[Event "vs QGD - Harrwitz Attack (2...e6)"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Mon repertoire"]
[Black "Queen's Gambit Declined"]
[Result "*"]
[Orientation "white"]

1. d4 {Control the center with the queen's pawn. We aim for d4+c4 to dominate.} d5 2. c4 {The Queen's Gambit (ECO D06)! Major opening played since the 15th century, cornerstone of the classical repertoire. We attack d5 to unbalance Black's center.} e6 {QGD - Queen's Gambit Declined (ECO D30-D69): the most popular response at all levels. Black reinforces d5 but LOCKS IN the c8 Bishop behind e6-d5. This is THE strategic problem of the QGD for Black.} 3. Nc3 {Develop while attacking d5 a 2nd time. THEORY: consensus move, played in 90%+ of top-level games.} (3. cxd5 {QGD Exchange Variation. Symmetrical and flat position. Avoid if you want to play for a win. Often chosen by White to make a draw.}) Nf6 4. Nf3 {We do NOT play e3 yet to keep the c1 Bishop's diagonal open! THEORY: modern move order - the old 4.Bg5 (Orthodox Variation) is also valid but 4.Nf3 is more flexible.} Be7 {Classical development in the Orthodox QGD.} (4... Bb4 {Ragozin Defense (ECO D38) - don't panic! Black pins the Knight. Solid opening played by Caruana, MVL.} 5. Bg5 {THEORY: main response. Pin the f6 Knight in return.} h6 6. Bxf6 Qxf6 7. e3 {Solid. We lose the bishop pair but have a healthy structure and a good center. Plan: Bd3, O-O and play on.}) 5. Bf4 {HARRWITZ ATTACK (ECO D37) - the MODERN line. Played by Carlsen, Ding Liren, Anand in world championship matches. KEY: develop the Bishop BEFORE e3! After e3 the Bishop stays locked on c1. Bf4 controls e5 and targets the h2-b8 diagonal.} O-O 6. e3 {Now e3 is fine: the Bishop is already out. Reinforces d4 and prepares Bd3.} Nbd7 {Black prepares ...c5 to attack our center.} 7. Bd3 {Bishop on the b1-h7 diagonal, targeting Black's King. Plan: O-O, then Rc1 for the c-file. If Black plays ...c5, answer cxd5 exd5 and target the isolated d5 pawn (IQP). TYPICAL MISTAKE: not castling and leaving the King in the center.} *

[Event "vs QGA - Classical Variation (2...dxc4)"]
[White "Mon repertoire"]
[Black "Queen's Gambit Accepted"]
[Result "*"]
[Orientation "white"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 {Queen's Gambit Accepted (ECO D20-D29). Black takes the pawn! Respectable opening played by Anand and Kramnik. Black can't hold the pawn for long but gains time.} 3. Nf3 {THEORY: main line. Develop without rushing to recapture on c4.} Nf6 4. e3 {Opens the Bishop's diagonal to recapture on c4. THEORY: consensus, the most played line.} e6 5. Bxc4 {Pawn recovered! The Bishop is very well placed on c4: it targets e6 and f7 (Black's weak point).} c5 {Classical counter-attack in the center.} 6. O-O {King safety first!} a6 (6... Nc6 7. Qe2 {Prepares Rd1 for the d-file. The Knight on c6 blocks Black's c-pawn, which suits us.}) 7. Qe2 {Plan: Rd1 for the d-file, Nc3. Development advantage because Black lost time with dxc4. TYPICAL MISTAKE: playing too passively instead of exploiting the development lead!} *

[Event "vs Slav - Czech Variation (2...c6)"]
[White "Mon repertoire"]
[Black "Slav Defense - Czech Variation"]
[Result "*"]
[Orientation "white"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 {Slav Defense (ECO D10-D19). Black supports d5 with c6 instead of e6. ADVANTAGE for Black: the c8 Bishop remains free to develop to f5. This is a major opening played by Carlsen, Kramnik, Anand.} 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 {Classical Slav / Czech Variation (ECO D17-D19). Black takes! The plan: develop Bf5 then play e6.} (4... e6 {Semi-Slav (ECO D43-D49): Black maintains the tension. Very rich and theoretical position. Played at the highest level (Meran, Anti-Meran).} 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 Bd6 7. O-O {Plan: e4 at the right moment to open the center.}) 5. a4 {THEORY: standard and near-mandatory move here. Prevents ...b5 which would protect the c4 pawn. Without a4, Black plays b5 and keeps the extra pawn.} Bf5 {THE thematic move of the Slav: Bishop out before e6! That's the whole reason for 2...c6 instead of 2...e6.} 6. e3 e6 7. Bxc4 {Pawn recovered. Plan: O-O, Qe2, Rd1. WARNING: don't play e4 too quickly - it attacks Bf5 but weakens d4.} *

[Event "vs Nimzo-Indian (1...Nf6, 3...Bb4)"]
[White "Mon repertoire"]
[Black "Nimzo-Indian Defense"]
[Result "*"]
[Orientation "white"]

1. d4 Nf6 {Black doesn't play d5! Start of the Indian Defenses. Very popular at all levels.} 2. c4 e6 (2... g6 {King's Indian Defense (KID, ECO E60-E99) or Grunfeld (ECO D70-D99). Black fianchettoes.} 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 {Take the big center! c4+d4+e4 is imposing. THEORY: main line against the KID.} d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 {Classical Variation of the KID. Plan: O-O, Be3, Qd2, d5 to close the position and attack on the kingside.}) 3. Nc3 Bb4 {Nimzo-Indian Defense (ECO E20-E59). Black pins the Knight and controls e4 indirectly. A top-tier opening played by Kasparov, Fischer, Carlsen.} 4. e3 {Rubinstein Variation (ECO E40-E59). The simplest and most solid response. We accept the potential doubling of c-pawns. THEORY: consensus at club level, very sound.} O-O 5. Bd3 {Target the b1-h7 diagonal.} d5 6. Nf3 c5 {Black attacks the center.} 7. O-O {Plan: a3 to force ...Bxc3 bxc3. After the trade we have doubled pawns BUT the open b-file + the bishop pair = compensation. TYPICAL MISTAKE: playing a3 too early before finishing development.} *

[Event "vs Albin Counter-Gambit (2...e5) - LASKER TRAP"]
[White "Mon repertoire"]
[Black "Albin Counter-Gambit"]
[Result "*"]
[Orientation "white"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e5 {Albin Counter-Gambit (ECO D08-D09). Rare but dangerous if you don't know the trap!} 3. dxe5 d4 {The d4 pawn is passed and creates tactical problems.} 4. Nf3 {Develop normally. THEORY: best move, consensus.} Nc6 5. Nbd2 {Solid. Plan: g3, Bg2, O-O. LASKER TRAP (must know!): if 4.e3?? Bb4+ 5.Bd2 dxe3! 6.Bxb4?? exf2+ 7.Ke2 fxg1=N+!! (underpromotion to Knight with check!) 8.Rxg1 Bg4+ and Black wins the Queen. This is one of the most famous traps in chess. With 4.Nf3 we avoid it completely.} *

[Event "vs Budapest Gambit (1...Nf6 2.c4 e5) - TRAPS TO KNOW"]
[White "Mon repertoire"]
[Black "Budapest Gambit"]
[Result "*"]
[Orientation "white"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e5 {Budapest Gambit (ECO A51-A52). Black sacrifices a pawn for rapid piece activity! Rare at top level but VERY common below 1500 Elo. You MUST know the traps or you'll lose fast. Played by Rapport and occasionally by Mamedyarov as a surprise weapon.} 3. dxe5 {THEORY: take the pawn. Only correct move.} Ng4 {Main line (ECO A52): Black attacks the e5 pawn with the Knight. This is the most common and most dangerous variation.} (3... Ne4 {Fajarowicz Variation (ECO A51). Rare but full of traps. Black doesn't try to regain the pawn immediately — instead plays for tactical tricks with ...Bb4+ and ...Qf6 targeting f2 and b2.} 4. a3 {THEORY: best response according to Lalic and de Firmian. Simple and strong — prevents ...Bb4+ which is the key to Black's tricks.} d6 5. Qc2 {Attack the Knight on e4, force Black to make a decision. White is clearly better here. TRAP to know: if 4.Nf3?! d6 5.exd6 Bxd6 6.g3?? Nxf2! 7.Kxf2 Bxg3+! and Black wins the Queen for two minor pieces. With 4.a3 we avoid all of this.} Bf5 6. exd6 Nxd6 {White is a pawn up with a solid position. Plan: Nf3, Nc3, e3, Be2, O-O.}) 4. Bf4 {Rubinstein Variation — THEORY: main line and the most popular response. We defend the e5 pawn while developing. Played by Kramnik, Gelfand.} (4. Nf3 {Adler Variation: also good. We protect e5 and develop, but Black has more active counterplay.} Bc5 {Targets f2.} 5. e3 Nc6 6. Be2 {Solid development. Plan: O-O, Nc3. THEORY: slightly better for White but Black has good piece activity as compensation for the pawn.}) Nc6 5. Nf3 Bb4+ {Black checks to disrupt our development.} 6. Nbd2 {THEORY: best response. We block with the Knight to avoid doubled pawns. 6.Nc3 is also played but after 6...Bxc3+ 7.bxc3 our structure is damaged.} Qe7 {Black piles pressure on e5. This is the critical position of the Budapest.} 7. a3 {Force a decision on the Bishop.} Ngxe5 {Black regains the pawn.} 8. Nxe5 Nxe5 9. e3 {THEORY: White has a slight but lasting advantage. We have more space (c4 pawn) and better development. Plan: Be2, O-O, Qc2. WARNING: don't try to hold the pawn on e5 too long — it often leads to complications. Let Black take it back and play for the structural advantage. TYPICAL MISTAKE: playing 6.Nc3 instead of 6.Nbd2, allowing doubled c-pawns that weaken our queenside.} *

[Event "vs Dutch Defense (1...f5)"]
[White "Mon repertoire"]
[Black "Dutch Defense"]
[Result "*"]
[Orientation "white"]

1. d4 f5 {Dutch Defense (ECO A80-A99). Black weakens their King! The a2-g8 diagonal and the e5 square are permanent weaknesses. Risky opening but played by Nakamura and formerly by Alekhine.} 2. c4 Nf6 3. Nc3 e6 4. Nf3 Be7 5. Bf4 {Control e5 - the weak square created by ...f5. THEORY: good classical development plan. Do NOT trade this Bishop, it is precious!} O-O 6. e3 {Plan: Bd3 to target h7, O-O, then install a Knight on e5 via Nf3-e5. The e5 square is a permanent hole because the f-pawn can no longer control it.} *
