Exercise 8.1Find the move
Black to move
White has the bishop on f4. Find Black's most active move.
8
A Black Repertoire: Scandinavian and QGD · Kapilash Chess Academy
QGD: the Bf4 System and Move Orders
...c5 at the right moment
In this lesson you will learn
- How to meet 4.♗f4 or 5.♗f4
- The ...c5 break against the ♗f4 system
- Move orders with 3.♘f3
- The ...♕a5 idea
Every board on this page is live. Move the pieces by tapping or dragging, click any move in the lines to see that position, and press ↺ to start again.
8.1 The Bishop on f4
Many players now put the bishop on f4 instead of g5. Black answers with the immediate ...c5: after dxc5 ♗xc5 Black's pieces are active and the queen often comes to a5 to pin the knight on c3.
Diagram 8.1Black to move
Example 8.1 · ...c5 against ♗f4
White's bishop is on f4, outside the pawn chain.
Black breaks with ...c5 at once. After dxc5 ♗xc5 and ...♘c6, the queen on a5 pins the knight on c3 and Black has comfortable development. If White ever plays cxd5, Black takes back with the e-pawn or the knight depending on the position.
8.2 Move Orders
White can also start with 3.♘f3. Black continues with 3...♘f6 and the same setup. After 4.♗g5 ♗e7 the game usually returns to the Tartakower lines of Lesson 6.
Diagram 8.2White to move
Example 8.2 · The same position, different order
White played ♘f3 before e3. Black reaches the Tartakower setup anyway.
Different move orders lead to the same structure. Knowing the ideas (…h6, …b6, …♗b7, …c5) is more important than memorising the order of moves.
Remember
- Against ♗f4, play ...c5 at once.
- After dxc5 ♗xc5, develop with ...♘c6 and ...♕a5.
- Move orders change, but the setup stays the same.
- Know the ideas, not just the moves.
Exercises · Lesson 8
Each exercise comes from a position in this repertoire. Find the best move, then play it on the board.
Exercise 8.2Find the move
Black to move
White has just played 8.♕xd5. How does Black punish it?
Exercise 8.3Find the move
Black to move
White has just played 7.♘xd5. How does Black punish it?
Exercise 8.4Find the move
Black to move
White has just played 9.♘xd5. How does Black punish it?
Exercise 8.5Find the move
Black to move
White has just played 7.e4. How does Black punish it?
Exercise 8.6Find the move
Black to move
White has just played 8.♗c7. How does Black punish it?
Exercise 8.7Find the move
Black to move
White has just played 9.e4. How does Black punish it?
Exercise 8.8Find the move
Black to move
White has just played 9.♘h4. How does Black punish it?
Exercise 8.9Find the move
Black to move
White has just played 9.♘g5. How does Black punish it?
Exercise 8.10Find the move
Black to move
White has just played 10.♘b5. How does Black punish it?
Exercise 8.11Find the move
Black to move
White has just played 10.♗b5. How does Black punish it?