The word "cunning" is the operative term. Unlike a "solid" or "positional" repertoire, which aims for a small, safe advantage, a cunning repertoire is designed to create practical problems for your opponent from move one.
For the sophisticated player, the Catalan (1. d4, 2. c4, and 3. g3) offers deep positional pressure. It is "cunning" because the nuances of the light-squared bishop's power often elude amateur players, leading to long-term suffering for Black. 3. The Trompowsky Attack
For players who prefer positional tension with sudden tactical outbursts, closed or semi-closed systems offer excellent transpositional tricks:
Do not try to memorize all 18 lines at once. Print the first 3 variations (e.g., against the Sicilian). Play 10 rapid games (15+10 time control) and force those lines. Every time you forget a move, consult the PDF immediately.
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