Reversed Dragon: 3.g3 d5 is variation 4 of 6 in the Against the English: 1...e5 course, a intermediate opening course for Black (ECO A22). It runs 22 moves and begins 1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. g3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 …. Black hits the centre with ...d5, puts the knight on b6 and castles. Then Black plays ...Be6 and ...f5 and gains space on the king's side. In the lesson every move is explained on a board and then drilled; it is free.
Move by move
1. c4 – The English Opening.
1... e5 – Black takes the centre.
2. Nc3 – White guards d5.
2... Nf6 – Black develops.
3. g3 – White goes for the fianchetto before Nf3.
3... d5 – Black hits the centre at once. This is the Reversed Dragon.
4. cxd5 – White takes.
4... Nxd5 – Black takes back with the knight.
5. Bg2 – The bishop attacks the d5 knight.
5... Nb6 – The main move. The knight is safe on b6 and watches d5 and c4.
6. Nf3 – White develops and attacks e5.
6... Nc6 – Black defends e5.
7. O-O – White castles.
7... Be7 – Black gets ready to castle. The bishop is solid on e7.
8. d3 – White covers e4.
8... O-O – Black castles too.
The lesson goes on for 6 more moves, each with its explanation.
chessGM