Chapter 4 The Quiet Line 3.e3 e5 1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.e3 [diagram] This tricky move order, avoids an important drawish line that Black can choose after 3.Nf3 b5, and though it allows the simplifying 3.e5, it gives White more options if Black selects other continuations. Black must decide between 3.
e5 and moves such as 3.a6, 3.e6 or 3.Nf6 which all tend to transpose to the same position in a few moves. Let's take a look: 3.e5 After 3.e6, 4.Bxc4 Nf6 5.
Nf3 a6 transposes to positions covered in other chapters. 4.Bxc4 The history of the alternative 4.dxe5 goes back to 1795, and most notably the famous De Labourdonnais-McDonnell match of 1834, where McDonnell embraced the Queen's Gambit Accepted. After 4.Qxd1+ 5.Kxd1 Nc6 6.f4 (or 6.
Nd2 Nxe5 7.Nxc4 Nc6! 8.Nf3 Be6 9.a3 0-0-0+ 10.Ke1 Be7 11.Bd2 Nf6 12.Bc3 Ne4 13.Bxg7 Rhg8 14.
Bc3 Nxc3 15.bxc3 Rd5 16.Nd4 Nxd4 17.exd4 c5 18.Ne3 Rdd8 19.Bd3 cxd4 20.cxd4 h5 21.g3 Rxd4, preserving a significant advantage for Black.
) 6.Be6 McDonnell secured a large advantage, but went on to lose the actual game. 4.exd4 5.exd4 Bd6! [diagram] The new approach to this line. A couple of instructive examples will make you stay away from putting the bishop on e7. Let's take a look: 5.Nf6 6.
Nf3 Be7 7.0-0 0-0 8.Nc3 Nbd7 9.Re1 Nb6 10.Bb3 c6 11.Bg5 Nbd5 11.Bg4 also does not help as White plays 12.h3 Bh5 13.
g4 Bg6 14.Ne5! with serious threats of h4 and f4. 14.Nfd5 15.Bxe7 Nxe7 16.f4 h6 17.f5 Bh7 18.Ne4 is not the appetizing position you imagine you will get in the opening as you're having your morning meal.
This is the reason why developing the bishop to d6 has become the staple in this variation in recent years. Back to 11.Nbd5: 12.Nxd5. Now in Artemiev-Ivanchuk 2017, Black had to accept the worse strategic position with 12.cxd5, as after the move he played, 12.Nxd5, White had a clear-cut tactical operation in 13.Rxe7 Nxe7 14.
Qe2 Be6 (14.Re8 15.Re1 also loses) 15.Bxe6 fxe6 16.Qxe6+ Rf7 17.Ne5 Qd5 18.Qxf7+ Qxf7 19.Nxf7 Kxf7 20.
Kf1, with an extra pawn and good winning chances. 6.Nf3 Now White has two completely different approaches in his attempt to fight for an advantage in this position. He can choose to trade into an endgame in which - although he has an isolated d-pawn - his pieces are very active, or he can keep the queens on and try his luck using the e-file, putting pressure on the a2-g8 diagonal with his slight edge in space.