Play the Semi-Slav - David Vigorito, 2008.pdf - _SZACHY.pdf - dariusz.marcinkowski

Play the Semi-Slav

David Vigorito

Qualiy Chess

qualiychessbooks.com

First edition 2008 by Quality Chess UK LLP

Second print 2008

CONTENTS

Bibliography

Introduction

Symbols

system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, electrostatic, magnetic tape,

photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior permission of the publisher.

ISBN 978-9185779017

Part I -he Moscow Variation

l.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Jf3 J6 4.Jc3 e6 5 .ig5 h6

l. Main Lines with 7.e3

2. Early Deviations 7.Wb3; 7.Wc2; 7.g3

3. he Anti-Moscow Gambit 6.�h4

All sales or enquiries should be directed to Quality Chess UK LL,

20 Balvie Road, Milngavie, Glasgow G62 7TA, United Kingdom

e-mail: info@qualitychessbooks.com

website: ww .qualitychessbooks.com

Part II -he Botvinnik Variation

l.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.J3 J6 4.Jc3 e6 5 .ig5 xc4

4. Main Line 16.8bl

5. Main Line 16.Da4

6. White Plays 9.exf6

7. Early Deviations 6.e4 b5 7.a4; 6.a4; 6.e3

Distributed in US and Canada by SCB Distributors, Gardena, California

ww .scbdistributors.com

Distributed in Rest of the Wo rld by Quality Chess UK LLP through Sunrise

Handicrafts, Smyczkowa 4/98, 20-844 Lublin, Poland

105

Edited by John Shaw & Jacob Aagaard

Typeset: Colin McNab

Cover Design: Vjatseslav Tsekatovski

Cover Photo: Ari Ziegler

Printed in Estonia by Tallinna Raamatutrukikoja LLC

Part III -he Meran Variation

l.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.J3 J6 4.Jc3 e6 5.e3 Jbd7 6 .id3 xc4 7.hc4 b5

8. Wade Variation 9.e4 b4 10.Da4 c5 Il.e5 Dd5 117

9. Reynolds Variation 9.0-0 a6 10.e4 c5 Il.d5 135

10. Early Deviations 8.�d3 �b7 9.0-0 b4; 8.�d3 �b7 9.a3; 8.�b3; 8.�e2 155

Part V -he 6.lc2 Variation

l.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Jf3 J6 4.Jc3 e6 5.e3 Jbd7 6.lc2 id6

1l. Positional Treatments 7.e4; 7.b3; 7.�e2; 7.�d3; 7.�d2

171

12. he Latvian Variation 7.g4

195

Part V -hite Avoids the Main Lines

13. Exchange Slav l.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.cxd5 cxd5

211

14. Slow Slav l.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Df3 Df6 4.e3 �f5

233

15. Odds and Ends 4.Wc2; 5.Wb3; 5.g3; 5.cxd5

251

Index of Variations

270

Index of Full Games

276

Play the Semi-Slav

Bibliography

Introduction

Books:

Burgess: he Slav, Gambit 2001

Cox: Starting Out: 1.d4! Everyman 2006

Donaldson & Silman: Semi-Slav Defense : Non-Meran Variations, Summit 1998

Hear: Starting Out: Slav and Semi-Slav, Everyman, 2005

Kasparov: Revolution in the 70s, Everyman 2007

Kauman: The Chess Advantage in Black and White, Random House 2004

Khalifman: Opening for White According to Kramnik 4, Chess Stars 2002

Kramnik & Damsky: Kramnik: my life and games, Everyman 2000

Neishtadt: Queen's Gambit Accepted, Cadogan 1997

Palliser: Play 1d4!, Batsford 2003

Pedersen: The Botvinnik Semi-Slav, Gambit 2000

Pedersen: The Meran System, Gambit 2000

Sadler: lhe Semi-Slav, Everyman 1998

Sakaev & Semkov: Anti-Meran, Chess Stars 2005

Shirov: Fire on Board, Cadogan 1997

Shirov: Fire on Board part II, Everyman 2005

Wells: The Complete Semi-Slav, Henry Holt 1994

Yermolinsky: lhe Road to Chess Improvement, Gambit 2000

This is a repertoire book on the Semi

Slav defence to 1.d4. While there is deep

theoretical coverage when necessary, this

work is not meant to cover all variations

of the Semi-Slav comprehensively. When

possible, at least two possibilities are given

against White's main lines. The relatively

solid Moscow variation is covered, as is

the exciting but risky Botvinnik variation.

Even within these systems there are options

available. In the main lines of the Meran only

8....b7 is included, although after 9.0-0

both 9...a6 and the more solid 9...b4 receive

attention. Even within the solid conines of

the Exchange Slav, Black is given options

whenever possible. Because this book utilizes

the Slav move order (l.d4 dS 2.c4 c6) there

is a lot here that would be useful not only to

those who want to play the Semi-Slav, but to

players of any Slav system.

hen there are the more classical defences.

Let's start with the popular Nimzo-Indian.

I cannot say that there is anything at all

wrong with the Nimzo. In fact, I would not

mind playing most lines of the Nimzo with

either colour, because it is a strategically rich

opening. I am discouraged from playing

the Nimzo because White can avoid it. This

may sound odd, considering I wrote a book

on the Nimzo-Indian for White, but not

everyone wants an interesting game with

both colours! If White avoids the Nimzo

with 3.Jf3 then there are several choices

available to Black, but I am not thrilled

with any of them. The Queen's Indian is

very theoretical and can be diicult to win.

The Bogo-Indian may give Black better

winning chances, but it tends to concede

a lot of space to White, and it is also only

playable from a "pure" 1.d4, 2.c4 move

order. Black could aim for a Benoni with

3...cS, but White is not forced to oblige, as

he can head for the English Opening with

4.g3 or 4.Jc3. We could play 3...dS, when

White can allow various Queen's Gambit

Declined systems with 4.Jc3 (or the Semi

Slav after 4...c6) or head for a Catalan with

4.g3. More on this later.

If Black does not want to give White a

space advantage, the most logical move

is 1...dS. Mter 2.c4, Black has to make a

choice. The Queen's Gambit Accepted is

quite sound, but in many of the lines it is

very diicult to play for a win. The Queen's

Gambit Declined is extremely solid and

provides several lines for Black to choose

from, but here, too, it can be diicult to play

for a win. And again, there is the prospect of

Periodicals:

Chess Inormant through Volume 98

New In Chess Magazine through issue no. 2007/4

New In Chess Yearbook through Volume 83

Why the Semi-Slav?

Choosing a defence to 1.d4 can be a diicult

practical matter. Black's sharpest defences

to 1.d4 are the Indian defences. The King's

Indian is a fun opening, but it gives up a

lot of space, and almost every white line

against it poses Black certain problems. he

Benoni and Benko are very dynamic, but

they are not very move-order friendly - they

can only be essayed against the 1.d4, 2.c4

move order, and their theoretical reputations

are not the best. The Grlnfeld requires a

tremendous amount of work because almost

every variation is a theoretical mineield.

Personally, my brief dabbles in this opening

showed that it just did not suit me.

Electronic Resources:

ChessBase Magazine through issue no.112

ChessLecture. com

Chess Ninja. com

Chesspublishin. com

Megabase 2007

lhe eek in Chess through issue no. 662

Van WeIy: lhe Botvinnik and Moscow variation, ChessBase 2006

Play the Semi-Slav

Introduction

the Catalan opening, which I would prefer

to avoid.

So then we come to the Slav systems. he

main lines start after l.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.lf3

lf6 4.lc3.

White has free development and more

space, but in return Black has the bishop

pair. lhe Moscow became much more

popular when after 6...Vxf6 7.e3 ld7

8.�d3 dxc4 9.�xc4 the move 9...g6! was

proven to be a viable option for Black.

Because of Black's resilience in this variation,

the gambit 6.�h4 became popular. After

6...dxc4 7.e4 g5 8.�g3 b5 Black has

managed to grab a pawn, but his position

on both lanks is somewhat compromised.

There is an interesting symmetry in this

position, because White's main breaks are

a2-a4, h2-h4, d4-d5, and e4-e5. lhe theory

of this gambit is developing rapidly and

both sides have the chance to display a lot

of creativity.

Black can also play the exciting Botvinnik

variation (5...dxc4). he main line 6.e4 b5

7.e5 h6 8.�h4 g5 9.lxg5 hxg5 10.�xg5

lbd7 leads to some of the most complicated,

irrational positions in all of chess theory. he

Botvinnik is a very risky opening to play, but

it is a lot oHun and in my opinion it is worth

studying some of the variations even if you

prefer the more sober Moscow variation.

In this book I have chosen to focus on the

main line of the Botvinnik. Black has many

sidelines to consider as well, and these will

be indicated for those who want to further

broaden their repertoire.

lhe other main branch of the Semi-Slav

is 5.e3. lhis move avoids the chaos of some

of the variations stemming from 5.�g5,

but it can also lead to very sharp play. After

5...lbd7 White has another decision to

make. 6.�d3 leads to the Meran variation

(6...dxc4 7.�xc4 b5), which is similar in

nature to the Queen's Gambit Accepted.

One important diference is that White's

queen knight is already on the c3-square,

which gives Black the possibility of playing

...b4 with tempo.

White can also play 6.Vc2. Black

usually responds with the active 6...�d6.

Traditionally this line has been a quiet

positional vanatlon, and White has

continued with moves like 7.b3 and 7.�e2.

However, the emergence of the radical

7.g4 has made 6.Vc2 another sharp way of

playing against the Semi-Slav.

here are other variations, of course, and

all of these will be discussed. Most of these

are relatively harmless compared to White's

main lines. I know there is one question that

everyone is dying to ask - "he Semi-Slav

sounds great, but what about the Exchange

Slav?" I only consider this a minor nuisance,

and I have paid special attention to the

xchange variation. he problem with the

Exchange is never held to be theoretical.

It is always about its drawish tendencies,

but I think these have been exaggerated,

and I believe that if Black can overcome

the common psychological issues in facing

3.cxd5, he can always play for a win.

I know some will be sceptical of this notion,

so I am prepared to back it up.

First, there is 3.lc3. If Black wants to

play the Semi-Slav then 3...c6 is absolutely

mandatory, because 3...lf6 allows both

4.�g5 and 4.cxd5: in both cases White

has his optimal version of Queen's Gambit

Declined variations. After 3...c6 there is the

Marshall Gambit, 4.e4 to contend with.

After 4...dxe4 5.lxe4 �b4t 6.�d2 Vxd4

7.�xb4 Vxe4t 8.�e2 la6 White has scored

very well with both 9.�a5 and 9.�d6. After

studying these lines I realized it would be

much more fun to write a repertoire book

advocating these lines for White. Okay, life

is not always easy, and these lines are sharp

at least, so if the Marshall was my only issue

I probably would have had no problem with

this move order. But there is more.

All right, let's take a look at 3.lf3. Black

has to make a decision. 3...lf6 is the best

move in my opinion. hen 4.lc3 c6 is our

Semi-Slav, and 4.�g5 allows Black to steer

the play towards the Moscow with 4...h6 or

the Botvinnik with 4...dxc4. White can vary

from the main lines, but I do not think any

of it is too scary. My real issue, once again, is

the Catalan (4.g3). Personally, if! was trying

to win with Black, I would just as soon play

the Exchange Slav. Covering the Catalan in

a Semi-Slav book would have been diicult

to do, especially if I had to show that Black

could get good winning chances without

taking undue risks.

Black can also play 3...c6 against 3.lf3

to maintain the "triangle" theme. his move

order also threatens to play the Noteboom

variation (4.lc3 dxc4) which scores very

well for Black. Unfortunately White can

avoid this in a couple of ways. 4.Vc2 is a bit

of a headache, and it is more popular now

because it has received some publicity. his

move is recommended in recent repertoire

One thing I love about the Slav is that

it makes it easy to expand one's repertoire.

In this position 4...dxc4, 4...e6, and even

4...a6 are all very playable and lead to

diferent types of positions. Of these three

moves, 4...e6 is the sharpest, and it is this

move that constitutes the Semi-Slav defence.

he Semi-Slav is a very rich opening that

can lead to many diferent types of positions.

It is also a very lexible defence, so Black

can switch up lines without completely

revamping his opening repertoire.

White's sharpest and most principled

move is 5.�g5. If Black plays passively

(say, with 5...�e7) he will end up in a

Queen's Gambit Declined where ...c6 has

been played prematurely. 5...lbd7 is solid

enough, heading for the Cambridge Springs

variation. Some grandmasters play this way,

but Black has wo more interesting options

within the realm of the Semi-Slav and we

will stick to those. lhe Moscow variation

(5...h6) forces some sort of concession from

White. 6.�xf6 is the traditional main line.

Move Order Issues

There are three basic ways to reach the Semi

Slav. he least common of these is through

a Nimzo-Indian move order - l.d4 lf6

2.c4 e6 and if 3.l3 d5 4.lc3 c6. his is

perfectly valid, but as this is not a book on

the Nimzo, I have shied away from it. Black

must also be ready for the Catalan (4.g3),

which by now the reader has probably

igured out I have a slight aversion to.

he second way to reach the Semi-Slav

is through a Queen's Gambit move order -

l.d4 d5 2.c4 e6. he main advantage to this

move order is that it avoids the Exchange

Slav. I strongly feel that this is a case where

the cure can be worse than the disease. In

my opinion White has many more annoying

lines to play against 2...e6 than against 2...c6.

Play the Semi-Slav - David Vigorito, 2008.pdf

Plik z chomika:

Inne pliki z tego folderu:

Inne foldery tego chomika: