Here are some important positions in the black repertoire:

Against 1. e4: the Pirc/Modern Defense!

Part 1: If they just play normal moves:

Part 2: If they play e4 and an early f4 push:

Part 3: If they castle queenside and play Be3 and Qd2:

To review:

If they play Nf3 and other normal moves: After developing your bishop to g7 and castling, play the move c6! This has the dual ideas of playing Qc7-Nbd7-e5, and also playing b5-b4! If they stop one of these plans, just use the other.

If they play f4 before Nf3:After developing your pieces, play the moves Nc6 and Bg4, applying pressure on their center! If they ever play e5, take and use the d5-square for the knight.

If they play Be3, Qd2, and 0-0-0: Withhold castling! Play for c6, b5, and Qa5, trying to attack their queenside and their castled king! Useful maneuvers include Be6 and Nbd7-c4, where those pieces can put maximum pressure on the queenside.

If white plays any other unusual moves, play in the style of the first example- develop normally (g6, Bg7, 0-0) and then play c6, Qc7, Nbd7, and play for b5 or e5!

GENERAL DO's AND DON'Ts

DO develop your bishop to g7 always

DO put pressure on their center in any way possible

DON'T play pawn to e6. This move wastes time if you want to play e5 later, and sometimes the bishop wants to go to e6, as in the last example!

DON'T allow them to run you over with their center, and always make sure that you have a plan if they push e5 (hint: if they push e5, you almost always take it!)

RULE OF THUMB: If they play e5 with their queen on d1 still, take the pawn and then take the queen. If they play e5 after castling, take the pawn, but DO NOT take the queen on d1, because this will develop their rook for free. Instead, often Nfd7 is a good reply, putting pressure on e5!

Thus concludes the Chris Lawrence repertoire against 1. e4!

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