The Eternal Ragozin Defense – Part 1 + PGN November 20, 2025

The Ragozin Defense: Where Classical Soundness Meets Dynamic Counterplay

For decades, Black players facing 1.d4 have wrestled with a fundamental dilemma: how to combine classical reliability with genuine winning chances. The Queen’s Gambit Declined often leads to positions where breaking through requires exceptional patience. The Grünfeld and King’s Indian promise dynamism but demand encyclopedic theoretical knowledge and nerves of steel in razor-sharp tactical battles.

The Ragozin Defense offers something different—a synthesis that feels almost too good to be true. After 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 Bb4, Black develops naturally, pins the c3-knight, and maintains constant tension in the center. The position breathes with possibilities: tactical strikes with …c5 or …dxc4, strategic maneuvering around the isolated queen’s pawn structures, and endgames where Black’s activity compensates for any positional drawbacks. It’s a system where understanding the character of positions matters more than memorizing computer lines—precisely the kind of opening that rewards players looking for practical variations to play.

GM Mahammad Muradli’s Fresh Perspective

The Eternal Ragozin Defense – Part 1 marks the Modern Chess debut of GM Mahammad Muradli, an Azerbaijani grandmaster who reached a peak rating of 2609 FIDE. His approach to the Ragozin emerges from years of practical experience rather than pure theoretical obsession—he emphasizes understanding plans and ideas over pure memorization, making this course particularly valuable for players who want a repertoire that scales with their chess understanding.

Muradli’s philosophy resonates throughout the course structure. He presents the Ragozin as an opening where “understanding beats memorization,” focusing on the natural flow of development, the central tension, and the flexibility to choose between tactical and positional paths depending on the position’s character. This isn’t about learning 25-move computer lines; it’s about grasping the strategic logic that makes the Ragozin work at every level.

Course Structure and Variation Map

The course systematically addresses White’s most challenging responses to the Ragozin, divided into ten comprehensive chapters built around two main systems:

After 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 Bb4:

The 5.Qa4+ System (Chapters 1-5)

• Chapter 1: 5.Qa4+ Nc6 6.Ne5 and other rare sixth moves—detailed analysis of White’s sidelines
• Chapter 2: 5.Qa4+ Nc6 6.a3—dynamic, sharp positions with precise solutions for Black
• Chapter 3: 5.Qa4+ Nc6 6.e3 O-O 7.Bd2—secondary but important variation
• Chapter 4: 5.Qa4+ Nc6 6.e3 O-O 7.Qc2 Na5 8.cxd5—White’s solid approach
• Chapter 5: 5.Qa4+ Nc6 6.e3 O-O 7.Qc2 Na5 8.c5—the most challenging line requiring accurate defense

The 5.Bg5 System (Chapters 6-10)

• Chapter 6: 5.Bg5 h6 6.Bh4—interesting pawn sacrifice leading to sharp, unbalanced positions
• Chapter 7: 5.Bg5 h6 6.Bxf6 Qxf6 7.e3—rare top-level line preventing White’s ideal attacking setup
• Chapter 8: 5.Bg5 h6 6.Bxf6 Qxf6 7.Qb3—endgame line with clear path to equality
• Chapter 9: 5.Bg5 h6 6.Bxf6 Qxf6 7.Qa4+ Nc6 8.e3 O-O 9.Be2—most played move, featuring rare and clear options
• Chapter 10: 5.Bg5 h6 6.Bxf6 Qxf6 7.Qa4+ Nc6 8.e3 O-O 9.Rc1—main line with proof that it poses no problems

The remaining options will be covered in the final Part 2 which will be released in December!

What’s Inside

The Eternal Ragozin Defense – Part 1 delivers comprehensive preparation materials:

• 10 Chapters covering White’s main theoretical challenges
• 30 Test Positions to verify understanding and sharpen calculation
• Memory Booster system for efficient retention of key ideas
• To Go Version of every chapter for quick study
• Video Instruction providing context and explanation beyond the written analysis
• Multilingual PGN availability (English, German, French, Spanish)