Alapin Variation: 5.a4; alternatives to 5...Bf5, "Slav Defense: Exchange, Symmetrical Line - Chess Openings", "Slav Defense: Exchange, Symmetrical Line, 7.e3 e6 8.Bd3 - Chess Openings", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Slav_Defense&oldid=999043987, Articles with unsourced statements from July 2013, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. White will often play his bishop to f4, controlling the important dark squares e5, d6, c7, and b8 (this last square reduces Black's control over the b-file should it open). Therefore, "Pure" Slav players sometimes meet 3.Nc3 with 3...dxc4, the Argentinian Defense, which can transpose to the main line of the "Pure" Slav. It’s a super-solid opening that, played right, is really tough to break down. Many great games have been played in the Slav Defense and it’s definitely worth studying them. Save openings to your computer even the ones you continue to play and make your own Opening Repertoire. In the Slav after 4...dxc4, white plays 5.a4, and Black can't defend the c4 pawn with 5...b5 (6.axb5 cxb5 7.Nxb5 Qa5+ 8.Nc3 for example). The Slav Defense, however, after 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 addresses both of these problems for Black. This helps us to keep track of the jungle of variations. Therefore, lines with an early …dxc4 don’t make any sense for Black anymore. It’s a shortcut to play the Slav Defense with Black if you don’t have the time to study a lot of opening theory. This ultimate guide to the Slav Defense provides you with all you need to know about this fascinating opening. In this video, FM Will Stewart covers two classical games to provide you with the key ideas for Black in this variation. That means by playing it, you are automatically maximizing your chances. must-read guide on chess openings for Black. 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 e6 However, 4…Bf5 saves you a lot of time studying theory and there is also a good chance that many White players at club level are not familiar with the most ambitious variation. In the following video, FM Will Stewart takes a look at the less challenging setups White can try: Secondly, he investigates the critical line that a well-prepared White player can come up with: If you want to enter the mainlines in the variation after 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3, however, you’re well-advised to play the move 4…dxc4. The pressure on Black's center prevents 3...Bf5? Most importantly, you get a better overall understanding of the positions arising from your opening. © 2021 iChess.net. He has three main options here: After the moves 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6, White is again at a crossroad. Other strong players to follow are Chinese Grandmasters like Wang Yue, Wang Hao, and Bu Yiangzhi. First of all, the Slav Defense is considered to be one of the most successful openings and has an excellent score in chess databases. Master Chess Openings, Chess Databases, Chess Games, Chess Openings, Chess Tools, Grand Masters, Chess Program, Chess Tactics, Eco Code System, Chess Books In fact, it carries some hidden bite. Lets take a close look at all the variations we’ve mentioned, step-by-step, building an easy to learn repertoire for Black. It is very rarely known at club level and, trust me here, if you wing it out against an unsuspecting opponent you will shock them. The a6 Slav occurs after 4...a6. First of all, before we can start studying the lines in our opening system, we need to make sure that we actually reach our opening. It’s a very solid and reliable opening which also helps you to become a better overall strategic player. Your email address will not be published. Yet, the outcome of the opening struggle often depends on this question of whether Black will be able to achieve activity with this bishop, or whether it will remain a passive piece, locked in by its own pawns. White can achieve an important space advantage with 5.c5. A niche line of the Sicilian is a side line of the Sicilian that is not typically played. First, we’re going to take a look at the less dangerous older lines (including an early Ng1-f3) White can try. In the following video, FM Will Stewart covers the main ideas for Black in this variation and looks at four games where players like Magnus Carlsen, Alexei Shirov and Alexey Dreev show us how to approach the position with the Black pieces. Black can try either 6...Nbd7 7.Nxc4 Qc7 or 7...Nb6 or 6...e6 7.f3 Bb4, when 8.e4 Bxe4 9.fxe4 Nxe4 is a complex piece sacrifice with the possible continuation 10.Bd2 Qxd4 11.Nxe4 Qxe4+ 12.Qe2 Bxd2+ 13.Kxd2 Qd5+ 14.Kc2 Na6. The opening has been a regular guest in World Chess Championship Matches throughout history. A more energetic line begins 6.Ne5 (Krause Attack) where White intends f2–f3 and e2–e4 or Nxc4, perhaps followed by a fianchetto of the king bishop with g2–g3 and Bg2. If you want to study the latter move more deeply, the following video should be of interest to you. It’s definitely a good starting point for exploring lines after 6.Ne5. Slav defense also has a better pawn skeleton for Black and prevents the likelihood of an attack by White pawns on the Q-side. However, White has an additional option after 4.Qc2 as he does not need to immediately recapture the pawn on c4 after 4…dxc4. The Slav can be entered by many move orders. You can check the games of Magnus Carlsen, Vishy Anand, Vladimir Kramnik, and Shakhriyar Mamedyarov, for example. 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