THE move 3.Bf4, after 1.d4 d5 2.Nc3 Nf6, lags well behind 3.Bg5 in ChessBase's 2020 Mega database - 4,153 examples of the former compared to 18,144 of the latter.
But the figures for last year alone show a complete reversal - 556 for 3.Bf4 and 294 for 3.Bg5.
Clearly the Jobava-Prié is the Queen's Pawn Game of the future (or at least the present).
But as yet the literature is limited, and even more so from Black's view.
Here are what I believe this series has shown the main ideas of the Jobava-Prié to be.
1) White has a crude threat in Nb5, targeting the c7 square regardless of whether there is a Black pawn there. Even very strong players have occasionally forgotten that the move ...c5 does not stop the c7 square being vulnerable.
2) Black usually needs to take prophylaxis against Nb5. A favourite at the highest levels is an early ...a6 to allow a quick ...c5. The main alternatives are ...c6 and the pinning ...Bb4.
3) White's dark-square bishop on f4 can easily be challenged by Black's dark-square bishop from d6. White's three main responses - Bxd6, Bg3 and ignoring the threat (assuming the f4 bishop is not just hanging) - are quite different and have long-term consequences, but may often be a matter of taste. It is best to decide how you will (normally) react before you sit down at the board.
4) Black has a major decision to make on whether to develop his light-square bishop early and actively outside the pawn-chain on f5, or leave it 'trapped' behind the lines by playing ...e6. Expressed like this, it might be thought the former option is obviously better, but things are not so clear. The bishop is certainly more active on f5, but it can be hit by white expansion, eg f3, g4 and h4 etc, or sometimes f3 and e4. It can also be easily challenged by Bd3, when Black has similar choices to White under 3). When the bishop is left passively on c8, it need not be 'trapped' for long - swopping it for White's light-square bishop via ...b6 and ...Ba6 may be possible.
5) Black usually pressurises White's centre with ...c5 (except in lines where ...c6 is played). In general, Black's chances lie on the queenside, as indicated by the fact that Black usually forms the queenside-pointing pawn-chain f7-e6-d5.
6) White usually hopes to play in the centre and on the kingside. Often this comes via a slow build-up after castling short, but sometimes White can castle long, especially if Black has played ...Bf5 and allowed White to push kingside pawns with tempo.
7) White has a very good chance of getting the basic starting position of the Jobava-Prié, either by 1.d4 d5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Bf4 or 1.d4 Nf6 2.Nc3 d5 3.Bf4.
After 1.d4 d5 2.Nc3, a French Defence player might try 2...e6, while a Caro-Kann player could choose 2...c6. In each case, White can transpose into these e-pawn openings, or stay in Jobava-Prié territory with 3.Bf4.
After 1.d4 Nf6 2.Nc3, Black can head for a Pirc with 2...d6. Grandmasters have played 3.Bf4!? even here but, theoretically at least, it is better to be ready for the consequences of 3.e4.
Similarly, strong players have been happy to play Bf4 after 1.d4 e6 2.Nc3 f5, and even after 1.d4 f5.
8) The Jobava-Prié is not some sensational wunderkind guaranteed to blow blacks off the board. True, there will be games where an inexperienced Black, at least inexperienced in terms of the Jobava-Prié, will go fundamentally wrong at an early stage. But generally White should get on with development and look forward to a middlegame where White's chances lie in the centre and against Black's king, while Black's chances, although not to be underestimated, lie on the less-critical queenside. It is comforting to know that even if White loses the plot at some stage and gets into trouble on the queenside, there is always the possibility Black will allow a coup against the black king.
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