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Hello everyone, Max seems to have disappeared off the radar, so I am jumping in for two updates, March and April - you can expect the April update in just a few days. Actually, this is quite convenient as I am currently writing a book on the QGD.
Due to the many interesting tournaments that had been played recently, with lots of really fascinating developments, I decided to focus on the Catalan and the classical QGD this time. Also, because Max announced in earlier updates an idea to cover the Ragozin, that's what you will get in the April update ... but from my perspective. Finally, I am analyzing games from February till mid April, so that readers are not missing new things.
I hope that you will enjoy the March and April updates!

Download PGN of March ’17 1 d4 d5 2 c4 games

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Queen’s Gambit Declined 5 Bf4 0-0 6 e3 c5, Karpov's 10...Re8!? [D37]

Ding Liren - Nakamaura, H Sarjah 2017, is a highly important game for the entire Bf4 line. After 5.Bf4 0-0 6.e3 c5 7.dxc5 Bxc5 8.a3 Nc6 9.Qc2 Qa5 10.Rd1 Re8!?:

Later Nakamura tried to improve on an old Korchnoi-Karpov game from their famous match in 1978. Is this possible to achieve? Have a look!


QGD Exchange Variation 3...Be7 4 cxd5 5 Bf4 [D31]

Olafsson, H - Harutyunian, T Aeroflot Open A 2017 Moscow, started 3...Be7 4.cxd5 exd5 5.Bf4 c6 6.e3 Bf5 7.Nge2:

This is a very important line for all players who are playing the QGD and don't want to go for a Nimzo or to allow an exchange line with cxd5 followed by Bg5.



Catalan Opening 4...Be7 5 Bg2 0-0 6 0-0 dxc4 7 Ne5 [E05]

Games 3, 4, 5, and 6 concern developments in the Catalan.

Our third game, Shabalov, A - Onischuk, A USA CH 2017, started 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 d5 4.Nf3 Be7 5.Bg2 0-0 6.0-0 dxc4 7.Ne5 Nc6 8.Nxc6 bxc6 9.Na3 Bxa3 10.bxa3:

This line is very interesting, but it seems some sting has been taken out of it. In this particular game Onischuk came up with a new idea for Black which was on the verge of correctness, and eventually brought him an important win.


Catalan Opening 4...Be7 5 Bg2 0-0 6 0-0 dxc4 7 Qc2 a6 8 a4 Bd7 [E05]

In Adams, M - Harikrishna, P Shenzhen 2017, after 6...dxc4 7.Qc2 a6 8.a4 Bd7 9.Qxc4 Bc6 10.Bg5 Bd5 11.Qc2 Be4 12.Qc1 we have a classical Catalan:

Adams found a few small nuances in a well-known position, but Black was still solid enough throughout the game.

Xiong, J - So, W USA CH 2017, featured another slightly dry Catalan line, 6...dxc4 7.Qc2 a6 8.a4 Bd7 9.Rd1 Bc6 10.Nc3 Bxf3 11.Bxf3 Nc6 12.Bxc6 bxc6 13.Bg5:

but thanks to Wesley So's nice analysis, we got a nice idea to spice up the system for Black.

Ding Liren - Aronian, L Sarjah 2017, is another Catalan, and this time one of the main ideas 6...dxc4 7.Qc2 a6 8.a4 Bd7 9.Qxc4 Bc6 10.Bf4 Bd6 11.Qc1:

I felt that I must add this game to have a closer look for everybody who is playing this line with either color. Aronian failed to show a clear path to equality, but, of course, there is some analysis that I managed to come up with.



Pseudo-Moscow Variation 5...Nbd7 6 e3 h6 7 Bh4 g5 [D51]

Finally, Wojtaszek, R - Fressinet, L Bundesliga 2016-17, features a very sharp but unusual way of handling a sort of mix of the Cambridge Springs and the Moscow, 5.Bg5 Nbd7 6.e3 h6 7.Bh4 g5 8.Bg3 Nh5:

I can't really exclude such ideas by saying they are unsound, but simply that they are interesting, especially if you are looking for sharp play with little theory.



Please feel free to visit my new website at chessmovebymove.com/.

Till next month, regards Milos

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