Key ideas
- Black's main challenge is the light-squared bishop, hemmed in by the pawn on e6. Freeing breaks with ...c5 or ...e5 solve most problems.
- After an exchange on d5, the Carlsbad structure appears. White often plays the minority attack, advancing b4-b5 to create a weak pawn on Black's queenside.
- Popular systems include the Orthodox Defence, the Tartakower Defence (...h6 and ...b6) and the Ragozin.
Plans for White
Pressure d5 and the queenside, develop with Nc3, Bg5 or Bf4, and choose between the minority attack and a central e4 break.
Plans for Black
Stay solid, complete development, and time ...c5 or ...e5 to release the position.
Watch out
The Elephant Trap: after 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Nbd7 5.cxd5 exd5, the tempting 6.Nxd5? loses a piece to 6...Nxd5! 7.Bxd8 Bb4+.