The surprising 5.Bf4 in the Carlsbad

Almost all games in the Queen’s Gambit Declined Exchange Variation start with 5.Bg5, but the modern 5.Bf4 is just as strong and less known. Patterns are very similar, but there are a couple of very nice details that ask Black numerous difficult questions. This 60-Minutes course is a great addition for 1.d4-players. The play against an Isolated Queen’s Pawn or the fierce and household “minority-attack” are very thematic and provide active and interesting play. Black is often stuck with their bad light-squared bishop. The Queen’s Gambit Declined Exchange Variation with 5.Bf4 has a great balance between positional play and sharp pawn pushes; and will be a surprise for your opponents while being easy to learn for you, as the key patterns are familiar.

Free video sample: Introduction