Stigma - In his 1.d4 d5 2.c4 - Complete Repertoire for White database, Papaioannou's main QGD line goes 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Be7 5.Nf3 0-0 6.e3 h6 7.Bxf6 Bxf6.  Now his principal recommendation is 8.Rc1 with the idea of aiming for an advantageous endgame.  As stated on the webpage for the database, "If you like endgame positions with slight advantage, this is your line!".  That's not very promising for those seeking excitement or unbalanced positions.  However, that webpage also says that the alternative 8.Qd2 is covered with 0-0-0 and a kingside attack to follow. The database shows the attack to involve a pawnstorm with the g- and h-pawns.   

I only recently purchased the database and haven't delved into it very far.  It's obvious that considerably more material is given for 8.Rc1.  Along with positive examples of the 0-0-0 plan, Papaioannou also gives the game Pogorelov-Akbarinia, Sitges Sunway Op 2014, where 8.Qd2 is met with 8...a6. Now Papaioannou says that it's likely wiser to switch from 0-0-0 to 0-0.  Thus, it's not always prudent to play the more aggressive line.

emary wrote on 03/25/23 at 01:44:04:

I took a cursory look at the video, mostly just the beginning and the end. I was curious what this 5.Qc2 line is about, and maybe you are too. 

It's a strange repertoire, after 1.d4 d5 2.c4 he says in part (d) he is going to recommend 2...c6 3.cxd5 cxd5 4.Bf4 Nc6 5.e3 Nf6 6.Nc3 and 2...e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.cxd5 exd5. But in part (c) after 1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 d5 he admits white has been move ordered out of *both* these systems and so he analyzes 3.c4 c6 4.cxd5 cxd5 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Bf4 (the larger part of the 90 minutes) and 3...e6 4.cxd5 exd5 5.Qc2 c6 6.Nc3 Be7 7.Bg5 g6 8.e3 Bf5 9.Bd3. He also briefly mentions 9.Qb3 "as in Carlsen - Nepomniachtchi", but that was a Bf4 position https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=2368036 .

I didn't see where he said 3.Bf4 was more logical. I did see where he said 3.Bg5 is not great after 3...Ne4 4.Bf4 c5 and 5...Qb6.

Hi, 

today there are 154 databases discounted at 
modern-chess.com 

Highlight: 
All databases from 

GM Ioannis Papaioannou,
GM Mihail Marin and 
GM Ivan Cheparinov are 

60% off. (According to an email from Modern Chess till Sunday.) 

The Modern Chess Team has done a survey and these three GMs 
are the favourite authors of their site.   

My favourite author GM Papaioannou  has built interesting   
parts of a very solid 1.d4-repertoire (among many other databases)
which contain "absolutely no theory"  : 
a) 1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Bg5  (Camp Database) 
b) 1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.Bg5  (Camp Database) 

c)  1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 d5 3.c4 and now 3...c6 4.cxd5 cxd5 5.Nc3 
                                  and        3...e6 4.cxd5 exd5 5.Qc2 
(Free Database - without pgn) 

Instead of 3.c4 the London System 3.Bf4 looks more logical, 
but in the London there is too much theory to learn 
according to Papaioannou. 
(BTW if you prefer 1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 d5 3.Bf4, there is an impressive 
course from Banzea at chessable. ) 

d) A complete 1.d4 d5 2.c4 repertoire 
(Exchange Slav, Exchange QGA, Bg5xNf6 vs the QGD and all the sidelines) 
(Camp database - as a bonus you get c) with pgn)   

e) After 1.d4 d6 (g6) he recommends 2.e4 transposing to e4-openings.   
He recommends Bd3-lines against the 
Philidor, the Pirc and the Modern. 
(Camp database) 

f) My Catalan (the Camp is this weekend, 
after a few weeks there will be a Camp database, too. ) 

Btw there are still a few holes, especially 1.d4 e6 and the Dutch.