{"id":2559,"date":"2023-07-03T10:26:37","date_gmt":"2023-07-03T10:26:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/forwardchess.com\/blog\/?p=2559"},"modified":"2023-07-03T10:26:38","modified_gmt":"2023-07-03T10:26:38","slug":"a-complete-opening-repertoire-for-black-v2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/forwardchess.com\/blog\/a-complete-opening-repertoire-for-black-v2\/","title":{"rendered":"A Complete Opening Repertoire for Black after 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6! &#8211; Volume 2 by Dariusz Swiercz"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>One of the most daunting parts of learning a new opening is choosing the best lines, keeping up with new theoretical developments, and understanding what is important and what is not. In the latest release, <a href=\"https:\/\/forwardchess.com\/product\/a-complete-opening-repertoire-for-black-after1.d4-nf62.c4-e6--volume2--ragozin-and-anti--catalan\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><em>A Complete Opening Repertoire for Black after 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6! &#8211; Volume 2 &#8211; Ragozin and Anti-Catalan<\/em><\/a>, author <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Dariusz_%C5%9Awiercz\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Dariusz Swiercz<\/a> simplifies this entire process for the reader by offering aggressive yet concrete lines for Black against 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 <strong>3.Nf3<\/strong> and<strong> 3.g3<\/strong>.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The first highly reviewed book in this series, <a href=\"https:\/\/forwardchess.com\/product\/a-complete-opening-repertoire-for-black-after1.d4-nf62.c4-e6--volume1--nimzo--indian?section=Search\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><em>A Complete Opening Repertoire for Black after 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6! &#8211; Volume 1 &#8211; Nimzo-Indian<\/em><\/a>,  covers <strong>3.Nc3 Bb4<\/strong> offering an in-depth look at the Nimzo-Indian Defense for Black.\u00a0Now the author rounds off the complete repertoire for Black against 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 by analyzing the Ragozin (1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 Bb4) and the Anti-Catalan (1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 with 3.Nf3 and 3.g3 lines). <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Let&#8217;s take a look at what these openings are about, and what the book has to offer!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Ragozin<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The Ragozin is a dynamic line in the Queen&#8217;s Gambit Defense. It has seen a surge in popularity, largely due to top-level grandmasters (such as Carlsen!) employing it in their games, making it one of the top choices for Black. The move order is quite flexible, which is one of its most appealing factors, but the main position looks like this:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<p class=\"rpbchessboard-spacerBefore\"><\/p>\n\n<div id=\"rpbchessboard-6adf67fdb95fa-1\" class=\"rpbchessboard-chessboard rpbchessboard-diagramAlignment-center\">\n    <noscript>\n        <div class=\"rpbchessboard-javascriptWarning\">\n            You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess diagram visualization.        <\/div>\n    <\/noscript>\n    <div class=\"rpbchessboard-chessboardAnchor\"><\/div>\n    <script type=\"text\/javascript\">\n        jQuery(document).ready(function($) {\n            var selector = '#' + \"rpbchessboard-6adf67fdb95fa-1\" + ' .rpbchessboard-chessboardAnchor';\n            RPBChessboard.renderFEN($(selector), {\"position\":\"rnbqk2r\\\/ppp2ppp\\\/4pn2\\\/3p4\\\/1bPP4\\\/2N2N2\\\/PP2PPPP\\\/R1BQKB1R w KQkq - 2 5\",\"squareSize\":32,\"coordinateVisible\":true,\"turnVisible\":true,\"colorset\":\"original\",\"pieceset\":\"cburnett\"});\n        });\n    <\/script>\n<\/div>\n\n<p class=\"rpbchessboard-spacerAfter\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>From here, White has a few options which the book analyzes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Sidelines<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><strong>5.Bf4<\/strong> a rare move, allowing Black to capture on c4<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>5.a3 <\/strong>also a rare move, forcing the capture on c3. Black follows this up with c5!<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>5.Qc2<\/strong> a position that can also arise from the Nimzo Indian. Here the author gives the dynamic 5&#8230;c5 hitting the center in the true Ragozin style.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>5.e3<\/strong> followed by 6.Bd2 a slower and steadier approach for White. Black develops via b6 with ideas of &#8230;c5.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>5.Qb3 <\/strong>White immediately challenges Black&#8217;s bishop, forcing action in the center. The typical &#8230;c5 idea for Black comes into play again.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Mainlines<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><strong>5.Qa4+ <\/strong>an attacking move that forces 5&#8230;Nc6. From here, White has many options:\n<ul>\n<li>6.g3, 6.Bd2, 6.Ne5, 6.Bg5, 6.a3, 6.e3<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>5.Bg5 <\/strong>maintains tension in the center, and after 5&#8230;h6 White needs to decide between: \n<ul>\n<li>6.Bd2, 6.Bh4, 6.Bxf6<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>5.cxd5<\/strong> releases tension in the center, and after Black captures with 5&#8230;exd5, White continues development with:\n<ul>\n<li>6.Bg5, 6.Bf4, 6.Qa4+<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Anti-Catalan<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The Catalan can be quite flexible as White has a few subtle move order variations, making it a reliable opening choice. White plays d4 and c4, fianchetto&#8217;s the light-squared bishop to g2, and aims for long-term pressure rather than an outright attack. Therefore, the Catlan is considered to be quite positional and tends to lead to technical endgames.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The book covers the following move orders:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Catalan with Nc3: <\/strong>1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.g3 Bb4+ 5.Nc3 0-0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n\n<p class=\"rpbchessboard-spacerBefore\"><\/p>\n\n<div id=\"rpbchessboard-6adf67fdb95fa-2\" class=\"rpbchessboard-chessboard rpbchessboard-diagramAlignment-center\">\n    <noscript>\n        <div class=\"rpbchessboard-javascriptWarning\">\n            You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess diagram visualization.        <\/div>\n    <\/noscript>\n    <div class=\"rpbchessboard-chessboardAnchor\"><\/div>\n    <script type=\"text\/javascript\">\n        jQuery(document).ready(function($) {\n            var selector = '#' + \"rpbchessboard-6adf67fdb95fa-2\" + ' .rpbchessboard-chessboardAnchor';\n            RPBChessboard.renderFEN($(selector), {\"position\":\"rnbqk2r\\\/ppp2ppp\\\/4pn2\\\/3p4\\\/1bPP4\\\/2N2NP1\\\/PP2PP1P\\\/R1BQKB1R b KQkq - 2 5\",\"squareSize\":32,\"coordinateVisible\":true,\"turnVisible\":true,\"colorset\":\"original\",\"pieceset\":\"cburnett\"});\n        });\n    <\/script>\n<\/div>\n\n<p class=\"rpbchessboard-spacerAfter\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Catalan with Nbd2:<\/strong> 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 d5 4.Bg2 Bb4+ 5.Nd2<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n\n<p class=\"rpbchessboard-spacerBefore\"><\/p>\n\n<div id=\"rpbchessboard-6adf67fdb95fa-3\" class=\"rpbchessboard-chessboard rpbchessboard-diagramAlignment-center\">\n    <noscript>\n        <div class=\"rpbchessboard-javascriptWarning\">\n            You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess diagram visualization.        <\/div>\n    <\/noscript>\n    <div class=\"rpbchessboard-chessboardAnchor\"><\/div>\n    <script type=\"text\/javascript\">\n        jQuery(document).ready(function($) {\n            var selector = '#' + \"rpbchessboard-6adf67fdb95fa-3\" + ' .rpbchessboard-chessboardAnchor';\n            RPBChessboard.renderFEN($(selector), {\"position\":\"rnbqk2r\\\/ppp2ppp\\\/4pn2\\\/3p4\\\/1bPP4\\\/6P1\\\/PP1NPPBP\\\/R1BQK1NR b KQkq - 3 5\",\"squareSize\":32,\"coordinateVisible\":true,\"turnVisible\":true,\"colorset\":\"original\",\"pieceset\":\"cburnett\"});\n        });\n    <\/script>\n<\/div>\n\n<p class=\"rpbchessboard-spacerAfter\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Catalan with Bd2:<\/strong> 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.g3 Bb4+ 5.Bd2<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n\n<p class=\"rpbchessboard-spacerBefore\"><\/p>\n\n<div id=\"rpbchessboard-6adf67fdb95fa-4\" class=\"rpbchessboard-chessboard rpbchessboard-diagramAlignment-center\">\n    <noscript>\n        <div class=\"rpbchessboard-javascriptWarning\">\n            You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess diagram visualization.        <\/div>\n    <\/noscript>\n    <div class=\"rpbchessboard-chessboardAnchor\"><\/div>\n    <script type=\"text\/javascript\">\n        jQuery(document).ready(function($) {\n            var selector = '#' + \"rpbchessboard-6adf67fdb95fa-4\" + ' .rpbchessboard-chessboardAnchor';\n            RPBChessboard.renderFEN($(selector), {\"position\":\"rnbqk2r\\\/ppp2ppp\\\/4pn2\\\/3p4\\\/1bPP4\\\/5NP1\\\/PP1BPP1P\\\/RN1QKB1R b KQkq - 2 5\",\"squareSize\":32,\"coordinateVisible\":true,\"turnVisible\":true,\"colorset\":\"original\",\"pieceset\":\"cburnett\"});\n        });\n    <\/script>\n<\/div>\n\n<p class=\"rpbchessboard-spacerAfter\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As you can see, the book shows a variety of move orders that White has, but we generally reach the same type of position.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"290\" src=\"https:\/\/forwardchess.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/image-1024x290.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2593\" srcset=\"https:\/\/forwardchess.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/image-1024x290.png 1024w, https:\/\/forwardchess.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/image-300x85.png 300w, https:\/\/forwardchess.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/image-768x217.png 768w, https:\/\/forwardchess.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/image-150x42.png 150w, https:\/\/forwardchess.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/image.png 1289w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Including Bb4+ for Black in all lines, makes this a repertoire that will be easy to learn and remember. Black has many ideas, and the reader will have a comfortable start to every game!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Sidelines<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Furthermore, the book also delves into QGD sidelines:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>3.Nf3 d5 4.e3<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>3.Nf3 d5 4.Bg5<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>3.Bf4<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>3.Bg5<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>3.g4<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>3.d5<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/forwardchess.com\/product\/a-complete-opening-repertoire-for-black-after1.d4-nf62.c4-e6--volume2--ragozin-and-anti--catalan\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/forwardchess.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Books-98.png\" alt=\"A Complete Opening Repertoire for Black after 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6! - Volume 2 by Dariusz Swiercz\" class=\"wp-image-2582\" width=\"310\" height=\"392\" srcset=\"https:\/\/forwardchess.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Books-98.png 392w, https:\/\/forwardchess.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Books-98-237x300.png 237w, https:\/\/forwardchess.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Books-98-150x190.png 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 310px) 100vw, 310px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-layout-1 wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-white-color has-pale-pink-background-color has-text-color has-background wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/forwardchess.com\/sample\/a-complete-opening-repertoire-for-black-after1.d4-nf62.c4-e6--volume2--ragozin-and-anti--catalan\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>View Free Sample<\/strong><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:40px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">About the Author<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Dariusz \u015awiercz is Polish-American Grandmaster and an experienced repertoire author, having written two opening series;  <a href=\"https:\/\/forwardchess.com\/products?search=The+Modernized+Ruy+Lopez\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">The Modernized Ruy Lopez<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/forwardchess.com\/products?search=+A+Complete+Opening+Repertoire+for+Black+after+1.d4+Nf6+2.c4+e6%21+\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">A Complete Opening Repertoire for Black after 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6<\/a>!, comprising of four books in total. <\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/forwardchess.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Books-2023-07-03T121327.676-1024x362.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2598\" width=\"665\" height=\"234\" srcset=\"https:\/\/forwardchess.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Books-2023-07-03T121327.676-1024x362.png 1024w, https:\/\/forwardchess.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Books-2023-07-03T121327.676-300x106.png 300w, https:\/\/forwardchess.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Books-2023-07-03T121327.676-768x271.png 768w, https:\/\/forwardchess.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Books-2023-07-03T121327.676-150x53.png 150w, https:\/\/forwardchess.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Books-2023-07-03T121327.676.png 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 665px) 100vw, 665px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<div style=\"height:11px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>His professional chess career has been a successful one as he was the youngest Polish player to attain the prestigious Grandmaster title at the age of 14 years and 7 months. He has had multiple notable international tournament successes, such as winning the Under 18 World Youth Championship, and the World Junior Chess Championship.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/forwardchess.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/12670689_1728166894063901_2365425098741215943_n.jpg\" alt=\"Dariusz Swiercz\" class=\"wp-image-2596\" width=\"605\" height=\"403\" srcset=\"https:\/\/forwardchess.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/12670689_1728166894063901_2365425098741215943_n.jpg 960w, https:\/\/forwardchess.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/12670689_1728166894063901_2365425098741215943_n-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/forwardchess.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/12670689_1728166894063901_2365425098741215943_n-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/forwardchess.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/12670689_1728166894063901_2365425098741215943_n-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/forwardchess.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/12670689_1728166894063901_2365425098741215943_n-272x182.jpg 272w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 605px) 100vw, 605px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Dariusz Swiercz. Credit: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.polonia.wroclaw.pl\/2017\/05\/darek-swiercz-zagral-spring-chess-classic\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">PoloniaWroclaw<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Table of Contents <\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Part I: Early Sidelines in the Queen\u2019s Gambit Declined<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Chapter 1 &#8211; Various Sidelines in the QGD<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Part II: The Ragozin<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Chapter 2 &#8211; Sidelines on Move 5<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Chapter 3 &#8211; 5.Qa4<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Chapter 4 &#8211; 5.Bg5<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Chapter 5 &#8211; 5.cxd5&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Part III: The Catalan<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Chapter 6 &#8211; Catalan with Nc3<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Chapter 7 &#8211; Catalan with Nbd2<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Chapter 8 &#8211; Catalan with Bd2<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:48px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-white-color has-pale-pink-background-color has-text-color has-background has-medium-font-size\"><strong>Let us know what you think in the comments below, and don\u2019t miss out on the special introductory offer!<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>One of the most daunting parts of learning a new opening is choosing the best&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":2581,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[13],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/forwardchess.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2559"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/forwardchess.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/forwardchess.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forwardchess.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/12"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forwardchess.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2559"}],"version-history":[{"count":13,"href":"https:\/\/forwardchess.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2559\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2603,"href":"https:\/\/forwardchess.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2559\/revisions\/2603"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forwardchess.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2581"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/forwardchess.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2559"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forwardchess.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2559"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forwardchess.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2559"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}