Building a repertoire based on 1 Nf3

In this post I’m going to take an overview of building a repertoire based on 1 Nf3. In subsequent posts I’ll look at things in more detail.

Here are the main points to bear in mind.

1. The best way to get a grip on the various move orders is to bear in mind the key positions that are being aimed at, and those which are being avoided.
2. After 1 Nf3 d5, White plays the direct 2 d4, usually followed by 3 c4, as there is no reason to avoid transposition to the Queen’s Gambit or Catalan.
3. However, after 1 Nf3 Nf6, White continues with the flexible 2 c4, inviting Black to show his hand.
4. The most common alternatives to 1 …d5 and 1 …Nf6 are 1 …c5, 1 …f5, 1 …g6, 1 …d6 and 1 …e6. All of these are met by 2 c4, except for 1 ..d6, which is met by 2 d4. The reaction to 1 …d6 is thematic; after 1 Nf3, White usually tries to stop …e5 if at all possible.
5. If Black plays a combination of …d5, …e6 and …Nf6, White will aim for either the Queen’s Gambit or Catalan.
6. White should also be prepared for the Slav, Queen’s Gambit Accepted and Tarrasch.
7. There are a number of minor lines after 1 Nf3 d5 2 d4 that White needs some general knowledge to meet. Usually he will play 3 c4, leading to the Queen’s Gambit, although sometimes other approaches are worth considering.
8. The Symmetrical Variation of the English Opening is a key part of the repertoire. This arise when Black plays …c5 before White has played d4, and White plays c4 himself. There are many possible move orders; the most obvious are 1 Nf3 c5 2 c4 and 1 Nf3 Nf6 2 c4 c5, but Black can also delay the move …c5 for a while, e.g. 1 Nf3 Nf6 2 c4 b6 3 g3 Bb7 4 Bg2 e6 5 0-0 Be7 6 Nc3 0-0 7 Re1 and only now 7 …c5.
9. White needs to be familiar with the follow sub-variations of the Symmetrical English: the pure symmetrical, the Semi-Tarrasch, the systems with a quick …d5, the Double Fianchetto, the Hedgehog, the system 1 Nf3 c5 2 c4 Nc6.
10. White also needs to be familiar with the classic Maroczy Bind formation. This can arise in various ways, but the standard move order is 1 Nf3 c5 2 c4 g6 3 e4 Nc6 4 d4 cxd4 5 Nxd4. This is usually classified as a line of the Sicilian, but has more in common with the English Opening.
11. If Black shows that he is willing to go in for the King’s Indian, White should take him on and play d4, either aiming for the Classical or Fianchetto Variations. The former can arise after 1 Nf3 Nf6 2 c4 g6 3 Nc3 Bg7 4 e4 d6 5 d4, while the latter is reached via 3 g3 and a later d4. In the former case, White avoids the Gruenfeld, as 3 …d5 can be met by 4 Qa4+, which is tricky for Black to meet.
12. If Black plays 1 Nf3 Nf6 2 c4 d6, White should play 3 d4, being prepared either for a King’s Indian, if Black develops his bishop to g7, or an Old Indian, if Black does not employ the fianchetto.
13. However, if Black is angling for a Nimzo-Indian or Queen’s Indian, White should hold back the d-pawn. In the former case, 1 Nf3 Nf6 2 c4 e6 should be met by either 3 Nc3 or 3 g3, depending on whether White prefers the Queen’s Gambit or Catalan. In the latter case, White should counter 1 Nf3 Nf6 2 c4 b6 with 3 g3, 4 Bg2, 5 0-0, and aim to play Re1 and e4 before pushing with d4.
14. White will generally meet the Dutch formation (…f5) with d4 as some point, aiming for the main lines of the opening. However, against some specific formations White may benefit from an alternative approach based on d3 and e4.
15. As with the King’s Indian or Old Indian, White will meet the Modern (either via 1 …g6 or 1 …d6) with a system based on d4. After 1 Nf3 d6, White will play the move immediately with 2 d4, while after 1 Nf3 g6 it will come a few moves later, with 2 c4 Bg7 3 e4 d6 4 d4 being a common move order.
16. The move 1 …e6 tends to transpose to other lines, with Black playing either …d5 or …f5.
17. There are a number of other minor systems for Black, against which White should have some basic knowledge about, but they are generally easy to meet with sensible play.

Although the above might seem overwhelming at first, in fact White’s approach after 1 Nf3 is one of those things that is harder to explain than to understand. I would advise sketching out a tree of variations to get a feeling for how all the positions are interlinked.