The Accelerated Dragon: after and , and put your bishop on the long diagonal. If White exchanges on c6, you recapture with , towards the centre. And a plan against other frequent White replies: when the bishop comes out early to c4, and or against , hitting e4 at once.
34 lines in 4 chapters.
The first lesson is free. The rest of the course opens with Premium:
Gain control of d5 and open a file for your rook.
When White trades their d4 knight for yours with , you recapture with , towards the centre. The c6 pawn watches d5 and supports your advance. The b-file also opens for your rook. With the pawn moves away from the centre and, if queens come off before you have castled, you lose the right to castle.
Over-the-board games, 2300+: 73% of 52. Online, 2200+: 89% of 621.
Finish your development without giving up a centre pawn.
When White retreats the bishop with and has the knight on c3 and the pawn on e4, they attack d5 three times: with the bishop, the knight and the pawn. If you play , only two pieces defend it, the f6 knight and the queen. That is why costs a pawn, which only very precise play makes up for. You play , one step shorter, and finish developing with and . Your g7 bishop keeps pressing along the long diagonal.
Over-the-board games, 2300+: 69% of 98. Online, 2200+: 54% of 371.
Attack e4 before White builds up their centre.
With , White prepares to have two pawns in the centre. You do not wait: on your second move you attack e4 with or with . At that moment there is no pawn on d4 and nothing defends e4. White has to deal with that pawn before building up their centre.
Over-the-board games, 2300+: 89% of 813. Online, 2200+: 66% of 5,441.
Shield f7 from the bishop and prepare your advance in the centre.
If White's bishop comes out early to c4, it aims at your f7 pawn. You play before : the e6 pawn cuts the diagonal and the bishop no longer reaches f7. Against on move two, comes at once; if you have already started your setup with , it comes as soon as your bishop is on g7, or earlier if another white piece attacks f7. That pawn also prepares , which hits the bishop and gives you your share of the centre.
Over-the-board games, 2300+: 32% of 323. Online, 2200+: 63% of 2,100.
You will learn to set up with , and , to recapture with if White trades on c6, and to answer with if their bishop comes out to c4.
The most common mistake, on move 6; 33 players in 100 play it. defends f7 and attacks the queen, but your knight does not stay there. After you have traded the knight you had already developed and White's queen is back on f3.
Recapturing towards the centreClosing the bishop's diagonal
You will learn to close the bishop's diagonal with , to chase it away with and , and to play once White can no longer win that pawn.
The most common mistake, on move 3; 5 players in 100 play it. comes too early and loses a pawn. After you block the check with , and takes the pawn. After you are still a pawn down.
You will learn to trade on d4 with , to recapture with if White trades on c6, and to play when their bishop retreats to b3.
The most common mistake, on move 4; 8 players in 100 play it. leaves the d4 pawn where it is, and attacks your c6 knight. After the white pawn gets into your camp, in front of your d7 pawn. After you lose no material, but White has gained space and time with the pawns.
Recapturing towards the centreAdvance one step when the centre is guarded
You will learn to attack e4 at once with and to bring the knight to d5 when White advances with .