Jobava London: ...c5, ...cxd4 and ...a6 is variation 5 of 5 in the Beating 1.d4 Sidelines course, a intermediate opening course for Black (ECO D01). It runs 22 moves and begins 1. d4 d5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Bf4 c5 4. e3 cxd4 …. Black hits the centre with ...c5, then plays ...a6 to stop Nb5 tricks. After ...Bg4xf3 White has the bishop pair but Black has a sound structure and clear piece play against d4. 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... d5 – Black matches in the centre.
2. Nc3 – The Jobava London: the knight blocks the c-pawn but prepares Nb5 tricks against c7 together with Bf4.
2... Nf6 – Natural development, controlling e4.
3. Bf4 – The bishop joins the Nb5 idea by also eyeing c7.
3... c5 – With White's c-pawn blocked, ...c5 is the most natural way to challenge d4.
4. e3 – Supports d4 and opens the f1 bishop.
4... cxd4 – Black changes the structure: White must recapture with a pawn and gets a d4 pawn without c-pawn support.
5. exd4 – White recaptures toward the centre, opening the e-file.
5... a6 – Stops Nb5, the key Jobava idea that would hit c7 and d6 with the knight and bishop together.
6. Nf3 – White develops and covers e5.
6... Nc6 – Now ...Nc6 is safe and puts pressure on d4.
7. Be2 – White prepares to castle quickly.
7... Bg4 – Pins the f3 knight, which defends d4, so Black can increase pressure on that pawn.
8. h3 – White asks the bishop to decide.
8... Bxf3 – Black gives up the bishop to remove a defender of d4 and to keep White from gaining time with g4.
The lesson goes on for 6 more moves, each with its explanation.
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