a link to the contents: http://www.chess-stars.com/resources/QGA.pdf

Interesting thread. I'm thinking of going to study the Queen's Gambit Accepted. Is the The Queen's Gambit Accepted, third edition by Sakaev and Semkov, January 2008 published by Chess Stars the latest book about it?

Studying the QGA with the help of Hiarcs Opening Book (HOB) is a pleasant experience as the book offers plenty on new ideas, novelties in the sense that they have been played only in computer games. For example in the 7.Qe2 b5 8.Bd3 line you mentioned (which has been proposed by GM Dzindzi every time he speaks about the QGA, and in my opinion is probably better than the more popular 8.Bb3 as after the a4 move there is real pressure at the b5 pawn and the Knight can come to be after Black's ...b4) the book offers a very strong novelty which repairs Black's position in a very critical line where White had good attacking chances. I'll find it and share it with you shortly.

But in the same "book" the 6.Qe2 move you mentioned in an earlier post gets "!!" (as the 2...dxc4 is the only move that gets this "!!", so the QGA is HOB's favourite defense as it seems!). The idea, if memory doesn't fail me, is to play a quick dxc5+a3+b4+Bb2+Bd3. Food for thought certainly. I hope that i'll be able to post these variations here when i have time and if someone is interested of course!

EDIT: i just saw that the ...Qc7 move the BPaulsen mentioned in the 7.a4 variation was also Rizzitano's choice in his QGA book. Although the book is clearly outdated in many places it is still usefull imo.

Do not be amazed. It is known that White is better if he achieves this particular set-up with Re1-Qe2-Rad1 with the Bishop on the b1-h7 diagonal. White usually achieves this by making some weaknesses first (for example play the 7.Bd3 move order and play a3). Black here made it easy for White!

On the other hand it is known that Black should play 11...b5! to avoid this set-up! In that case he is fine. Allowing the d4-d5 is not the end of the word as it can be proven that the position remains balanced. The "problem" is that it becomes very simplified and so, difficult to play for the win for Black. But if he wants to play for the win why play QGA in general? (more drawish that the SLav IMO) and especialy this 7...cxd4 variation?

Such valuable info gets published on this forum, it's hard to believe it's free. Great dialog here between Ametanoitos and BPaulsen, two of my favorite contributors. I'm always impressed by their scholarship. Thanks particularly to BP for those highly cogent game citations.

Personally I think that 3.e4 is White's most challenging approach. I prepared 3...Nf6, but the first time I played it, my strong opponent played straight down one of my main lines and then just beat me with his extra space. Discouraging. With much more success I've tried 3...Nc6 in three games, winning all, but the opposition wasn't strong and I remain unsure of the ultimate merit of 3...Nc6. Obviously it's  great winning try, so maybe Black should be happy. I notice that Baburin, a QGA specialist whom I follow, plays it this way.

I'm reluctant to play 3...e5, opening the position while lagging in development.

I don't think that Black should be daunted by 7.dxc5, but should just grit his teeth and play chess. Endgame wins starting from such positions aren't so rare down here at my level - particularly against weaker opponents.

But if I may make a repertoire-related observation, a QGA specialist needs something against 1.c4 and also 1.Nf3 d5 2.c4.

BPaulsen wrote on 10/02/11 at 23:44:32:


Stohl's survey isn't from the White perspective but meant to show the current state of affairs.  It's in two parts.  In part 2, in the current issue of CBM, he states: 

"Black had no problems whatsoever in Bern-Semrl and other examples in the notes show that on the contrary it's White who has to play with care to avoid coming under serious pressure."

You appear to have nailed it .

But Bryan, isn't it possible that the lines discussed will transpose?

I've never played 7.Bb3, so I really don't know. And I have to admit I haven't looked it up. Still, it seems to me that transpositions would be possible since Black does play 12....Na5 13.Bc2 in the game.