Questions tagged [slav-defense]
The Slav Defense is the opening characterized by the moves 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6.
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Slav / Semi-slav Bf4 is bad?
In a recent game I played 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 (Semi-slav), then as White played Bf4 because I didn't know any theory. Lichess analysis board says this is a non-trivial opening ...
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In the Symmetrical Exchange Slav, why is 7. e3 played before 8. Qb3?
After:
[fen ""]
[Startply "12"]
1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. cxd5 cxd5 4. Nf3 Nc6 5. Nc3 Nf6 6. Bf4 Bf5
How does 7. e3 e6 8. Qb3 benefit white as opposed to the immediate 7. Qb3?
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Bf5 in the Slav
I've read that it can be a tempting pitfall for Black in the Slav Defense to play an early Bf5, as this results in a weakening of the b7 square, which White might punish with Qb3. This is apparently ...
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Why is 4. e3 preferred over 4. e4 in this line of the Slav?
Why is 4. e3 preferred over 4. e4 in this line of the Slav?
rnbqkbnr/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/RNBQKBNR w KQkq - 0 1
1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 dxc4 4. e3
I would expect 4. e4 to be preferred, as it ...
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Chebanenko Slav vs Queen's Gambit Declined?
I am around 1400 ELO (on chess dot com) and mostly play daily chess.
I like solid positions where I get to a roughly even middle game without a lot of blazing tactics.
Right now, I am learning the ...
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slav defence: 3. nc3?
[fen ""]
[Startply "40"]
1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3
I found no slav defence (or other) tutorial discussing this move. It seems 3. Nf3 is always played, but I found no reason why ...
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What are the ideas and plans in the Boor Attack in the Exchange Slav?
In Friday morning's round (31st March 2023) in the Reyjkavik Open Simon Williams played the Boor Attack in the Exchange Slav, characterized by 5. f3 [Ben Finegold: "Never play f3"], as white ...
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Transpose to the Slav as Black after 1. ...Nf6?
What is the best move order to transpose to the Slav after Nf6?
The reason this may be interesting is that Nf6 is much more flexible than d5 and still allows to go for hypermodern setups, depending on ...
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Semi-Slav name origin
The name Semi-Slav suggests that somehow it's half of a Slav. How did this name come about? Or what does it mean? The two openings seem completely different to me due to the fate of the c8 bishop.
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Why is 1. d4 2. c4 3. b3 so bad for white?
I recently played a game that opened like this:
1. d4 c6 2. c4 d5 { D10 Slav Defense } 3. b3
[FEN ""]
My third move, 3. b3 is apparently so uncommon that Lichess doesn't have it in its ...
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Feedback and advice on a slav position for White
I play d4 with White and against the slav/semislav I start with the order of d4,c4,e3,Nc3 usually. But when I face the 3...Bf5 variation in the slav I do 4.Nf3. My problem is with a certain variation ...
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Positional chess understanding in the early game
As Black, when given a choice of taking the White's pawn, for what reason should I consider taking d5 pawn with e6 pawn? Wouldn't this open up the king's file and put it at risk of being attacked in ...
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Easy variation to learn with White against Semislav with not many lines and avoiding the Slav at the same time if possible
I'm looking for an easy variation to learn against the Semislav. Note that I play d4, c4, Nc3 against many openings. I tried to play the 5.Bg5 line but I felt that it was full of memorization:
[FEN &...
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Why is ...a6 played in the Exchange Slav?
[fen ""]
1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. cxd5 cxd5 5. Bf4 Nc6 6. e3 a6
I do not see the point of this move. At first I thought it is aimed to prevent Bb5 and thus maintain the knight on c6, ...
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Achieving Catalan-like structure against Slav response
Being primarily a 1. d4 player, I often face Slav defense. However, I have much more experience and understanding of Catalan structures and would like to get something similar against the Slav ...
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What is the rationale behind Black playing e6 in so many openings?
I am new to this stack exchange, so apologies if this question doesn't fit here.
Though I have advanced through the game, and now have a somewhat respectable rapid rating of 1550, I have always found ...
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What does black achieve with 1.d4 c6?
I have faced 1...c6 as a reply to my 1.d4 quite a few times recently, and this makes me wonder why people play this as oppose to 1...d5.
In addition to playing the Slav with 2.c4, I have an option of ...
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Why is Leela so good at beating Stockfish in the French/Slav?
I notice Lc0 is especially good against Stockfish in French / Slav pawn structures. However, I don't understand why.
Here're a couple of games where Leela smoothly outplays Stockfish. Can anyone ...
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Can black play the London system?
After 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3, Black usually plays Nf6 or e6 (which blocks his light-square bishop) and I wonder if it is possible for him to adopt the ideas from the London System and play Bf5 ...
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If 1. e4 c6 is considered as a sound defense for black, why is 1. c3 so rare?
At 365chess.com, 1.c3 is ranked as the 14th most common first move for white. If the Caro-Kann defense is considered as a sound defense, why is the Saragossa opening so rare for white? After all, ...
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Is the queens gambit declined getting more popular than the slav?
Back when I used to study chess, like 10 years ago or so, all the text books and all the super GMs recommended either the slav or the semi slav against queens gambit, they said it's better than the ...
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What are the main plans for black and white in the main-line Slav after 5...Bf5 6.e3?
I'm thinking about adding the Slav defense to my opening repertoire. I'm looking at the following line, which I believe is the main line:
[fen ""]
1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 ...
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unusual line slav defense
[FEN ""]
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Nf3
Here we reach slav defense main line and theory goes with 4...e6
As a way to avoid theory as black I used to play in blitz 4...g6, goes with bishop ...
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How do I respond to 8. g3?! in the 4. e3 Slav?
This is taken from a rapid game where my opponent threw me by playing 8. g3, coming out of book in the 4. e3 Slav:
[FEN ""]
[StartPly "17"]
1. Nf3 Nf6
2. c4 c6 ...
user1108
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Could I have improved my position in this pawn up exchange Slav?
This game was my first correspondence game on chess.com.
I played as black. I felt my position was quite good. Then I grabbed a pawn and the game ended in a draw by threefold repetition.
My ...
user1108
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How to play against bad bishop outside pawn chain
I'm trying to understand general principles and common themes on how to play against a bad bishop outside of the pawn chain. In particular, I'm talking about the less sharp variations of the london ...
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Exchanged Slav defense. Gambit the c6 pawn. Why not?
[Update:] It's called "Tan gambit" after an Alekhine game. Analyzed below. White should dicline the pawn, since. It can be played as a drawing line for black (no queens).
d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. cxd5 Nf6!? ...
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Slav - Theory Heavy Book
I have come to the realization that studying opening theory is far and away my favorite aspect of chess.
That being said I am looking for a comprehensive theory heavy book on the Slav. I would like ...
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The Meran System plan of attack
I've recently started to play the triangle system against the Queen's gambit, and so far it is okay. I've extensive knowledge in the Noteboom variation, but the problem with it is that the variation ...
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After 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6, should White play 3. cxd5?
I play the Exchange variation as White when Black plays 2...e6 against the Queen's Gambit. Should I play 3. cxd5 to avoid the transpoition to the Slav 3. Nc3 (hoping for 3...Nf6 4. cxd5) c6!?
[FEN ""]...
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Against the Slow Slav, after 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3, is the 4... a6 Chebanenko still good for Black?
Someone told me that:
Against the move order 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 or 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3, the move 4...a6 is averagely effective.
Against the move order 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3, the move 4...a6 is extremely ...
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Can the Nc3+e3 Chebanenko Slav, the Exchange Slav and the 4...Bg4 Slow Slav transpose into each other?
I would like to know if the following three variations can transpose into each other?
The Nc3+e3 Chebanenko Slav: 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3 a6
The Exchange Slav: 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. cxd5 ...
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In the Slav, after 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6, what are all the differences between 4. Qc2 and 4. Qb3?
In the Slav, after 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 :
What are all the differences between 4. Qc2 and 4. Qb3 ?
Which one of them is better to reach some Catalan type positions?
Which one of them tends ...
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Should I be afraid of the Slav Tolush-Geller Gambit?
As Black, after 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3, I like to play 4... dxc4 5. a4 Bf5, but I am afraid to play 4... dxc4 because of 5. e4, the Tolush-Geller Gambit (always followed by 5... b5 6. e5 ...
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slav defense, black's bishop early development punishment
After:
[FEN "rnbqkbnr/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/RNBQKBNR w KQkq - 0 1"]
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Nf3 Bf5
I want to put a lot of pressure in black's position, I used to follow the game with:
5....
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If I like both the Caro-Kann and the Slav, is it a good idea to answer 1. d4 with 1... c6?
I was just wondering, if as Black I normally play the Caro-Kann and the Slav (but I slightly prefer the Caro-Kann), is it a good idea to answer 1. d4 with 1... c6!?
I looked in an opening database, ...
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High quality resource for Exchanged Slav defense?
I am preparing the Semi-Slav defense with David Vigorito-Play the Semi-Slav ( Quality Chess, 2008 ). The exchange line is covered well, but recently GMs try to steer clear from dull ...Bf5 lines and ...
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Larsen Ideas in the semi-slav
Once when I was reading a book from Kasparov he quoted that most of the modern ideas in the semi-Slav came from Larsen games. Does anyone know good novelties that Larsen brings in this opening?
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Queens Gambit Declined vs Slav: Exchange Variations
I am a keen player of d4 as white. One of the things that I often read is that the exchange variation of the Queens Gambit Declined is generally considered good for white:
[fen ""]
1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 ...
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