Martin also proposes an alternative set-up against 2.Nf3, namely 2. …d6 followed by Bg4?!. But this old line, which had already been played by British Grandmaster Tony Miles, is also considered to be better for White. However, in contrast to the line mentioned above, it is still playable.
In my opinion Black has only two valid ways to answer 2. Nf3: transposing with 2. …e5 into the Open Games - and here 1...Nc6 helped Black to avoid the King's Gambit, the Vienna Gambit and the Centre GAme. Or - and this is what I would recommend - Black opts for a kind of Pirc set-up with 2. …d6 followed by Nf6, g6, Bg7 and almost always e7-e5. This is what FM James Schuyler recommends in his good book „The Dark Knight System“. To my mind it is the third weakness of the DVD that Martin does not mention this set-up at all.
English Opening Repertoire
04:52 min
Introduction 1.c4 e5
06:09 min
Early deviations after 1.c4 e5 2.g3
26:27 min
1.c4 e5 2.g3 Nf6 3.Bg2 various
22:18 min
1.c4 e5 2.g3 Nf6 3.Bg2 d5
31:32 min
1.c4 e5 2.g3 Nc6 3.Bg2 various
15:27 min
The closed Sicilian reversed: 1.c4 e5 2.g3 Nc6 3.Bg2 g6/d6
22:18 min
Introduction to the symmetrical English Opening: 1.c4 c5
05:33 min
The symmetrical English: 1.c4 c5 2.g3 g6
25:39 min
The symmetrical English: 1.c4 c5 2.g3 Nf6 3.Bg2 d5
21:04 min
The symmetrical English: Rare moves after 1.c4 c5 2.g3
14:45 min
Introduction 1.c4 c6
06:51 min
1.c4 c6 2.g3 d5 3.Nf3 Bf5/Bg4 setups
28:01 min
1.c4 c6 2.g3 d5 3.Nf3 - Setups with g6
23:04 min
1.c4 c6 2.g3 d5 3.Nf3 dxc4
37:12 min
Introduction to 1.c4 e6
06:21 min
1.c4 e6 2.g3 d5 - Tarrasch and Semi-Tarrasch
22:32 min
Rare moves after 1.c4 e6 2.g3 d5 3.Bg2
31:08 min
1.c4 e6 2.g3 d5 3.Bg2 Nf6 4.Nf3 Be7
28:33 min
Introduction 1.c4 Nf6 and others
04:39 min
1.c4 Nf6 various and King's Indian setup
13:08 min
1.c4 Nf6 Grünfeld style
18:08 min
The fianchettos 1.c4 g6 and 1.c4 b6
18:52 min
The Dutch: 1.c4 f5
25:58 min
Rare moves after 1.c4
14:03 min