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Put Pressure on the Board and on the Clock with this Speed Chess Repertoire

Chess is getting faster. Every year, there are more rapid and blitz events for all levels – and even classical chess is faster than it was in the past.

So what does that mean for you? It gives you a great opportunity to exploit your opponent’s lack of thinking time. If they have 2 hours to figure out an unfamiliar position, they might get there. But if they only have 15 minutes for the whole game? It’s not so easy!

GM Volodymyr Vetoshko aims to exploit that advantage as much as possible. His Rapid & Blitz 1.e4 Repertoire will put pressure on your opponents early in the game – taking them out of their comfort zone and posing problems that are impossible to solve when the clock is ticking.

So, what’s in the repertoire?

Against the Sicilian, you’ll play 3.Qxd4. This kind of variation demonstrates GM Vetoshko’s idea – this isn’t a “tricks and traps” repertoire, the lines are sound but unusual. There are no dubious gambits but a clear pathway away from your opponent’s preparation and into your home ground.

White is set up to develop quickly and get an advantage

4.a3 in the Four Knights will be your main weapon against 1…e5. This rare variation requires concrete knowledge for Black to survive the opening unscathed.

4.a3!? looks unusual, but controlling the b4 square is extremely useful

Against the French, Bd3 will be your weapon. You’ll avoid the sharp mainlines but you don’t need to take all the fun out of the position with the Exchange Variation. Bd3 gives excellent winning chances and won’t be something your opponents see every day.

Bd3 leads to unusual French positions, with the bishop often exerting control from f3

And against the Caro-Kann, you’ll play the Exchange Variation. You should note that the position isn’t symmetrical, like in the Exchange French, which gives White plenty of opportunities to play for a win.

This reversed-Carlsbad structure leads to a complex strategic fight

The repertoire is rounded out with options against the Scandinavian, Pirc, Modern and Alekhine. This gives you a complete White repertoire in under 300 variations. As you can see from the positions above, GM Vetoshko recommends logical lines that don’t take huge risks – so they’re perfectly playable in classical chess too.

Volodymyr Vetoshko is a Ukrainian Grandmaster with a peak rating of 2541. He won 5 Ukrainian Championships as a junior. He’s an active professional player and chess coach, working with hundreds of players over the last few years. He capped off 2024 by becoming the Ukrainian blitz Vice-Champion, demonstrating his prowess at fast time controls.

This repertoire will work best in faster games when you have the chance to surprise your opponent. But you won’t have to play dubious gambits or take huge risks to get there – sound strategic ideas will help you steer the game towards an opening advantage.