https://www.chesspub.com/cgi-bin/chess/YaBB.pl?board=dpawnspecials d-Pawn Specials - ChessPub Forum en-us ChessPub Forum Wed, 20 May 2026 00:39:55 GMT http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss 30 https://www.chesspub.com/cgi-bin/chess/YaBB.pl?num=1775921613 ChessPub Forum/d-Pawn Specials https://www.chesspub.com/cgi-bin/chess/YaBB.pl?num=1775921613 Tue, 14 Apr 2026 16:51:05 GMT Thanks for these suggestions.  I"ve ordered the book "1. d4 Keep it Simple".  My only resevation is that these resources seem to concentrate on the 1.d4 2.Nf3 and 3.g3 move order; I prefer 2.g3 3. Bg2 first, and then 4.Nf3, as I believe it provides more flexibility.  But it is the general ideas I'm interested in anyway.  So again, thanks! https://www.chesspub.com/cgi-bin/chess/YaBB.pl?num=1753547252 ChessPub Forum/d-Pawn Specials https://www.chesspub.com/cgi-bin/chess/YaBB.pl?num=1753547252 Thu, 20 Nov 2025 03:16:09 GMT <a href="https://www.chesspub.com/cgi-bin/chess/YaBB.pl?num=1753547252/12#12">Bibs wrote</a> on 08/25/25 at 00:48:21:<br /><div id="1A313A2B5800">For 3.f3 v 2...g6 you might do well with this text. Not so new, but it's a pretty good book:<br /><a href="https://www.newinchess.com/the-ultimate-anti-grunfeld" target="_blank">https://www.newinchess.com/the-ultimate-anti-grunfeld</a><br /><br />3.f3 is worthy as an anti-Grunfeld line<br /><br />4.f3 is a tricky line against Nimzo. <br /><br />3.f3 v. Nf6/d5 or Nf6/e6 is typically not played. There must be some reasoning here.<br />Q. But <b>why not? </b><br />A. The argument is likely that black hits with a straight ...c5. White likely wants the N on f3 there and may quickly fall behind with pieces on poor squares. But white is white, and nothing can be too bad yet. It's all still chess.<br /><br />Useful to learn some theory. Start the game off well, and we fight from a solid base. <br /><br /><br /> </div><!--1A313A2B5800--><br /><br />Thanks for the detailed reply.  Interestingly without even seeing the above, I'd decided on 4.f3 vs. the Nimzo https://www.chesspub.com/cgi-bin/chess/YaBB.pl?num=1722315306 ChessPub Forum/d-Pawn Specials https://www.chesspub.com/cgi-bin/chess/YaBB.pl?num=1722315306 Wed, 10 Sep 2025 17:19:35 GMT On this topic, I was impressed with a Youtube video series by GM Felix Blohberger -- 3 videos totaling one hour.  Seems very much in the style of Capablanca. https://www.chesspub.com/cgi-bin/chess/YaBB.pl?num=1753645534 ChessPub Forum/d-Pawn Specials https://www.chesspub.com/cgi-bin/chess/YaBB.pl?num=1753645534 Fri, 1 Aug 2025 08:18:45 GMT Thank you everybody!! https://www.chesspub.com/cgi-bin/chess/YaBB.pl?num=1725992371 ChessPub Forum/d-Pawn Specials https://www.chesspub.com/cgi-bin/chess/YaBB.pl?num=1725992371 Wed, 11 Sep 2024 09:33:36 GMT I just cannot believe in Jobava.<br /><br />1.d4 Nf6 2.Nc3 d5 3.Bf4 c5 4.e3 cd 5.ed a6 is one decent and easy-to-play option for black. https://www.chesspub.com/cgi-bin/chess/YaBB.pl?num=1622488427 ChessPub Forum/d-Pawn Specials https://www.chesspub.com/cgi-bin/chess/YaBB.pl?num=1622488427 Sun, 2 Jul 2023 07:30:06 GMT GM Simon Willians published a new dvd "The new Jobava system" and he plays at Bf5 the idea Nf3-e5 with g4,h4 etc.<br />Look at 5', at the video bellow.<br /><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhkM0OtsgUg" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhkM0OtsgUg</a> https://www.chesspub.com/cgi-bin/chess/YaBB.pl?num=1686561849 ChessPub Forum/d-Pawn Specials https://www.chesspub.com/cgi-bin/chess/YaBB.pl?num=1686561849 Thu, 15 Jun 2023 09:14:39 GMT Nice! can anyone make a similar extract from 2010+ to see a possible shift in trends?<br />regarding OP question about which d-pawn opening for Black fits most the anti and flank systems, there is no universal answer. If you play 1.d4 Nf6, you must have something against the Tromp, same after 1.d4 d5 2.Bf4.Usually Black players pick up a main opening against d4, and adjust angainst the rest. Again, it's often better to have dedicated answers  to anti and flank openings. A great book in this respect is the BUCO by Richard Palliser (no ad intended):<br />Beating Unusual Chess Openings: Dealing With The English, Réti, King's Indian Attack And Other Annoying Systems (Everyman Chess) Paperback – Illustrated, February 1, 2007<br />by Richard Palliser (Author)<br />as OP seems to like "universal" openings, some popular combos are:<br />- French + Tarrasch (enough for 2300+ IRL)<br />- French + Nimzo/QID (will drive you to GM level)<br />- French + Dutch (1.d4 e6)<br />- Sicilan + KID (dark-square vs white-square openings = activity vs control)<br />- Sicilian + 1.c4 c5 + 1.Nf3 c5 (often: + Benoni or Dutch)<br />the QGD is a huge complex (currently the Ragozin is in good shape), the QGA has the merit of avoiding exchange lines but it can be dull (e.g. Nf3 lines with a4). The Tarrasch is an ideal opening to start tournaments (two modern lines: the dxc5 ending and the Dubov with Bc5) and can be upgraded with Nimzo/QID/Ragozin/Catalan. The Dutch gives home advantage to Black, but you have to like the positions (trending: the Leningrad and the Nc6 Stonewall). The KID is truly universal, but it's a chess continent of its own.<br />@OP: play serious/IRL games if you can, to leave broad generalities behind. When you have concrete questions  derived from experience, more people will be glad to help <img rel="&#58;&#45;&#41;" src="https://www.chesspub.com/yabbfiles/Templates/Forum/default/smiley.gif" alt="Smiley" title="Smiley" /><br /> https://www.chesspub.com/cgi-bin/chess/YaBB.pl?num=1685338598 ChessPub Forum/d-Pawn Specials https://www.chesspub.com/cgi-bin/chess/YaBB.pl?num=1685338598 Tue, 30 May 2023 22:17:37 GMT <a href="https://www.chesspub.com/cgi-bin/chess/YaBB.pl?num=1685338598/0#0">Marc Benford wrote</a> on 05/29/23 at 05:36:38:<br /><div id="0F2330211D00272C242D30264201">White is playing a QGD Tarrasch with colors reversed </div><!--0F2330211D00272C242D30264201--><br /><br />Sometimes White answers the Tarrasch with an early e3. This leads to a position that is, at least temporarilly, symmetrical. Books on the Tarrasch usually cover an early e3 by White. I suspect that there are move order nuances that I do not understand. https://www.chesspub.com/cgi-bin/chess/YaBB.pl?num=1679838059 ChessPub Forum/d-Pawn Specials https://www.chesspub.com/cgi-bin/chess/YaBB.pl?num=1679838059 Sat, 8 Apr 2023 00:29:16 GMT The Liberated Bishop Defence by GM Alexey Bezgodov https://www.chesspub.com/cgi-bin/chess/YaBB.pl?num=1676252043 ChessPub Forum/d-Pawn Specials https://www.chesspub.com/cgi-bin/chess/YaBB.pl?num=1676252043 Mon, 13 Feb 2023 16:32:55 GMT <a href="https://www.chesspub.com/cgi-bin/chess/YaBB.pl?num=1676252043/0#0">an ordinary chessplayer wrote</a> on 02/13/23 at 01:34:03:<br /><div id="555056515A5A514002053402">why I like 1.e4 e5 and 1.d4 d5 for black. </div><!--555056515A5A514002053402--><br /><br />I've come back to those lines.<br /><br />There are many openings, each with its proponents. I can make a case for several openings. While they all have pros and cons, I'm (currently) back to 1.d4 d5 and 1.e4 e5.<br /><br />In theory, these lines lead to a draw. That is why I favored the Sicilian and the King's Indian.<br /><br />In practice, against the opponents I face, 1e4 e5 and 1d4 d5 lead to the earliest conflict and result - and it is seldom a draw.<br /><br />(That said, I sometimes look back at the Sicilian, Winawer French, KID, Nimzo-Indian. It often seems as though my game would turn into a pillar of salt.)