TicklyTim wrote on 12/17/10 at 12:09:08:


In the first edition Khalifman does mention the 1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 Nc6 3. Nc3 g6 4. e3 position, assessing it there as += in brief analysis. If you check it yourself you'll quickly find the follow-up of 5. d4 isn't comfortable for black regardless of what he does. I'm not sure why you'd say it doesn't seem threatening when it calls into question black's entire set-up trying to control the d4 square (c5+Nc6+g6). The reason Kramnik doesn't run into it is because it's simply not a good move order for black compared to other options.

Yes, I have my repertoire completely sorted out following 1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 Nc6 3. Nc3. Regardless of if black goes with 3...e5, 3...g6, 3...Nd4, or 3...Nf6 I'm ready. If past trends hold up Khalifman will end up recommending the same lines already in my repertoire.