Crush 1.b3 with 1...e5!
I recently published a Chessable course titled 'Crush 1.b3 with 1...e5!". It can be purchased here for $9.99 (currently on sale for $6.99). There are over 9,000 words, 41 drillable variations, and 3 annotated games. The average line depth is 11.75 (including the games).
I recommend the following variation.
"Most White players will never have encountered this move (7...Ne7). I checked, and none of the big three books on 1. b3, Jacobs & Tait's "Nimzo-Larsen Attack", Odessky's "Play 1. b3" nor Lakdawala's "Nimzo-Larsen Attack: Move by Move" in as much as mention it!" - IndreRe
The variation that Hikaru Nakamura consistently plays online seems to be refuted, I cover how Black can obtain a winning advantage. For proof that Hikaru has been consistently walking into this variation, check his chess.com database with the moves 1. b3 e5 2. Bb2 d5 3. e3 Nc6 4. Bb5 Bd6 5. f4 f6 6. fxe5 fxe5 7. Nf3.
I recommend 7...Nh6! though the complications after 7...Qe7 are also covered and favor Black. Here is the critical line:
In the critical lines after 5.f4 f6 6.Qh5+, you can expect some '0.00' positions that objectively favor Black due to his initiative. Stockfish sometimes changes its mind and agrees that Black is better there. Here is a relevant quote on '0.00' positions.
'AlphaZero's was normally the only dissenting voice: in positions assessed at 0.00 by the engines, its evaluation was often positive for itself. Putting that together with the score AlphaZero was making in such positions, it made me wonder whether a new chapter had been opened on 0.00 evaluations. (...) It would then be unsurprising if a percentage of such narrow 0.00 paths were in fact better for the attacker, and not holding for the defender.' - GM Matthew Sadler (Source: Game Changer: AlphaZero's Groundbreaking Chess Strategies and the Promise of AI)
Here are some quotes from product reviews:
"I have faith in the strength of his recommendations, as every time I've questioned something, particularly in the sharp 5. f4 lines, I find that the silicon brains eventually come around to his conclusions." - Dennis Norman
"I think this is one of the best way to meet 1. b3 for initiative-minded players." - Indrek Reiland
"I think what Logozar has created here is an excellent response to practical play, which is very likely going to give you great chances in your games." - David Milliern
"On the whole I am convinced that a player armed with the knowledge of this course will be able to get good positions against 1.b3 and no longer fear this off-beat opening by white." - 64reasonstoplay
"An amazing book which counters b3 quite effectively. The lines are sharp and sound with in-depth explanations. I think everything is covered. I really don't have anything to criticize. Thank you for another great book, logozar!" - NM FrenchIsBad
"A good repertoire against a first move that is often left unstudied even by master-strength black players. The recommendations are typical logozar: sharp, with a constant striving for the initiative, but always based on sound positional grounds. Scrupulous work has been done in researching and analyzing all the major variations. The analysis can be deep but is never overwhelming. As usual, logozar includes many visual cues to enhance understanding and memorization. Highly recommended -- 5/5 stars." - NM 1e41-0
"Let our opponents navigate through the wilderness while we have a sip of water and say in our minds - "Thanks to the 'Legendary Logozar' and to Chessable!" (...) "Let us all join hands together and "Crush 1.b3 with 1...e5!" along with Logozar! " - FM Ajay Karthikeyan
"I recommend this course for players at all levels because it is easy to learn and black gets a practical edge as well as at least objective equality in all lines. If there is a reason you are not comfortable with a line logozar always offers alternatives. I have been a b3 player and have some pretty good accomplishments with it including drawing Jeffery Xiong so I know how annoying this line is against 1.b3." - FM Anish Vivekananthan
"I am very fond of the lines the author gives. His lines are neither boring nor dry. On the contrary, they are exciting and quite sharp at times. But again, these lines don't jump overboard with the sharpness. The lines are sharp, but they are also definitely calculated. Also, don't worry about being stranded. The author covers all the critical lines you need to know in order to play against 1.b3. And as for the evaluations of the lines, they equalize at least, sometimes even taking the advantage for Black himself. Overall, the lines are well-chosen, the content instructive, the proportion balanced just right, I don't think there are many flaws in this book. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for an answer to 1.b3 as Black, and in general this repertoire is a very nice addition to pretty much any player's arsenal of weapons, no matter the rating. Purchase this book, and chances are you won't regret your decision." - straightline
