Sopiko Guramishvili - Chessable Lifetime Repertoires: Queens Gambit Accepted

[Event ?] [Site ?] [Date ????.??.??] [Round ?] [White 1. Introduction] [Black Introduction] [Result *] { The Queens Gambit Accepted arises after 1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 and is an exciting, yet very reliable and respected weapon to fight against 1.d4 and 1.Nf3!. It became the core part of my opening repertoire since 2017 when I had to prepare for the World Women Knock-out Chess Championship - my most important tournament to date. I needed something complete, yet very compact, easy to remember and juicy enough to feel ready for my games. If that is what you need as well, then you are in the right place. This opening has served me well ever since and I had continued to work on it, refining the lines further and further to keep it in good shape and battle-ready.

Join me on this journey and by the end you will come out ready to face the 1.d4 players with the wonderful QGA! } 1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 { With 2 dxc4 Black temporarily wins a pawn, but gives up the center in turn. The idea is not to try and hang on to the extra pawn til forever but instead fight against Whites pawn centre. The two main moves are 3. e4 and 3.

Nf3, but we will of course take a look at all of Whites options. } 3. e4 { This leads to very sharp play in particular because I have an exciting suggestion for you here, which involves a trendy exchange sacrifice. 3.Nf3 Usually leads to a slower game after 3Nf6 4.e3 e6 5.Bxc4 c5 6.O-O a6 I will advise this solid system. I had experimented with 6 Nc6 myself, but for this course I decided to settle on this reliable and trusted main move. White has many options here, all of which will be covered! 3.e3 likely transposes to 3.

Nf3 and has no added value for us. 3Nf6 4.Bxc4 e6 5.Nf3 c5 6.O-O a6 3.Nc3 is a natural move, but already quite inaccurate! I had to face it in a 2020 Bundesliga game. We will deal with this move too - it is going to be a joy. } 3 b5 { This is considered dubious by official theory, but they are very wrong and I will show you why! } 4. a4 c6 5. Nc3 a6 7. Nc3 a6 7.

Nxb5 axb5 8. Rxa8 Bb7 { Our repertoire is based on this exciting exchange sacrifice. You will be backed not only by my enthusiasm, but also by tons of verified high-end computer analysis, made accessible and explained throughout this course to club players and chess enthusiasts of all levels! } * [Event ?] [Site ?] [Date ????.??.??] [Round ?] [White 2. Quickstarter Guide] [Black 3. Nc3] [Result *] 1. c4 dxc4 3. c4 dxc4 3.

Nc3 { This has never had a good reputation and that seems very unlikely to change. With 3. Nc3, White doesnt gain any control over the important central squares d4-e5, he just develops. However, its not clear yet if c3 is the best square for the b1-knight as it might be a target when the b-pawn advances. } 3 a6 { With the clear intention of b5. a4 { This is just dubious. a4 { This is just dubious.

White stops b5, but generally the a4-a6 inclusion is in Blacks favour as White weakens the b3 and b4 squares. Nevertheless after Nc3, most games continued with 4. a4. You can find other white tries in this chapter. } 4 Nc6 { A multipurpose move. } 5. } 5.

Nf3 { White successfully defended his d4-pawn, but does he stop e5? } 5 e5 { The answer is no! Black successfully breaks in the centre and grabs the initiative. } * [Event ?] [Site ?] [Date ????.??.??] [Round ?] [White 2. Quickstarter Guide] [Black 3. Nf3 Nf6, 4th Move Sidelines #1] [Result *] 1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nf3 Nf6 4.

Qa4+ { White wants to regain the pawn on c4 as fast as possible. } 4 Nc6 { Black has many ways to meet this check, however I think 4 Nc6 is the most precise one. As weve already met Nc6 and e5 ideas a few times, it will be easier for us to remember because here we can go for the same plan. } 5. Nc3 { White postpones taking on c4 and develops the knight to support e4. } 6. } 6.

Qxc4 Ndb4 { Threatening a fork on c2. } 7. Qb3 { The only sensible way to avoid Nc2+. } 7 Be6 8. Qa4 { Threatening to play a3 when Nd5 will be answered by e4. } 8 Bd7 9.

Qd1 e5 { Once again, we are ready to sacrifice a pawn for the initiative. } 10. dxe5 { 10.Nxe5 Nxd4 } 10 Bf5 { Threatening Nc2+. } 11. Bg5 f6 { Keeping the tension. exf6 gxf6 { Once again, 12Nc2+ 13.Qxc2 Bxc2 14.fxg7 Bxg7 15.Bxd8 +- } 13. e4 { The only way to escape from Nc2+. } 13 fxg5 14. exf5 g4 { The position is very sharp, but Black has everything under control. } 15. } 15.

Nd2 { Taking on d8 would only help Black, as the Nc2+ threat would be renewed. } 15 Qe7+ 16. Nde4 Rd8 { Next is Rd4 and White has big problems to solve. } * [Event ?] [Site ?] [Date ????.??.??] [Round ?] [White 2. Quickstarter Guide] [Black 3. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nf3 Nf6 4.

Nc3 { The second most popular choice after 4. e3. White wants to take control over the central squares and keep the option of going e4. } 4 a6 { Preparing b5 to comfortably defend the c4-pawn. } 5. } 5 b5 6. e5 { If 6.a4 b4 } 6 Nd5 7. a4 e6 { 7b4 8.Nxd5 Qxd5 9.Qc2 and White grabs the initiative and regains the pawn on c4. } 8. axb5 Bb4 { 8Nb6 is an easier line but its likely to lose a pawn for compensation. axb5 Bb4 { 8Nb6 is an easier line but its likely to lose a pawn for compensation.

For example 9.Be2 Bb7 10.bxa6 Rxa6 11.Rxa6 Nxa6 12.O-O Be7 13.Bxc4 Nxc4 14.Qa4+ Qd7 15.Qxc4 Nb4 with compensation. } 9. Qc2 { The most popular continuation. } 9 Nb6 { We need to protect the c4-pawn. } 10. } 10 Qd5 { Thanks to the pin, our queen is not hanging. } 11. } 11.

Qg4 { Trading on d5 would only help Black. With 11. Qg4, White keeps the tension in the game. } 11 axb5 { Sacrificing the g7-pawn for activity. } 12. Rxa8 Qxa8 13.

Be2 { If White wants to avoid Qa1 with the threat of perpetual check, then 13. Be2 is the way. } 13 g6 { 13O-O would step into a dangerous attack after White calmly castles kingside. } 14. O-O Bxc3 15. } * [Event ?] [Site ?] [Date ????.??.??] [Round ?] [White 2. } * [Event ?] [Site ?] [Date ????.??.??] [Round ?] [White 2.

Quickstarter Guide] [Black 3. Nf3 - 7. Bd3 #1] [Result *] 1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. e3 e6 5. Bxc4 c5 6. O-O a6 7. O-O a6 7.

Bd3 { Prophylaxis! White retreats the bishop in advance, to meet 7b5 with the strong 8.a4! challenging the queenside pawns immediately. Although the idea is pretty standard, Bd3 is less popular than Bb3. } 7 Nbd7 { Black has a wide range of choices here. 7 cxd4 is heading to IQP positions, which can often arise in the QGA 3. Nf3 line. There is nothing wrong with the old main line 7 Nc6 either, however, I decided to go for the pretty popular and interesting approach 7Nbd7.

I like that it doesnt commit to anything yet and gives us an option of taking on c5 with the knight in case of dxc5. } 8. Re1 { This is the most critical and the most popular response, aiming to follow up with e4. } 8 Be7 9. e4 b5 { A nice novelty, intending to keep the tension in the center. White has several ways to continue now, but Black is doing well everywhere.

See here for more details. } * [Event ?] [Site ?] [Date ????.??.??] [Round ?] [White 2. Quickstarter Guide] [Black 3. Nf3 - 7. Bd3 #2] [Result *] 1. c4 dxc4 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Bxc4 c5 6. O-O a6 7. O-O a6 7.

Bd3 { Prophylaxis! White retreats the bishop in advance, to meet 7b5 with the strong 8.a4! challenging the queenside pawns immediately. Although the idea is pretty standard, Bd3 is less popular than Bb3. } 7 Nbd7 { Black has a wide range of choices here. 7 cxd4 is heading to IQP positions, which can often arise in the QGA 3. Nf3 line. There is nothing wrong with the old main line 7.

Nc6 either, however I decided to go for the pretty popular and interesting approach 7Nbd7. I like that it doesnt commit to anything yet and gives us an option of taking on c5 with the knight in case of dxc5. } 8. e4 { The immediate 8. e4 is rare, however its necessary to know how to deal with it. } 8 cxd4 { It is possible to play in the same spirit as in the main line so we can go 8 b5 here.

The only reason I dont recommend it as a main choice, is 9. d5. } 9. e5 { A logical follow-up. } 9 Nd5 10. } 10 b5 { There is no point in defending the pawn on d4 with 10Bc5 as after 11.Bg5 Qb6 12.Nbd2 Whites initiative is dangerous. } 11. a4 Bb4 12. a4 Bb4 12.