Janowski Variation: 3...Bf5 4.f3 is variation 5 of 6 in the Old Indian Defence course, a intermediate opening course for Black (ECO A53). It runs 22 moves and begins 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 d6 3. Nc3 Bf5 4. f3 e5 …. Black develops the light-squared bishop early to f5. White kicks it with f3 and e4. Black strikes with ...e5 and ...exd4, chases the queen with ...Nc6 and fianchettoes the other bishop. In the lesson every move is explained on a board and then drilled; it is free.
Move by move
1. d4 – White takes the centre.
1... Nf6 – Black develops and watches e4.
2. c4 – White gains space.
2... d6 – The Old Indian. Black prepares e5.
3. Nc3 – White develops.
3... Bf5 – The Janowski Variation. The bishop comes out before the e-pawn moves and fights for e4.
4. f3 – The main line. White prepares e4 to chase the bishop.
4... e5 – Black strikes at d4 at once.
5. e4 – White attacks the f5 bishop.
5... exd4 – Black ignores the attack and takes on d4. If White takes the bishop, Black takes the knight on c3.
6. Qxd4 – The queen takes back and the bishop is attacked again.
6... Nc6 – Black develops with an attack on the queen.
7. Qd2 – The queen steps back to d2.
7... Be6 – Now the bishop steps back to e6. From there it hits the c4 pawn.
8. b3 – White guards the c4 pawn.
8... g6 – Black prepares to fianchetto the other bishop.
The lesson goes on for 6 more moves, each with its explanation.
chessGM