Colovic Alex. Queen's Gambit Declined: On the way to the QGD (with a comment grandmaster)

Chessable, 2020.Following the successful repertoire based on the QGD, I decided to complete black's repertoire by covering all the possible alternatives white has after 1. d4 d5.The main of these is undoubtedly the Catalan, a very popular opening at all levels and favourite of such players like Vladimir Kramnik and Wesley So.The Catalan is a very rich opening with a lot of positional ideas for both sides. My proposed line against it is the relatively recent discovery 5... Bd7 (after 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. g3 dc 5. Bg2).A plan for The Catalan
In the beginning, black's plan was to follow up with...Qd7 and long castle and then play...h5-h4, but I feel that here white should have the upper hand – hence my idea for the repertoire is the new plan 9... Rd8 with subsequent play in the centre by...e5.Practice has shown that black has an excellent position and white is yet to pose the slightest of problems here.The second most popular option for white is the London System. A popular choice at club level it has been played quite a lot recently by the elite as well.A simple retort to The London System
Black has many possible plans against it and my proposal is the simple plan of taking on d4 followed by the development of the bishop to f5.This reaches a Carlsbad structure that white players have tried to treat in an aggressive way, but the suggested line with 9... Bg4 effectively neutralises these attempts. Black obtains a very solid position without weaknesses with the clear plan of a minority attack in perspective.The other alternatives are much less common but they still should be taken seriously.Everything else - covered
Here are the attempted Trompowsky 2. Bg5, Jobava’s pet line 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Bf4 (3... a6!), the dubious Blackmar-Diemer Gambit (practically refuted), the Veresov Attack, the Colle and Zukertort Systems and a few more.All of them are carefully analysed and sensible plans for black are proposed. In all lines black has an easy and understandable play.My analysis UPDATED
Like in the QGD series, I again used my own personal analysis to create this repertoire. What I said then is also valid now – this has never been published or made known before and I am actually revealing my own preparation.The lines I suggest are the lines I have intended (and still intend) to play.Many of them I have already used, both in official and training games, and they have withstood the test of time and practice.This is a repertoire I firmly believe in. It has served me well and I will continue to rely on it in the future.I had great results with these lines and I wish you have even better ones.Good luck!