1. d4
d5 for Black
Assuming you are Black and the game has started
1.d4 d5,
there are 14 main White systems that you have to defend against.
1.
Queen’s Gambit with Bg5
!""""""""#
$
+ +l+ +%
$+
+ + + %
$
+ + + +%
$+
+o+ B %
$
+pP + +%
$+
N Pn+ %
$pP
+ PpP%
$R
+qKb+r%
/(((((((()
(to which I
recommend the Cambridge Springs Defence)
2.
Queen’s Gambit with e3 (without Bg5)
!""""""""#
$
+ +l+ +%
$+
+ + + %
$
+ + + +%
$+
+o+ + %
$
+pP + +%
$+
N Pn+ %
$pP
+ PpP%
$R
BqKb+r%
/(((((((()
(to which I recommend the Meran System)
3.
Queen’s Gambit Harrwitz Attack
!""""""""#
$
+ +l+ +%
$+
+ + + %
$
+ + + +%
$+
+o+ + %
$
+pP B +%
$+
N + + %
$pP
+pPpP%
$R
+qKbNr%
/(((((((()
(Note that
White may play cxd5 and transpose into the
Queen’s Gambit Exchange variation with Bf4)
4.
Queen’s Gambit Exchange Variation
I have
prepared a defensive system against this opening.}
!""""""""#
$
+ +l+ +%
$+
+ + + %
$
+ + + +%
$+
+o+ + %
$
+pP + +%
$+
+ +nP %
$pP
+ PbP%
$RnBq+rK
%
/(((((((()
{Note that
this IS a frequently played line, -
there are 5000
games on my database so it
must be
prepared against fully}.
!""""""""#
$
+ +l+ +%
$+
+ + + %
$
+ + + +%
$+
+o+ + %
$
+ P P +%
$+
PbPn+ %
$pP
N +pP%
$R
Bq+rK %
/(((((((()
{Note that
this is extremely common in the Huddersfield League}
7.
Colle (/Zukertort) System
!""""""""#
$
+ +l+ +%
$+
+ + + %
$
+ + + +%
$+
+o+ + %
$
+ P + +%
$+
PbPn+ %
$pP
N PpP%
$R
Bq+rK %
/(((((((()
{Note that White may fianchetto his Queen Bishop, and not play c3 [Zukertort]. White will attack with the e4 break.
I have
prepared a defensive system against this opening.}
8.
London System
!""""""""#
$
+ +l+ +%
$+
+ + + %
$
+ + + +%
$+
+o+ + %
$
+ P B +%
$+
PbPn+ %
$pP
N PpP%
$R
+q+rK %
/(((((((()
{Note that this is a Colle system with the Bishop outside the pawn chain.)
9.
Blackmar Diemer Gambit
!""""""""#
$tMvWlVmT%
$OoO
OoOo%
$
+ + + +%
$+
+o+ + %
$
+ Pp+ +%
$+
+ + + %
$pPp+
PpP%
$RnBqKbNr%
/(((((((()
{It is said that every master has been whupped at least once with this opening. It is a fearsome weapon in the hands of a good attacking player. It is essential to know a good defence. More books have been written about this opening than any other opening
I have prepared a document on this opening.)
10.
Sarratt Attack
!""""""""#
$tMvWlVmT%
$OoO
OoOo%
$
+ + + +%
$+
+o+ + %
$
+ P B +%
$+
+ + + %
$pPp+pPpP%
$Rn+qKbNr%
/(((((((()
{Note that this will normally transpose into one of the other 4 Bf4 systems – but it may not ! However, move order is important here. As always, Black must be alert to all transpositional possibilities.}
11.
Trompovski
!""""""""#
$tMvWlVmT%
$OoO
OoOo%
$
+ + + +%
$+
+o+ B %
$
+ P + +%
$+
+ + + %
$pPp+pPpP%
$Rn+qKbNr%
/(((((((()
{Note that the Bg5 attack has been all the rage in recent years being a favourite of Julian Hodgeson, Michael Adams and other GM’s.
I have
prepared a document on this opening.)
12.
Torre Attack
!""""""""#
$tMvWlV
T%
$OoO
OoOo%
$
+ + M +%
$+
+o+ B %
$
+ P + +%
$+
+ +n+ %
$pPp+pPpP%
$RnBqKb+r%
/(((((((()
{This
is very similar to the Trompovski)
13.
Veresov
!""""""""#
$tMvWlVmT%
$OoO
OoOo%
$
+ + + +%
$+
+o+ + %
$
+ P + +%
$+
N + + %
$pPp+pPpP%
$R
BqKbNr%
/(((((((()
{White
threatens e4.
I have
prepared a document on this opening}
14.
Barry Attack
!""""""""#
$
+ +l+ +%
$+
+ + + %
$
+ + + +%
$+
+o+ + %
$
+ P B +%
$+
N +n+ %
$pPp+pPpP%
$R
+qKb+r%
/(((((((()
{Rare you
would think – but still hundreds on my database.
It is similar
to the Veresov}