6 16.axb7 %xb7 17.1b3 a5?! 18.%e3v.


Position after: 18.Be3²

14.b4

14.%e3 5xe5 15.1xc6 bxc6 16.%xc5 1f4DZ

14...Ne6

Position after: 14...Ne6


Black has to seek a combative solution.

15.Na4!?

This principled move leads to some fascinating lines, but I’m cutting them down for want of space.
15.1xe6 5xe6 16.f4 Threatening to trap the wayward knight on h5 with help of the g-pawn.

Position after: 16.f4

16...%f8 [I initially tried to pursue 16...f6 17.f5! 5xe5 18.g4! before realising that White often
sacrifices back the piece to gain an edge.] 17.4d4 5e8DZ Black stands ready to play ...%f5, ...1g7-e6
and ...h5.

15...Nef4! 16.g3 Nh3+ 17.Bxh3 Bxh3 18.f4 f6 19.a6„


Position after: 19.a6„

6.6) 7.a4 Qc7 8.h3

1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.Be2 0-0 6.0-0 c6 7.a4!?

The point of this move is just to play very simple positions with dxe5. Ruling out ...b5 is more useful
from that perspective than developing the c1-bishop to a square where it might, in any case, end up
being attacked. Therefore this move is intuitive and strong.

7...Qc7


Position after: 7...Qc7

My rule of thumb for Black in this line is surprisingly simple: if White’s 7th move hits the e5-square,
then play ...1bd7, otherwise play ...4c7.

8.h3

The last remaining mix (other than all three of 5e1, h3 and a4 together, which I will come to next) is
a4 with h3.
8.a5
A) 8...e5 9.dxe5 dxe5 10.%e3 5d8 [10...1h5 11.g3v] 11.4c1 1bd7 12.%c4 1f8


Position after: 12...Nf8

13.1g5v was already better for White in Nunn, J – McNab, C Marbella 1982, although he later lost.
B) 8...1bd7 9.5e1 5b8 10.%g5 White can try and continue claiming that 5e1 is more useful than h3
(as compared to the main line) but it is something of a false economy. 10...e5 11.%f1 h6 12.%e3
exd4 13.%xd4 b5 14.axb6 axb6=

8...Nbd7

A) 8...e5 9.dxe5 dxe5 10.%c4v

B) 8...a5 9.%f4 1a6 10.4d2v

9.a5


Position after: 9.a5

9...Rb8!

Black can afford to take things slow and leave the a-file before later contesting it again, in the best
tradition of the main line Ruy Lopez. There are no forced lines here but let me just use the standard
plan of %e3, 4d2, %h6 to illustrate what Black should be doing now. Essentially, he should remain
flexible unless a piece appears on f4, in which case he should attack it!
9...e5 10.dxe5 dxe5 11.%e3 5d8 12.4b1! 1f8 13.4a2v is an issue: White has the surprising threat of
%b6.

10.Be3 e6 11.Qd2 b5 12.axb6 axb6 13.Bh6 Bb7

White’s attack is not that serious, and counterplay with ...c5 or ...b5 can come quite quickly.

14.g4 b5=


Position after: 14...b5=

6.7) Lines with all three of a4, h3 and Re1

1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.Be2 0-0 6.0-0 c6 7.Re1 Nbd7 8.a4 Qc7!

Position after: 8...Qc7!

9.h3


All three useful moves one after the other!
Now Black can’t wait anymore. Note that 9...5b8 is completely pointless when it doesn’t threaten
...b5.
However, as indicated in the last subchapter, after 9.a5 I think Black should play 9...5b8, intending
...e6, ...b5 etc.

9...e5 10.dxe5

A) 10.%e3 5e8 11.dxe5 dxe5 12.%c4 1f8 Black has managed to regroup in good time. An example
of how to play from here is: 13.4c1 %e6 14.1d2 1h5 15.1e2 f5!? 16.%xe6+ 1xe6 17.exf5 gxf5
18.1g3 4f7ĩ Obolenskikh, D – Shomoev, A Novokuznetsk 2013.
B) 10.%g5 cannot possibly compare favorably to the versions in the last chapter where White hasn’t
already taken a tempo out to play h3. For instance, 10...5e8= would be an almost exact transposition
to subchapter 5.7 but with White having played h3 in place of 4d2.

10...dxe5 11.Bc4 Nc5!

Position after: 11...Nc5!

A move that fits well with ...%e6, or ...1e6-d4, or the slower ...a5.

12.Qe2 Ne6 13.Be3 Nh5=

Black probably has a few moves that equalise, but this one did the job in Rozentalis, E – Czerwonski,
A Warsaw 2015.


Conclusion to Chapter 6
By contrast to the other quiet systems White can play that start with 3.1f3, the Classical Pirc is not
one of the most challenging. The body of theory attached to it is not so huge as to prohibit inclusion
in a repertoire book (like, for instance, a Benoni transposition would be) but it can also be somewhat
daunting. I would still advise you to dive into it, avoiding the ‘cop-outs’ like 6...e6, and develop a
sense for how to handle these positions where counterplay is obtained by means of ...b5, or ...e5, but
rarely both.


 Part III
Systems Chess

Chapter 1
The 4.Bc4 Variation

1.e4 g6 2.d4 Bg7 3.Nf3 d6 4.Bc4

Chapter Guide

Chapter 1 – The 4.Bc4 Variation

1.e4 g6 2.d4 %g7 3.1f3 d6 4.%c4 1f6 5.4e2 0-0

1.1) Minor lines after 6.e5 1e8
1.2) 6.e5 1e8 7.%g5!?
1.3) 6.e5 1e8 7.0-0
1.4) Minor lines after 6.0-0 %g4
1.5) 6.0-0 %g4 7.e5!
1.6) The improved version: 6.0-0 1c6

Introduction to Chapter 1


4.%c4 is a perennial favourite of players who are not trying to win miniatures, but just want a safe
system with White that makes Black work for equality. In Part I we saw a game I played with the
‘Hippo’ approach 4...e6, but I consider it ultimately unreliable. While the Modern as itself isn’t an
‘equalizing opening’ like the Berlin, why should we not take the chance if one is presented to us?
White has only one consistent continuation after Black plays the logical 4...1f6, the move I
recommend. Thus the main branching point occurs after 4...1f6 5.4e2 0-0, and the two serious tries
for an advantage are 6.e5 and 6.0-0.
In lines 1.1) through 1.3) I discuss the move 6.e5, which looks very aggressive. However, unlike its
cousins in, for instance, the Austrian Pirc (see Part IV) the basis of the move is central play rather
than a direct attack on the king with h4-h5. One of the lines which I expect to take off in popularity is
the system with 7.%g5 (line 1.2), threatening the extremely straightforward exd6. Black can choose to
play solidly, but against such a rare line I don’t feel the need to provide an alternative and so my
selected answer is an extremely dynamic one. By contrast, the main move 7.0-0 is not especially
challenging and it doesn’t compare well with the lines in the second half of the chapter.
The second half of the chapter also contains quite fresh insights, but this time relating to how Black
should play rather than White. The standard recommendation has been that Black play 6.0-0 %g4,
indicating willingness (if not outright desire) to yield the bishop pair by taking on f3. I myself have a
fixation with ...%g4xf3 manoeuvres that borders on the unhealthy, but in this case I have reined in the
tendency. Therefore, my main recommendation is something else. Line 1.4) illustrates the ideas of
6...%g4 (and can be skipped if you just want to construct a repertoire.) Then, in 1.5) I show what is
wrong with the move and why White should be quite happy with the positions arising from 6...%g4
7.e5. Finally, in 1.6) I recommend 6...1c6, the critical test of which is obviously also 7.e5.

1.1) Minor lines after 6.e5 Ne8

1.e4 g6 2.d4 Bg7 3.Nf3 d6 4.Bc4 Nf6


Position after: 4...Nf6

In my opinion, 4...e6 is a valid move, but following the accurate 5.%b3! White is doing well. For
more details see Hebden – Fernandez in Part I.

5.Qe2

A) 5.1c3 Not a lot of people play this, and for good reason. If we compare it with the main line of
the Pirc, 5.%c4 is also an unpopular move there. This fact suggests how we should play against the
line: 5...0-0 6.0-0 1xe4!


Position after: 6...Nxe4!

7.1xe4 [7.%xf7+ 5xf7 8.1xe4 h6=] 7...d5 8.%d3 dxe4 9.%xe4 1d7! Black is not content with a
passive Caro-like setup and instead wants to play ...c5 in a single move. 10.c3 c5 11.%c2 cxd4
12.1xd4= Vitiugov, N – Dubov, D St Petersburg 2017
B) 5.e5 is a little premature and after a normal continuation like 5...dxe5 6.1xe5 0-0 7.0-0 c5!?
8.dxc5 1bd7= Black has no problems.

5...0-0 6.e5

Position after: 6.e5

White may also castle here and that move is covered later in the chapter.

6...Ne8!

I gave details of why I consider 6...dxe5 7.dxe5 1d5 8.h3 %e6 9.0-0 1d7 10.%d2!v to be better for
White in my ChessPublishing annotations.


Position after: 6...Ne8!

7.Nbd2!?

For readability, I’ll deal with 7.%g5 and 7.0-0 in the next subchapters and just briefly give two
alternatives here:
A) 7.h3 c5 8.c3 1c7 9.dxc5 d5! 10.%d3 1d7 11.0-0 1xc5 12.%c2 b6=
B) 7.1c3 c6 8.0-0 d5 9.%d3 %g4 10.h3 %xf3 11.4xf3 1c7 12.1e2 c5 13.c3 1c6=

7...c5!?


Position after: 7...c5!?

This is the principled move, though Black can play various other things.

8.dxc5 d5!?

It seems that the straightforward 8...1c6 9.exd6 exd6 10.0-0 dxc5 11.1e4 %g4! 12.c3 1e5= would
also equalise, but it’s a little unambitious since we’re just playing a symmetrical position with very
marginally slower development.

Position after: 8...d5!?


9.Bd3

9.%b3 a5! 10.c3 [10.a4 1a6 11.4e3 1ec7 12.0-0 1e6= Black is taking back the c5-pawn.] 10...a4
11.%c2

Position after: 11.Bc2

11...b6!? [11...4c7 12.0-0 4xc5= is also possible.] 12.cxb6 4xb6 13.1d4 1c6 14.12f3 1xd4
15.1xd4 1c7m With ...1e6 or ...%a6 next and decent compensation for Black.

9...Nc7


Position after: 9...Nc7

10.0-0

10.b4 a5 11.c3 axb4 12.cxb4 1e6w would be overextending for White.

10...Nca6 11.c3

White can’t keep defending all the pawns forever. For example, 11.4e3 4c7 12.1b3 %g4 13.c3 %xf3
14.4xf3 e6= followed by ...%xe5, with interesting play.

11...Nxc5 12.Bc2


Position after: 12.Bc2

At this point I must admit that the move I chose in the game Sorensen – Fernandez Ulcinj 2019 is not
a reliable way to equalize. Nevertheless, I think it’s instructive to follow that game.

12...Bg4

12...1c6N A more sensible alternative, keeping the option of ...%g4 as well as other ideas like ...d4 or
...b6.

13.h3 Bxf3 14.Nxf3 Qc7


Position after: 14...Qc7

15.Bf4

15.%e3!? e6 16.1d2!? 4xe5! I think this move is forced because otherwise White can play the very
annoying f4, shutting out my bishop for a long time. Now there are complications but Black is doing
okay: 17.4b5 b6 18.%xc5 bxc5 19.4b7

Position after: 19.Qb7


19...4e2 [19...5d8 20.4xa8 4c7∞ traps the queen] 20.4xa8 4a6 21.%a4! 4xa4 22.4b7 4d7
23.4xd7 1xd7m Black is fine in this ending.

15...Ncd7

Position after: 15...Ncd7

16.Bb3

White is tied down to the e5-pawn, so can’t really claim to stand better yet. For instance 16.5fe1 1c6
17.g3 e6 18..g2 a6 19.h4 h5!? 20.a4 5fc8DZ and it’s hard to come up with a further plan while Black
is ready to play ...b5.

16...e6 17.c4 dxc4 18.Bxc4 Nc6 19.Rfe1 Rfd8


Position after: 19...Rfd8

20.Rac1

20.5ad1?! 1dxe5! works tactically for Black.

20...a6!? 21.b4 Nb6

21...1xb4!? 22.%xe6 1c5 23.%c4 b5∞

22.Bb3 Nd5 23.Bd2 Qb6 24.a3


Position after: 24.a3

24...a5N

As I wrote on ChessPublishing after the game, this is the way to go. Since I have already given
several playable alternatives for Black there is no reason to delve into this line too deeply, so I will
just give the main variation.
24...5ac8?! The game move, which was too passive. 25.4e4 1ce7 26.h4v

Position after: 26.h4²


This is the kind of position you will see often playing the Modern. Black’s tricks have petered out and
I was left playing against the bishop pair and the centre, although later I won when my opponent
attacked a bit too eagerly.

25.b5 Nd4 26.Nxd4 Qxd4 27.Bg5 a4!! 28.Bxd8 axb3 29.Bc7 Nxc7 30.Rxc7 b2∞

Position after: 30...b2∞

The far-advanced pawn offers Black full compensation.

1.2) 6.e5 Ne8 7.Bg5!?

1.e4 g6 2.d4 Bg7 3.Nf3 d6 4.Bc4 Nf6 5.Qe2 0-0 6.e5 Ne8!

We have just seen some sidelines that White can play. In this subchapter I’ll deal with the next most
critical attempt, which is the curious 7.%g5. My recommendation will be a fighting option which is
not the best equalising try, but is also not clearly worse.


Position after: 6...Ne8!

7.Bg5!?

This very direct move (the idea is exd6, %xe7) is oddly difficult to meet.

7...d5 8.Bb3

8.%xd5 4xd5 9.%xe7 1c6 10.%xf8 %xf8w

Position after: 8.Bb3


8...a5

In the only(!) practical example of 7.%g5 in my database, Black proceeded with 8...c6 9.1bd2 1c7?!
10.4e3 1e6 11.%h6 a5 12.a4 c5 13.%xg7 cxd4?? 14.4h6 and was unceremoniously mated in Hamad,
A – Wajdy, S Teheran 2007.

9.a4 f6 10.Bf4

10.%h4 I wrote before that this gives White less options, but this is a bit disingenuous because the
move clearly does have one plus point: ...fxe5 will not come with tempo. However, I think Black can
still get dynamic equality in the following line, which definitely needs further investigations.

Position after: 10.Bh4

A) 10...fxe5
A1) 11.h3 The computer suggests this as a possibility, but it’s rather too deep for me since Black
wasn’t often intending to play ...%g4 anyway. 11...%f6 12.%xf6 exf6 13.dxe5 fxe5 14.4xe5 c6=


Position after: 14...c6=

An interesting position: all Black’s pieces are still on the back rank on move 14, but they are
primed to go to very good squares quite soon, and it’s not clear that the bishop on b3 wouldn’t be
better on f1!
A2) A quick check shows that after 11.1c3 c6 12.1xe5 5f4 13.%g5 5xd4w White doesn’t have
compensation for the pawn, and the rook is perfectly safe on squares like d4 and b4.
A3) 11.dxe5 c6 12.1bd2 1c7 13.0-0 1ba6= This is a very piece-play-heavy position, but the plan
is more or less as follows: play ...1c5, reinforce with ...b6 if strictly necessary, consider taking on
b3 if possible, and then decide where to put the c8-bishop (a6, f5 or g4.)
A4) 11.1xe5 The most obvious move and also, it seems, the best. 11...%f6 12.%g3 1c6 13.c3
1xe5


Position after: 13...Nxe5

White is just not quick enough to consolidate before Black changes the structure. 14.dxe5
[14.%xe5 b6=] 14...%h8 15.1d2 1g7 Past this point I don’t see a reason to investigate the position
too deeply, as the line has simply never been played. (However, I do think it is one of the most
critical branches of this 4.%c4 system, so that might change.) Black wants to win the bishop pair
just as the position is starting to open up, for instance: 16.h4 [16.0-0-0 1h5= is fine for Black]
16...c6 17.0-0-0 b5 18.axb5 a4 19.%a2 e6 20.bxc6 4b6∞

Position after: 20...Qb6∞


 Both sides are attacking.
B) It’s also possible to enter some quite messy lines beginning with 10...1c6 11.1c3 [11.h3!?]
11...g5∞
C) Meanwhile, 10...%g4 is not good enough after the accurate 11.1bd2! fxe5 12.h3v when the
bishop-pair should be an important factor.

10...Nc6!

I would hesitate to recommend 10...g5 11.%g3 g4!? 12.1h4

Position after: 12.Nh4

for Black, but if you investigate it and are satisfied, then of course it is playable against 10.%h4 as
well.
A) 12...fxe5?! This move by Tiger is not a completely stupid idea, but for a practical game it may
just be the wrong side of risky. 13.dxe5 [13.%xe5 1c6! 14.1c3 1xe5 15.dxe5 c6ĩ] 13...c6 14.c4ǭ
B) 12...c5 In what follows, White will often play with not one but two pieces sidelined. 13.1c3 e6
Here the specific line that bothers me is 14.exf6 1xf6 15.0-0 c4 16.%a2v when despite the fact that
White has two pieces condemned to the edges of the board, it still seems rather difficult to prove
equality. White can arrange b3 and/or f3 later.


Position after: 10...Nc6!

11.Nc3

11.4e3 g5 Now this works better than it did before. 12.%g3 g4 13.1h4 [13.1fd2 fxe5 14.dxe5 5f5ĩ]
13...e6 14.f4! gxf3 15.1xf3 1e7DZ

11...fxe5

Position after: 11...fxe5


12.Bg5

A) 12.dxe5 is an interesting drawing line: 12...5xf4 13.1xd5 5xf3 14.1xe7+ .h8 15.1xc6

Position after: 15.Nxc6

15...bxc6 [Or: 15...5xf2 16.4xf2 bxc6 17.4f7 1d6! 18.exd6 4h4+ with perpetual check.] 16.4xf3
%a6 17.4xc6 4d4 18.4xa8 4xe5+ 19..d1 4d4+=
B) On low depth the computer gives the flimsy idea 12.%xd5+ e6 13.%xc6?! The issue with this is
that Black can afford not to worry about the knight fork on c7. [13.%g5 1xd4 14.1xd4 4xg5
15.1xe6 %xe6 16.%xe6+ .h8 17.0-0 1d6=] 13...5xf4 14.%xe8 exd4 15.1b5 4xe8!w

12...Bg4 13.Bxd5+ Kh8


Position after: 13...Kh8

14.Bxc6

14.dxe5 1d4 15.4d3 1xf3+ 16.gxf3 %xf3 17.%xf3 4xd3 18.cxd3 5xf3w

Position after: 18...Rxf3³

14...bxc6 15.0-0-0∞

In this messy position it is risky to give any evaluation, but I think Black has enough activity to


compensate for the terrible structure.

1.3) 6.e5 Ne8 7.0-0

1.e4 g6 2.d4 Bg7 3.Nf3 d6 4.Bc4 Nf6 5.Qe2 0-0 6.e5 Ne8! 7.0-0 c5!?

This move doesn’t leave White with a lot of choice.

8.dxc5 dxe5

Position after: 8...dxe5

9.Nc3

A) I wouldn’t worry too much about a line like 9.1xe5 4d4 10.1f3 4xc5 11.5e1 1c6 12.c3 1c7
as White usually only has an advantage in this structure if Black has already played ...%g4xf3.
B) 9.5d1 4a5 10.4e3 1d7!=

9...Nc6 10.Rd1 Qa5 11.Be3 Bg4


Position after: 11...Bg4

12.a3

The critical move.

A) 12.h3 1d4! It is important not to take on f3 immediately, because then White gains options to do
with 4xb7. Whereas here, after 13.%xd4 exd4 14.1e4 it is Black who can consider an extra option:
keeping his light-squared bishop with 14...%f5!?DZ
B) 12.1e4 1f6 13.1xf6+ exf6 14.h3 %xf3 15.4xf3 f5ĩ

12...Nd4!? 13.Bxd4 exd4


Position after: 13...exd4

14.b4

14.1e4 1f6! 15.5xd4 1xe4 16.5xe4 %xf3 17.4xf3 4xc5= In this case, White’s ‘smaller’ majority is
comparatively immobile and so Black is probably even the one playing on.

14...Qd8

Position after: 14...Qd8


15.Ne4!?

A) I agree with Tiger that after 15.1b5?! b6! only White can really be in trouble, and would only
add that the move 16.c3 bxc5 17.bxc5 4a5! might be a way to bring this about.
B) 15.h3 White should probably play the safe option while he still has a chance, but Black has good
co-ordination in all lines, compensating for his less mobile majority. 15...%xf3 16.4xf3 b6

Position after: 16...b6

17.1d5!? White’s threat is to win at least a pawn, but it’s easily met. [17.1e4 5c8 18.c3 bxc5
19.%a6 5c7 20.1xc5 1d6!=] 17...5c8 [17...e6!?] 18.%a6 5b8 19.c6 e6 20.1f4 1c7 21.%c4 b5
Black has easy play.

15...Qc7 16.h3


Position after: 16.h3

White can’t really attempt to flip the move-order with 16.%d3 b6 17.h3 because Black keeps the
bishop. Do remember that you are not obligated to take on f3! 17...%f5 18.1fd2 5c8= and White’s
queenside is being undermined.

16...d3

It makes sense to accept the exchange. I would be a little bit careful about playing 16...%xf3 17.4xf3
1f6 18.1xf6+ %xf6 19.%d3= just because Black’s position is so completely devoid of ideas. White
can try and build up on the kingside and eventually break with g4.

17.cxd3 Bxf3 18.Qxf3 Bxa1 19.Rxa1 Rd8©


Position after: 19...Rd8©

White definitely has compensation for the exchange, but it isn’t clear to me that he has more than
that.

1.4) Minor lines after 6.0-0 Bg4

1.e4 g6 2.d4 Bg7 3.Nf3 d6 4.Bc4 Nf6 5.Qe2 0-0 6.0-0 Bg4

Position after: 6...Bg4


This move has historically been the main line, and it seems that Black’s doing well if White
immediately takes the offered bishop-pair. However, he is by no means forced to do so.

7.h3!?

The actual problem with 6...%g4 will be seen in the next subchapter, but on general grounds we
should check this move and understand what the idea of ...%g4 is. After all, following my
recommended 6...1c6 (subchapter 6) there will be a fair few transpositions back into this material.
A) 7.5d1 1c6 8.e5!? %xf3 9.gxf3 1d7 10.f4 1b6 11.%b5 4c8!? It is easier to play Black’s position.
B) 7.1bd2!? As after 6.e5 1e8, this is again a very sensible move. Indeed, what could be more
normal than trying to recapture on f3 with another knight? 7...1c6! [7...c6?! 8.e5 1d5 9.h3 %f5
10.exd6 4xd6?! 11.1e4v Gong, D – Fernandez, D Auckland 2020] 8.c3 e5DZ

7...Bxf3 8.Qxf3 Nc6 9.c3 e5 10.Be3 Nd7!

Position after: 10...Nd7!

Now White has to defend the d4-pawn and it has been well established that none of his methods of
doing so promise him an advantage.

11.Qd1

11.5d1 .h8! 12.1a3 f5 A strong recommendation from Tiger in the second edition of his book.
13.exf5 gxf5 14.1c2 e4 and Black gets decent counterplay.

11...Nb6! 12.Bb5 exd4 13.cxd4 f5 14.exf5 gxf5 15.f4!?=


Position after: 15.f4!?=

White needs to lock down the kingside and this is the way to do it. However, Black has enough
squares in the centre that his position is completely playable.

1.5) 6.0-0 Bg4 7.e5!

1.e4 g6 2.d4 Bg7 3.Nf3 d6 4.Bc4 Nf6 5.Qe2 0-0 6.0-0 Bg4 7.e5!

Position after: 7.e5!


This is the move which I consider makes 6...%g4 an inferior choice against a prepared opponent.

7...dxe5

This is the move everyone recommends (including myself in the past!) but I did look briefly at
alternatives.
A) It is possible to consider ideas like 7...1e8 8.1bd2 d5 but it should be clear that White obtains a
good version of the positions from subchapter 1.
B) I did try and make this line work starting with 7...1h5 but on principle it is not so clever to try
and fight the bishop-pair in an open position. I think White is better after for instance 8.1bd2v.

8.dxe5 Nd5 9.Nbd2 Nb6

Position after: 9...Nb6

10.h3!

A) 10.%d3 1c6 11.h3 1d4 gives White nothing.

B) Likewise 10.%b3 1c6 11.e6 f5!DZ is fine for Black.

10...Nxc4

Black doesn’t have time to flick in some intermezzo like ...1d4 before taking on f3!
10...%xf3 11.1xf3 1xc4 12.4xc4 4d7v is similar to the main line.

11.hxg4 Nxd2 12.Bxd2 Nc6 13.Bc3


Position after: 13.Bc3

This is a bit uncomfortable for Black to play as both his minor pieces are marginally less mobile than
their opposite numbers. Also, in some cases the half-open h-file can work against him.

13...e6

Another example: 13...4d5 14.5fd1 4c5 15.5d7 5ad8 16.5ad1 e6 17.a3v Hernandez Carmenates, H
– Arencibia Rodriguez, W Merida 2004.

14.Rad1

After 14.g5 a6 15.5ad1 4e7 16.4e4 5fd8 17.a3 5xd1 18.5xd1 5d8 19.5d3= White’s play had been
neutralised in Smith, A – Hillarp Persson, T Ronneby 2018.

14...Qe7 15.Nd2N

15.4c4 5fd8 16.g3 5xd1 17.5xd1 5d8 18.5e1 5d5 19..g2= Sammed Jaykumar, S – Sandipan, C
Mumbai 2018

15...Rfd8 16.f4 Rd5 17.Ne4²


Position after: 17.Ne4²

Black faces a tricky defence.

1.6) The improved version: 6.0-0 Nc6

1.e4 g6 2.d4 Bg7 3.Nf3 d6 4.Bc4 Nf6 5.Qe2 0-0 6.0-0 Nc6

Position after: 6...Nc6


7.e5!?

This is the critical test.

A) 7.1bd2 e5! There is no reason now to play ...%g4. In general ...%g4 is a bad idea if White has
developed his queen’s knight on d2. Also, in general Black can consider ...e5 against other random
moves by White, for instance 7.c3 or 7.h3.
B) 7.5d1 %g4 transposes to 6...%g4 7.5d1 1c6 in subchapter 4.

7...Nd7 8.e6!

This is very obviously the most challenging move White can play. In other cases ...1b6 will come
with tempo, enabling Black to unravel and reach a good Alekhine.
8.5d1!? White has nothing here. 8...1b6! [I would really prefer not to play 8...dxe5 9.dxe5 1cxe5
10.1xe5 %xe5 11.1c3m when Black is very much under attack.] 9.%b5 %g4 10.h3 %xf3 11.4xf3
4d7 12.exd6 cxd6=

Position after: 12...cxd6=

Threatening ...1xd4. In many cases Black can also play ...a6, ...e6, ...d5 and claim that his bishop is
superior to (either of) White’s. Cernousek, L – Navara, D Slovakia 2020

8...Nb6 9.exf7+ Kh8 10.Bb3


Position after: 10.Bb3

Now Black has two options, of which the main line below is more ambitious.

10...Nxd4!?

10...%g4 11.c3 e5

Position after: 11...e5

12.dxe5 [12.d5 1a5 13.h3 %xf3 14.4xf3 4d7 also recoups the f7-pawn with a fine position]


12...1xe5 13.1bd2 1xf7 14.h3 %d7 15.1e4 4e7 16.5e1 5ae8 17.4f1 1e5 18.1xe5 4xe5 19.%d2
4f5= Black had no problems at all in Satyapragyan – Deepan Chakkravarthy, Bhopal 2017.

11.Nxd4 Bxd4

Position after: 11...Bxd4

12.Nd2!

The bishop is not well placed on d4 and White should think about how to gain tempo off it in the
optimal manner.
With that in mind, 12.c3 is selling the tempo a bit cheaply. 12...%f6 13.%h6 %g7 14.%g5 %f6 15.h4
[15.%h6 %g7 16.%g5 was a draw by repetition in Gachet, S – Solodovnichenko, Y Barcelona 2009,
but probably White was not justified in playing on anyway.] 15...%xg5 16.hxg5 e5 17.f4 exf4 18.5xf4
4xg5DZ White’s far-advanced f7-pawn can just as easily turn into a weakness, especially if the
diagonal along which it is supported by White’s bishop suddenly closes.

12...e6


Position after: 12...e6

13.Ne4

13.1f3 %f6 14.%h6 5xf7= This position is still quite complex, but in general the limit of White’s
ambitions tends to be regaining the pawn on e6, leaving fairly sterile equality.

13...Rxf7 14.Ng5

14.4g4 %g7 15.1g5 5e7 16.1xh7!? .xh7 17.%g5 .g8DZ


Position after: 17...Kg8„

14...Rf8 15.c3!

After 15.1xe6 %xe6 16.4xe6 4e8ĩ Black’s better development is starting to become a worry for
White.

15...Bf6 16.Nxe6 Qe7!

Position after: 16...Qe7!

Black may still give up the bishop-pair later, but it must be on his terms. For example:

17.Re1 Re8 18.Kf1 Bxe6 19.Qxe6 Qxe6 20.Bxe6 c6=

With ...d5 coming, there is nothing to suggest that this is a position where the bishop pair is especially
useful.
Conclusion to Chapter 1
The 4.%c4 line is not an especially worrying try for an advantage, but due to its popularity one does
have to have an answer in mind. In my opinion, there are problems with the conventional
recommendations and so I have revised them. Through the chapter there also runs a slightly more
abstract thread: in what positions is ...%g4xf3 an acceptable manoeuvre, and where does it just lead to
a disadvantage? For people who enjoy playing adventurous answers to 1.e4 from the Black side
(Alekhine, Pirc, Modern, Scandinavian) and even the more mainstream Caro-Kann, this is a very
important question to consider.


 Chapter 2
Other bishop-move systems

1.e4 g6 2.d4 Bg7 3.Nf3 d6

Chapter Guide

Chapter 2 – Other bishop-move systems

1.e4 g6 2.d4 %g7 3.1f3 d6

2.1) 4.%d3 e5 (5.dxe5 dxe5 6.0-0 1c6, replies other than 7.b3)
2.2) 4.%d3 e5 5.dxe5 dxe5 6.0-0 1c6 7.b3!?
2.3) 4.c3 1f6 5.%d3 0-0 6.0-0 c5 7.5e1
2.4) 4.c3 1f6 5.%d3 0-0 6.0-0 c5 7.h3
2.5) 4.1c3 a6 5.%e2

Introduction to Chapter 2
In some ways, this chapter is the highlight of the whole book for the rare White player who has
purchased it! Pretty much every 1.e4 player (sometimes secretly) thinks that it must be possible to get
a small, safe advantage against the Modern. After the disappointments of the previous chapter,
therefore, here is the official manual of how to do so. But alongside that (since this is a repertoire
book for Black), some less critical lines will of course also be covered.


Every single one of the systems covered in this part of the book (“Systems Chess”) has its
disadvantages for White. Sometimes that’s opening the d-file (e.g. 3.1f3 d6 4.c4), sometimes it’s
closing the d-file (4.%d3), and sometimes it’s exposing the bishop to a future ...d5 (4.%c4). In 2.1) and
2.2) I explore how Black can equalise following 4.%d3 e5. Therefore the answer to the existential
conundrum of which developing move White should make first after 3.1f3 d6 seems to be 4.c3. True,
this does take away a square from the queen’s knight, but I think there is more than adequate
compensation for that factor in that Black now lacks information about what to do in the centre and
on the queenside.
Furthermore, after the obvious ...1f6 White can protect the e4-pawn with a single move (5.%d3) that
doesn’t get in the way of anything else, and which now no longer has the drawback of allowing ...e5.
My answer to this system from the Black perspective is simply to seal up the position by playing both
...c5 and ...e5, leading to a position where understanding is more important than the official
evaluation. In 2.3) I explore some move-order ideas for White, and then in 2.4) I take a detailed look
at the structure, using practical examples played with the most probable order from which it may
arise. While White is officially ‘better’, the game becomes long and full of manoeuvring from both
sides, akin to what happens in the Chigorin Ruy Lopez.
Finally, line 2.5) has to do with a related system in which the bishop is developed to e2. The common
thread is that White wants to develop the light-squared bishop quickly and get castled on the kingside.
This would be a very thick book indeed if I considered every possible permutation (e.g. 3.%e3 d6
4.%e2 does not get a look in) but the critical ways of playing with %e2 arise after 3.1f3 d6 on moves
4 and 5. Following 4.%e2 I recommend 4...1f6 5.1c3 c6 (see the chapters on the Classical Pirc)
whereas after 4.1c3 a6 5.%e2 I think it is best to play 5...1d7. This move retains some flexibility; in
particular there is the option of playing a ‘Hippo’ structure, which is discussed in more detail in the
next chapter.

2.1) 4.Bd3 e5 (5.dxe5 dxe5 6.0-0 Nc6, replies other than 7.b3)

1.e4 g6 2.d4 Bg7 3.Nf3 d6


Position after: 3...d6

4.Bd3

We need to understand this move for what it is: White wants to get a good Alapin system in which
Black has foregone his ideas of ...1f6 as well as ...d5.

4...e5!

This is essentially the only way to break White’s rhythm.

5.dxe5

5.d5 is not an especially clever way of entering a KID structure. Black can play, for instance, 5...1e7
6.0-0 h6 7.c4 0-0 8.1c3 1d7DZ

5...dxe5


Position after: 5...dxe5

6.0-0

A) 6.%g5 tends to just end up gifting Black time in these lines, e.g. 6...1e7 7.0-0 1bc6 8.1c3 h6
9.%e3 0-0=.
B) In the case of a quiet game, such as the one after 6.1bd2 1d7 7.0-0 1gf6 8.b3 0-0 9.%b2 5e8

Position after: 9...Re8


 Black should generally be fine. There is nothing White can do about ...b6 and ...%b7 completing
development.

6...Nc6

Position after: 6...Nc6

I think the best move is this quite straightforward one, creating useful ideas of ...1d4 in many
variations. With an essentially symmetrical structure and no really forcing lines or pawn breaks (with
the possible exception of ...f5 after castling), the focus switches to making one’s piece play as
efficient as possible.

7.Qe2

White has ideas of stirring up trouble along the d-file.

A) 7.h3!? An understandable attempt to curb Black’s ideas based on ...%g4. But the presence of the
pawn on h3 immediately means that he can play for ...1h5-f4 instead. 7...1f6 8.4e2 0-0 9.5d1
%e6=
B) 7.%b5 4xd1 8.5xd1 [8.%xc6+ 4d7!w] 8...1ge7 Black is not really in trouble in this position.
C) 7.c3 1f6 8.4c2 0-0 9.5d1 4e7 10.b3 5d8! 11.%a3 4e8=
D) The highest-profile test of this line continued quietly: 7.1c3 1ge7 8.h3 0-0 9.b3 h6 10.%a3 %e6


Position after: 10...Be6

Maybe now White wished he had taken the idea of ...1d4 seriously. 11.%b5 1d4! 12.1xd4 exd4
13.1e2 c6 14.%d3 4c7 15.f4 f5 16.%xe7 4xe7 17.e5 c5 18.a4 5ad8 19..h2 g5DZ Duda – Andreikin
St Petersburg 2018

7...Bg4

The immediate threat is ...1d4.

8.c3 Qf6 9.Nbd2


Position after: 9.Nbd2

9...h5!?

An idea borrowed from the Exchange Ruy Lopez!

9...%h6 is also possible: 10.h3 %xf3 11.1xf3 %xc1 12.5axc1 1ge7 13.5cd1 0-0v

Position after: 13...0-0²

and Black’s position is worse but solid.


10.Rd1

10.h3 is actually a waste of time since Black will take on d2 and f3 when it suits him anyway. The
exception is if White wants to move his queen out of the pin: 10...%h6 11.4e1?! %xf3 12.1xf3 g5!ĩ

10...Bh6 11.b4 Nge7 12.a4 g5 13.Nf1 Ng6„

Position after: 13...Ng6„

2.2) 4.Bd3 e5 5.dxe5 dxe5 6.0-0 Nc6 7.b3!?

1.e4 g6 2.d4 Bg7 3.Nf3 d6 4.Bd3 e5! 5.dxe5 dxe5 6.0-0 Nc6 7.b3!?

This is a somewhat distinctive idea; White does not normally fianchetto either bishop in the Modern!
(Some exceptions will be seen in the next chapter. ) In particular, the move cues up a queen sacrifice.


Position after: 7.b3!?

7...Nf6

A) 7...a6!? This is an interesting order in my opinion, playing a very useful waiting move and asking
White to commit his c1-bishop before taking further action.

Position after: 7...a6!?

A1) After 8.%a3 Black can play ...1f6 transposing to an earlier note, or go rogue with 8...g5!?DZ.


 A2) 8.a4 Maybe not the most intuitive move on general grounds, but White has some plans in
mind.

Position after: 8.a4

8...1f6! The knight has to be committed, but now this is okay. [8...1ge7 9.c3 0-0 10.4c2v
followed by %a3 and 1bd2 is annoying compared to the versions where White has already spent a
tempo on %b2.] 9.%a3 [9.%b2 1h5= follows the usual pattern of these lines.] 9...1h5 10.1c3 1f4
11.1d5 %g4! [11...1xd5 12.exd5 4xd5 13.4e1v is a much more dangerous gambit idea than it
might seem at first sight.]
A3) 8.1bd2 g5!?DZ
A4) 8.%b2 Indicating that White most likely will not play c3, and so Black can play to get a knight
to d4, and probably also for long castling and ... g5: 8...1ge7 9.1bd2 f6 10.1c4 %e6 11.1e3
4d7DZ


Position after: 11...Qd7„

The computer thinks this is fine, but I am a little bit skeptical because of how easily White trades
his ‘bad’ bishop. Feel free to play either way.
B) 7...1ge7v is all very well, but Black would ideally like the knight to go to f4 against a queenside
fianchetto from White, and this move doesn’t help with accomplishing that.

Position after: 7...Nf6

8.Bb2!


8.%a3 is similar but more committal and yet not putting enough pressure on e5. Black can play
circumspectly, e.g. 8...a6 9.1c3 %f8 10.%b2 %g7 11.%c4 4xd1 12.5axd1 %g4=

8...Nh5!

This is what Black wants to play.

A) 8...a6 Personally, I don’t like this move by the computer because White gains the possibility of a
queen sacrifice. 9.1xe5! [9.1bd2 1h5= and Black is completely fine.] 9...1g4! This is the point,
and yet White can ‘fall for the trap’.

Position after: 9...Ng4!

10.1xc6!? [10.1c4 %xb2 11.1xb2 4d6 12.g3 4f6 13.c3 h5ǭ Black’s kingside pressure is
becoming unpleasant.] 10...4h4 11.4xg4!! %xg4 12.%xg7 5g8 13.%e5 bxc6 14.%xc7∞


Position after: 14.Bxc7∞

Objectively this position is about balanced, but the result of a practical game will depend hugely on
the players’ styles.
B) 8...0-0 9.1xe5! [9.1bd2 1h5=] 9...1xe5 10.%xe5 5e8 11.%c3v Maybe Black can somehow take
back the pawn, but he will still be worse.

9.Bb5


Position after: 9.Bb5

This is the only ‘interesting’ continuation, against everything else Black can continue in the normal
way with ...a6 or ...1f4. But objectively, White should avoid this move and the follow-up as it is now
him fighting to stay equal.

9...Bd7! 10.Bxc6

A) 10.1bd2 4e7 11.1c4 0-0-0DZ

B) 10.1c3 0-0 [10...a6!?] 11.1d5 5e8=

10...Bxc6 11.Qxd8+ Rxd8

Position after: 11...Rxd8

At first sight this position looks worrying in a tactical sense, but then you realize that White actually
has no way to take advantage.

12.Bxe5!

Only this capture keeps equality.

12.1xe5?! %xe4 13.f3 [13.5e1 0-0w works as in the main line] 13...%xc2 14.1a3 %d3! 15.5fd1 Now
it seems Black has to give back the pawn and continue playing with compromised pieces, but there is
a remarkable save: 15...0-0!! 16.1xd3 [16.5xd3 %xe5 17.5xd8 %xb2Ů] 16...5xd3w

12...Bxe5 13.Nxe5 Bxe4 14.Na3


14.5e1 0-0!=

14...0-0 15.Rae1 Bd5

Position after: 15...Bd5

Now White can’t even win a pawn on the queenside:

16.Nb5 c6=

2.3) 4.c3 Nf6 5.Bd3 0-0 6.0-0 c5 7.Re1

1.e4 g6 2.d4 Bg7 3.Nf3 d6 4.c3!?


Position after: 4.c3!?

In my opinion, this is the very best of White’s tries within the realm of independent 3.1f3 systems
(therefore, not 4.1c3 or 4.%e3.) I tried for a very long time to find a route to equality for Black, and
was simply unable to. So the problem is rather how we can make the advantage as difficult to prove
as possible.

4...Nf6

After considering the different trade-offs, it seems that Black should nevertheless opt for this move.
After all, I don’t believe in ...e6 and ...1e7 even as a response to 4.%c4, which means there is no
other place this knight can go. Furthermore, although 4.c3 is genuinely a very flexible move, White
has still ruled out one very important option of his, i. e. 1c3.
A rather interesting, but decidedly less solid, approach is 4...e5!? 5.dxe5 dxe5 6.4xd8+ .xd8 and
here I think White attains an edge with the simple 7.%c4v (though other, more refined moves are also
possible.) The key message is that 4.c3 is not 4.c4 and Black can’t get the same counterplay when
White has no structural weaknesses.


Position after: 4...Nf6

5.Bd3

5.e5?! dxe5 6.1xe5 1bd7 7.1d3 0-0 8.%e2 This kind of line would be great for White if he had in
fact prevented ...c5 and ...e5. Unfortunately Black can play both and then obtain a game which is
decidedly not worse at all. 8...c5! 9.1xc5 [9.dxc5 e5 10.0-0 e4 11.1f4 1xc5 12.%e3 b6w] 9...1xc5
10.dxc5 4c7 11.0-0 4xc5 12.1d2 4c7=

Position after: 12...Qc7=


White’s majority is still immobile and the endgame is not in sight. Meanwhile Black’s development
plans are clear.

5...0-0 6.0-0 c5

The eventual point of this move, in both this subchapter and the next, is to head for a closed position
where White cannot make headway on the queenside.
6...1bd7 7.5e1 e5 is another way to accept being slightly worse.

Position after: 6...c5

7.Re1!?

Now the main move (next subchapter) is h3 but it is sensible to ask whether White can economise on
playing that.
7.d5 Of the various ways White can enter a Benoni structure after Black plays a Modern, this is not a
favourable one. White will be one tempo down following 7...e6 8.c4 exd5 9.cxd5= and this is exactly
the tempo Black needs to play something forcing such as ...b5 or ...c4.

7...Nc6

After 7...cxd4 8.cxd4 1c6 9.h3! followed by 1c3, %e3 etc. it is very difficult to see Black coming up
with a coherent plan for getting counterplay.

8.d5 Na5


Position after: 8...Na5

9.b4

This seems to be the only move that leads to drastically different play, and it’s quite forcing so we
should investigate it.
A) The engine suggests 9.1a3 to un-trap the rook in the corner. Since b4 is now a threat, Black
should probably play 9...b6 10.5b1 e6 11.c4 e5 when we reach a similar structure to the next
subchapter.
B) 9.c4 e5 is also similar, though Black can additionally consider playing 9...a6 instead. The idea of
that is to encourage White to play a4, which in turn makes his queenside play a lot slower.

9...cxb4 10.cxb4 Nd7 11.e5 Nxe5 12.Nxe5 Bxe5 13.Rxe5 dxe5


Position after: 13...dxe5

14.Bh6

A) After the less accurate 14.bxa5 4xd5= Black should not be worse.
B) 14.1c3 b5! This line illustrates why it’s advantageous to insert 14.%h6, and why ...5e8 would
not be a good answer to that. 15.bxa5 b4DZ

14...Qxd5 15.Bxf8 Kxf8 16.bxa5 Bf5 17.Be2 Qxa5²


Position after: 17...Qxa5²

This material balance has the potential to be confusing, even if right now we might prefer to play with
the piece.

2.4) 4.c3 Nf6 5.Bd3 0-0 6.0-0 c5 7.h3

1.e4 g6 2.d4 Bg7 3.Nf3 d6 4.c3!? Nf6 5.Bd3 0-0 6.0-0 c5 7.h3

Position after: 7.h3

This move initiates a line which I actually consider to be one of the most dangerous from Black’s
perspective.

7...Nc6

7...d5 8.e5 1e4 9.5e1 leaves the core problem of the c8-bishop unresolved. 9...%f5 [9...1c6 10.1bd2
cxd4 11.cxd4 f5 12.exf6 1xf6 13.%b5v and White switches to the standard anti-French ‘dark-square
blockade’ schema.] 10.c4! cxd4 11.cxd5 4xd5


Position after: 11...Qxd5

Black is forced into an unsatisfactory piece sacrifice. 12.g4! 1xf2 13..xf2 %xd3 14.4xd3v

8.d5

8.5e1 is also valid, for instance: 8...e5 9.dxc5 d5?! 10.1bd2 a5 11.a4 5e8 12.4c2 h6 13.exd5 4xd5
14.%c4 4xc5 15.4xg6u Zhigalko, S – Naiditsch, A Riyadh 2017. Therefore Black should prefer
8...cxd4 transposing into the previous subchapter.

8...Na5


Position after: 8...Na5

White can play for a queenside bind.

9.c4!

9.1bd2 b6 10.5e1 e5 11.dxe6 %xe6 12.1g5 %c8= Black had more or less equalised, although he later
lost anyway in Clarke, B – Movsziszian, K, Isle Of Man 2019.

Position after: 9.c4!


9...e5

The lesser evil here is the ‘Slow/Delayed Benoni’ structure.

A) On principle one would like to play 9...a6 10.1c3 b5 but the queenside play ends up getting
bogged down: 11.cxb5 c4 12.%c2 axb5 13.a3!v [13.1xb5 1b3 is okay for Black.]
B) 9...e6 10.1c3 exd5 11.exd5v is well-known to be the poor cousin of the Benoni structures where
White has been forced to take with the c-pawn.

10.Nc3 Bd7 11.a3 b6 12.b4 Nb7

Position after: 12...Nb7

We have reached the basic structure that I recommend for Black in almost every sub-variation of this
4.c3 complex. Since the goal in this line is not to prove equality but rather get a pleasant position with
known plans, I shall continue at some length with sample variations that hopefully will be of some
use in assessing positions from this subchapter and the previous one.

13.Be3

This is the cloud engine choice and a very sensible move. White wants %c2-a4 but retains some
flexibility for one move. Also, playing the moves in this order it’s more convenient to defend the c4-
pawn with 1d2 if need be.
A) 13.5b1


Position after: 13.Rb1

13...1h5 [Another, more committal, plan is 13...cxb4 14.axb4 a5DZ followed by playing on the dark
squares; also interesting is 13....h8 14.5e1 1g8 15.%f1 h6 16.g3 4c8 17..h2 1e7v and Black is
ready to play ...f5.] 14.5e1 .h8 15.%f1 5g8 16.g3 4f8 17.1g5 5e8?! 18.1b5 %xb5 19.cxb5 5e7
20.%e2 1f6 21.4d3 Black ended up just being quite passive in Van Mil, J – Szalanczy, E Budapest
1991, and at the end of an unenjoyable struggle he lost.
B) The more efficient way to play the above plan is probably 13.5e1 h6 14.%f1 but there is still no
need to panic. Black can play, for example, 14...1h7 with the idea of ...f5.
C) If White plays 13.%c2 immediately then there could be concerns about the c4-pawn: 13...4c7!?
14.1d2 %h6DZ.

13...Nh5 14.Bc2


Position after: 14.Bc2

This seems like a positionally well-motivated approach: after all, in the KID we are always told that
%e2-g4 neutralises Black’s attack completely. However, the truth here is a bit different. White lacks
any real way of making progress on the queenside even after the bishop trade, and so Black has a
whole lot more time to work with.

14...f5!

A) 14...1f4 15.%a4 %xa4 16.4xa4 f5 17..h2 [17.exf5! 5xf5 18.1d2v is quite a clean plus] 17...h6
18.4c2 1h5 19.5ac1 5f7 20.4e2 f4DZ Schmittdiel, E – Odendahl, R Germany 2014
B) 14...h6!? is possible, but not strictly necessary.

15.exf5

15.%a4 1f6 16.%xd7 4xd7 17.1g5 5fc8DZ Reminding White that his c4-pawn can also be a target!

15...gxf5 16.Bd2

Whenever you play ...f5 there’s always a worry about 1g5, but in this case 16.1g5 1f4!∞ looks
completely fine for Black.

16...Qe8„


Position after: 16...Qe8„

2.5) 4.Nc3 a6 5.Be2

1.e4 g6 2.d4 Bg7 3.Nc3 d6 4.Nf3 a6 5.Be2

Position after: 5.Be2

This system belongs to the 4.%d3/4.c3 chapter, because it has the same idea of developing the light-
squared bishop quickly and castling short as soon as possible.


The similar 3.1f3 d6 4.%e2 is covered in the section on Pirc transpositions, because I believe that
there Black should play 4...1f6 5.1c3 c6.

5...Nd7

Position after: 5...Nd7

In some sense, we have to regard the text as a concession. Black has foregone ...b5 for at least one
move, and this has some consequences. Instead 5...b5 6.0-0! does well for White, as was pointed out
to me by the Belgian FM Helmut Froeyman.

6.0-0

Discouraging both ...c5 and ...b5.

A) Let’s look at the first interesting move-order quirk relating to Black not having played ...b5 yet.
6.%e3!? b5 No more delay! [After the absolutely natural 6...c5?! GM Negi Parimarjan demonstrated
an advantage for White after 7.%c4! cxd4 8.1g5!v.]