Maroczy Bind: 5.c4 Nf6 6.Nc3 d6 is variation 3 of 5 in the Accelerated Dragon course, a advanced opening course for Black (ECO B36). It runs 26 moves and begins 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 g6 …. White puts pawns on c4 and e4 to control d5. Black trades knights on d4, fianchettoes the bishop and plays ...Be6, ...Qa5 and ...Rfc8. Black aims at the queenside and the dark squares. In the lesson every move is explained on a board and then drilled; it is free.
Move by move
1. e4 – White takes the centre.
1... c5 – The Sicilian. Black fights for d4 from the side.
2. Nf3 – White develops and prepares d4.
2... Nc6 – Black develops and watches d4.
3. d4 – White opens the centre.
3... cxd4 – Black trades a side pawn for a centre pawn.
4. Nxd4 – The knight takes back.
4... g6 – The Accelerated Dragon. The bishop goes to g7 at once.
5. c4 – The Maroczy Bind. The pawns on c4 and e4 grip d5.
5... Nf6 – Black develops and hits e4 at once.
6. Nc3 – White guards e4.
6... d6 – Black supports e5 and frees the c8 bishop.
7. Be2 – White develops and gets ready to castle.
7... Nxd4 – Black trades knights. In a bind, trades give Black more room.
8. Qxd4 – The queen takes back and stands in the centre.
8... Bg7 – The bishop hits the queen and takes the long diagonal.
The lesson goes on for 10 more moves, each with its explanation.
chessGM