Exercise 3.1Find the move
Black to move
White has attacked the knight with 4.c4. Where does it go?
3
A Black Repertoire: Scandinavian and QGD · Kapilash Chess Academy
The Space Line: 4.c4 Nb6
Meeting the big centre
In this lesson you will learn
- How to play against 4.c4 ♘b6
- The ...♗g4 and ...e6 setup against the big centre
- The fianchetto alternative with ...g6
- The c5 push and the trap behind it
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.
3.1 White Grabs Space
After 3.d4 ♘xd5 White can kick the knight at once with 4.c4. The knight goes to b6, and White has a big pawn centre. Black's task is to attack it with pieces before White completes development.
Diagram 3.1Black to move
Example 3.1 · ...♗g4 and ...e6
White has played c4 and ♘f3. Black follows the same plan as in the main line.
Black develops exactly as in Lesson 2: ...♗g4, ...e6, ...♗e7, castling and ...♘c6. The pressure on d4 and c4 makes White's centre hard to keep.
Diagram 3.2Black to move
Example 3.2 · The fianchetto
Against an early ♘c3, Black can also put the bishop on g7 to aim at d4.
The bishop on g7 attacks the long diagonal, the knight on c6 hits d4, and later ...e5 or ...♗g4 increase the pressure. Choose one setup and learn it well.
3.2 The c5 Push
If White pushes c5 too early, the knight drops back to d7 and Black strikes in the centre with ...e5. White's pawns become targets.
Diagram 3.3Black to move
Example 3.3 · Punishing c5
White pushes the pawn to c5 to chase the knight again.
After 5...♘6d7 6.♗c4 e5! Black opens the position while White's king is still in the centre. When White pushes pawns instead of developing, open the position.
Remember
- Against 4.c4, retreat with ...♘b6.
- Then ...♗g4, ...e6 and ...♘c6 — or the fianchetto with ...g6.
- Against an early c5, play ...♘6d7 and ...e5.
- Attack the big centre with pieces.
Exercises · Lesson 3
Each exercise comes from a position in this repertoire. Find the best move, then play it on the board.
Exercise 3.2Find the move
Black to move
White has just played 6.♘e5. How does Black punish it?
Exercise 3.3Find the move
Black to move
White has just played 6.♘g5. How does Black punish it?
Exercise 3.4Find the move
Black to move
White has just played 9.♘e4. How does Black punish it?
Exercise 3.5Find the move
Black to move
White has just played 7.♘h4. How does Black punish it?
Exercise 3.6Find the move
Black to move
White has just played 8.♘g5. How does Black punish it?
Exercise 3.7Find the move
Black to move
White has just played 8.♗g5. How does Black punish it?
Exercise 3.8Find the move
Black to move
White has just played 9.♗g5. How does Black punish it?
Exercise 3.9Find the move
Black to move
White has just played 9.♘g5. How does Black punish it?
Exercise 3.10Find the move
Black to move
White has just played 10.♘h4. How does Black punish it?
Exercise 3.11Find the move
Black to move
White has just played 10.♘g5. How does Black punish it?