1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 a6 – Top-Level Repertoire for Black + PGN January 15, 2026

When Magnus Carlsen consistently employs an opening system, the chess world takes notice. The move 3…a6 in the Queen’s Gambit Declined—a seemingly modest pawn push—has become Carlsen’s strategic weapon against the Catalan, transforming what appears to be a minor sideline into a viable fighting system at the highest level. Now, GM Karthik Venkataraman brings this approach to Modern Chess with his debut course, offering a complete repertoire built around the move order 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 a6.