Lifetime Repertoires: Neo-Catalan - Part 3 - GM Sam Shankland

Opening course on the Neo-Catalan by GM Sam Shankland
Includes video and PGN

Language: English
Lectures: 13
Total Running Time: 8 hours 39 minutes

From the course:

Turn the Tables on the Reversed Sicilian
For the Ultimate 1.c4 Repertoire

In Part 3 of Grandmaster Sam Shankland's Lifetime Repertoires: Neo-Catalan, you will learn to fight against Black's most common and principled response to 1.c4, the Reversed Sicilian (1...e5).

The good news is: you'll be chomping at the bit for them to play 1…e5, as you're playing a ferocious Reverse Dragon Sicilian a tempo up.

Your extra tempo allows you to nullify the most challenging tries against the Dragon, the Maroczy Bind and the Yugoslav Attack. They simply are not feasible in the Neo-Catalan.

You'll pick up one of the most effective and innovative opening repertoires that few opponents are ready to face.

What you will learn to do:

?Punish Black immediately if they try a Maroczy Bind - after 1.c4 e5 2.g3 Nf6 3.Bg2 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5. Nc3 Be6 6.Nf3, Black must block their c-pawn to defend the e-pawn with their knight

?Start a powerful queenside pawn push and get your rook on an open file - when Black fianchettos their bishop on g7

? Master the subtleties of the move orders to place maximum pressure - pieces tend to go to natural squares in this opening, but learning when to place your pieces is crucial

?Strike at the center with a well-timed d2-d4 pawn push in the Karpov System (1.c4 e5 2. g3 Nc6 3.Bg2 Bc5) - get an ideal pawn structure with your bishop controlling every square on the h1-a8 diagonal

?Deploy effective antidotes against all early sidelines - including a surprising knight jump to h4 where it will remain secure