For White· 9 lines

London System - Chigorin Variation 2...Nc6

Position after 10. O-O

Main line

The chapter's main line, with the comments from the course.

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bf4
Our bishop lands on the perfect square, keeping all our options open. Black's knight jump to c6 shows up all the time in online games.
3... Bf5 4. c4
With Black's bishop already committed to f5, our c4 plus Qb3 combo puts serious pressure on b7. Same tactical theme from the main lines, Black has to defend a pawn that should be safe.
4... e6
Black blocks in the center. We get a great setup after the trade: grab the pawn on c4, castle, and push for e4 with Qe2 and Rfd1 backing it up. Once e4 lands, d5 opens attacking lines against their queen.
5. cxd5
We fix the structure immediately.
5... exd5 6. Nc3 Nf6 7. e3
Next comes Bd3 and castling. Black chooses between Be7, Bd6, or the pin with Bb4.
7... Bb4
Black pins our knight, Ragozin-style.
8. Bd3
We trade bishops and head for castling.
8... Bxd3 9. Qxd3 O-O 10. O-O

The free lines of this chapter, each one trainable move by move.

Main Line
1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bf4 Bf5 4. c4 e6 5. cxd5 exd5 6. Nc3 Nf6 7. e3 Bb4 8. Bd3 Bxd3 9. Qxd3 O-O 10. O-O
3...Nf6
1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bf4 Nf6
3...Bg4
1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bf4 Bg4 4. e3 Nf6
3...Bg4
1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bf4 Bg4 4. e3 e6 5. h3 Bh5 6. c4 Nf6 7. c5 Be7 8. Bb5 O-O 9. Nbd2 a6 10. Bxc6 bxc6 11. Qa4 Qd7 12. Ne5
3...e6
1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bf4 e6 4. e3 Bd6 5. Bg3 Nf6 6. c4
3...f6
1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bf4 f6 4. c4 e5 5. cxd5 Qxd5 6. Nc3 Bb4 7. dxe5
3...f6
1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bf4 f6 4. c4 dxc4 5. Nc3
4...dxc4
1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bf4 Bf5 4. c4 dxc4 5. Nc3
4...Nb4
1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bf4 Bf5 4. c4 Nb4 5. Qa4+ Nc6 6. cxd5

The trainer plays the opponent's moves and waits for yours, line by line. Free to start.