Jobava London Reversed – Complete Repertoire for Black + PGN February 10, 2026

Jobava London Reversed – Complete Repertoire for Black

The Reversed London: Seizing Initiative with Colors Inverted

When GM Gata Kamsky began employing 1.d4 Nc6 against the London System, he demonstrated a fundamental truth: positional systems can be turned against their practitioners. IM Kushager Krishnater takes this concept further in his latest course, Jobava London Reversed – Complete Repertoire for Black, presenting 2…Nc6 as Black’s weapon against 1.Nf3 and g3 setups. The leitmotif here is elegant in its simplicity—White’s comfortable development scheme becomes Black’s tool for seizing early initiative, transforming a typically solid opening into fighting, dynamic positions where Black dictates the character of the struggle.

What Makes This Course Unique

The repertoire challenges conventional opening wisdom. Instead of reacting to White’s King’s Indian Attack or Réti setups, Black immediately stakes a claim in the center with an early …Nc6 and …Bf5, adopting a reversed Jobava London structure. This approach offers significant practical advantages: White players expecting calm, symmetrical positions face unfamiliar imbalances, while Black enjoys the psychological edge of playing a system more commonly associated with White’s arsenal. Krishnater’s treatment goes beyond surface-level understanding, providing concrete solutions to White’s critical tries while maintaining flexibility across multiple move orders.

The course structure reflects thorough theoretical coverage combined with practical playability. Krishnater examines everything from passive third-move sidelines to the razor-sharp 8.dxe6 and the critical 8.e4 mainlines, ensuring Black has clear plans regardless of White’s setup. The repertoire balances soundness with surprise value—positions are objectively fine for Black while offering genuine winning chances against unprepared opponents.

Variation Map

The repertoire branches from 1.Nf3 d5 2.g3 Nc6:

Early Deviations:

• Chapter 1: 3.Bg2 and other third-move sidelines (Black plays …e5 comfortably)
• Chapter 2: 3.d4 Bf5 4.a3 and fourth-move alternatives (Black equalizes easily)

The Nh4 System:

• Chapter 3: 4.Nh4 attacking the bishop (concrete solutions provided)
• Chapter 4: 4.Bg2 e6 5.Nh4 and 5.c3 (related ideas to the 4.Nh4 line)

Main 4.Bg2 Systems:

• Chapter 5: 4.Bg2 e6 5.O-O Nb4 6.Na3 (comfortable equality)
• Chapters 6-7: 4.Bg2 e6 5.O-O Nb4 6.Ne1 Be7
  • Chapter 6: 7th-move sidelines (Black has no serious problems)
  • Chapter 7: 7.c3 mainline (fresh ideas with surprise value)

Critical 4.c4 Lines:

• Chapter 8: 4.c4 e6 5.Qa4 and 6.Na3 sidelines (non-critical, Black is comfortable)
• Chapter 9: 4.c4 e6 5.Bg2 Nb4 6.O-O Nc2 7.cxd5 Nxa1 8.dxe6 (sharp play, accurate coverage)
• Chapter 10: 8.e4 – the most critical test (deep theory with new ideas)