Grivas Opening Laboratory - Volume 4

In the fourth book of the series (4 of 6) we will deal with ‘Queen’s Gambit’ structures, and more specifically: The ‘Queen’s Gambit Accepted’, a quiet system which aims to preserve simple and equal/drawish positions (from Black’s point of view!) and is played today at all levels. Our proposed system is based on the move 4.Na3, a system that I haven’t played much (except lately!), but then the ‘QGA’ is a rare bird as well... The 4.Na3 system scores approximately 52%, when the expectation of 51.5% to 52% is the average number of White’s ‘superiority’. 

Then we will deal with how to face the ‘Ragozin Variation’ of the ‘QGD’, an ambitious system which aims at getting lively positions and again is played today at all levels. Our proposed approach is based on the 5.cxd5 exd5 6.Bg5 system, with which I have played a few good games over the last 30 years, but this variation is rather a ‘rare bird’ as well... The proposed system scores roughly 55%, a good number compared to the average expected White ‘superiority’of 51.5% to 52%. We then continue with the ‘brother’ variation of the Ragozin, the ‘Vienna Variation’ of the ‘QGD’, which is also an ambitious system. Our chosen system is based on the 6.Bg5 line, which is the main preference of the top players. The proposed system scores a healthy 53.5%, again against the average expected score of 51.5% to 52%. 

Finally, we will deal with the ‘Lasker Variation’ of the ‘QGD’, a quiet system which, as with the QGA, aims to preserve simple and equal/drawish positions (from Black’s point of view!) and is still played nowadays at all levels. The proposed system is based on the move 9.Rc1, a system that I have played in a few games over the last 25 years, but the variation is not played too much anyway. The 9.Rc1 system scores an excellent 59%, again when 51.5% to 52% is the natural average number of white ‘superiority’.

In the book you will find not only a concrete and well-structured, moveby-move presentation, but also chapters on the middlegame, endgame and tactics, those that are typical for this variation and will help you to understand it better.

The only two things you have to do are to buy the book (!) and study it! Note that the research on the games included is up to the middle of July 2020.

Efstratios Grivas
Sharjah, July 2020

Excerpt