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What's trendy in Opening Theory #8 A practical Anti-Catalan weapon for Black! In this thread, I am going to share a "secret" I have kept for years 😊 Undervalued by both the engines and the theoreticians. Time to change that! Details in the thread 🧵 1/
1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.g3 dxc4 5. Bg2 Nbd7!? is considered second-rate by theory since the match Kasparov-Korchnoi,1983. Black's main strategic challenge in the Catalan, is to put the Bc8 in the long diagonal. I claim that in this line, Black can do it rather easily. 2/
6. a4 Bb4+ 7. Bd2 a5 8. O-O O-O 9. Qc2 Nb6! (a novelty) seems to be fine for Black according to the modern engines. Kramnik has also played 9...b6 in 2019, which is also OK. 3/
6. O-O! is more critical. Now, 6...c6 is a new trend, analyzed by the Indian team. I like 6...Rb8!? more, threatening ...b5. The line continues 7. a4 a6! (7... b6 8. Nfd2! Kasparov,-Kortschnoj,London 1983) 8. a5! and White has stopped ...b5. Or not? 🤔 4/
If Black plays 8... b5 9.axb6 Nxb6 10. Ne5! is strong, as the c6-square is weak. For blitz, the move 9...Bb7!? is cool, but even better is to prepare ...b5 with 8...Bd6! Now, no move stops ...b5 next 5/
The best line for both sides continues: 9.Nbd2 b5 10.axb6 Nxb6 and Black is ready to play ...O-O and ...Bb7! If the knight comes to e5, Black will exchange it with the d6-bishop. Let's see two practical examples: 👇 6/
11.Nxc4 Nxc4 12. Qa4+ Rb5! 13. Qxc4 O-O 14. Rd1 Bb7 with equality as in Eljanov-Adly, Sharjah 2018 I told you! When Black manages to play ...Bb7, equalises and has a comfortable game. A final example: 👇 7/
11.Ne5! Bxe5 12.dxe5 Nfd7 13.Qc2 Nxe5 14.Rd1 Qe7 15.b3 O-O 16.Qc3 Ned7 17. Nxc4 Nd5! 18. Qc2 Nb4 19. Qd2 Nb6 20. Ne5 c5 21. Ba3 Bb7 Jean-Deforel, ICCF 2021 Both players followed the first choice of the engines, but Black is fine! How cool is that? 😁 8/
Do you want more opening tips like that in your feed? I publish them every week. Follow me and post your own suggestions in the thread. I wrote about the Catalan because many of you asked for it! Would you consider playing the underrated 5...Nbd7 in your games? 9/
By the way, if you want to learn the Catalan for the White side, buy the book(s) of @askavrukh. His first Catalan book, literally changed the way chess theory is published!
Seconds after I published this tweet, I got a notification that @chess_dojo uploaded a video called "Why players overvalue openings" 🫣 All I am going to say is "don't believe them!" 😋