The Solid 1.d4 - Part 1 - GM Adrien Demuth

Opening d4 course by GM Adrien Demuth
Includes video and PGN

Language: English
Lectures: 17
Total Running Time: 15 hours 26 minutes

From the course:

An Easily Learned and Effective Queen’s Pawn Repertoire

The favorite first move of Capablanca, Botvinnik, Kramnik, and Duda, 1.d4 is an opening preferred by the world’s most solid, positional players.

And if you’re looking to play like these strategically sound boa constrictors, Grandmaster Adrien Demuth has got the repertoire for you.

This elite coach and opening theoretician knows the recipes for success in the queen’s pawn opening - he’s proven it in numerous chess tournaments in his native France and around the world.

But more importantly for you, he’s made his students successful with it in their own tournaments - namely the French national teams in the Olympiads, European Chess Championships, and World Youth Championships!

What’s in the Repertoire?

Though opening theoretician he may be, this 1.d4 repertoire is not overly theoretical. You will certainly get a proper explanation of the theoretical concepts at play, but GM Demuth does a superb job at breaking down the logic behind theory and ensuring you can reach practical, playable positions easily in your own games.

This repertoire is based on the famously solid yet ambitious Queen’s Gambit, known for giving little concession to Black and still retaining winning chances.

But the repertoire is so comprehensive that it had to be divided into two parts! In Part 1, GM Demuth keeps it classical and presents every opening you’ll encounter after 1...d5. You’ll learn the ins and outs of the:

♛ Queen’s Gambit Declined - this is Black’s most solid response and the bulk of Part 1. You’ll learn not only the mainstream lines like the Exchange Variation, but also sidelines like the increasingly popular Janowski Variation (3...a6)

♛ Queen’s Gambit Accepted - GM Demuth shows you how to punish Black for giving up the center with 2...dxc4 and protect against any tricks he has up his sleeve

♛ Slav Defense - you’ll avoid the elaborate theory of the robust Slav and play a comfortable, practical game with the Exchange Variation. GM Demuth shows you the right timing to fight for an advantage

♛ Tarrasch and Semi-Tarrasch - you’ll learn how to keep calm and put the fire to Black’s feet when he plays 3...c5 (or delays it as in the Semi-Tarrasch), creating tension in the center and often an isolated queen pawn. You’ll also learn to beat the aggressive yet logically destitute Schara-Hennig Gambit (4...cxd4)

♛ Black’s lesson common defenses - in addition to the mainstream tournament openings, GM Demuth has you covered with explanations on how to deal with more clubbish openings, such as the Baltic Defense (2...Bf4), Marshall Defense (2...Nf6), Albin Countergambit (2...e5), Stonewall System (3...f5) and more

With roughly 400 lines, you’ll be booked up and ready to handle anything Black plays after 1...d5. And after Part 2 where you’ll learn the 1...Nf6 openings, you’ll have a complete winning 1.d4 repertoire that will last you for years to come.