Semi-Slav Defense

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This article uses algebraic notation to describe chess moves.

Semi-Slav Defense
Moves	1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 c6
ECO	D43-D49
Parent	Queen's Gambit
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The Semi-Slav Defense is a variation of the Queen's Gambit chess opening, defined by the opening moves

1. d4 d5

2. c4 e6

3. Nc3 Nf6

4. Nf3 c6

although the moves are not always played in that order. The opening resembles a mixture of the Orthodox Queen's Gambit Declined and the Slav Defense, with Black advancing pawns to both c6 and e6.

With 4...c6 Black is threatening to take the white pawn on c4, and keep it with a ...b5 advance. White can hold on to the pawn with 5.e3 at the cost of blocking the dark-squared bishop. Alternatively, White often gambits a pawn with 5.Bg5, the Anti-Meran Gambit, which Black may accept with 5...dxc4 6.e4 b5, leading to sharp play, or decline with 5...h6, the Moscow Variation. If Black plays the latter variation, White can play 6.Bxf6 Qxf6, ceding the bishop pair in exchange for a lead in development, or again offer a gambit with 6.Bh4!? The Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings designates the Semi-Slav with codes D43 to D49.

Contents 1 Main variations 1.1 Main Line 1.1.1 Meran Variation 1.1.2 White avoids the Meran 1.2 Anti-Meran Gambit 1.2.1 Botvinnik Variation 1.2.2 Moscow Variation 2 References and further reading

[edit] Main variations

[edit] Main Line

The main line continues with 5. e3, when Black usually develops with 5... Nbd7.

[edit] Meran Variation

The main variation of the Semi-Slav is the Meran Variation, 5.e3 Nbd7 6.Bd3 dxc4, (ECO codes D46 to D49), when play usually continues with 7.Bxc4 b5 8.Bd3. The variation is named after the town of Meran (Merano) in northern Italy, from its successful use by Akiba Rubinstein against Ernst Grünfeld during a tournament held there in 1924.^[1] Employing the tactical Meran, Anand won twice with black in the recent Anand-Kramnik World Chess Championship 2008. Black surrenders the centre for a moment, but wins a tempo when the white bishop moved twice, first to d3 then to recapture the pawn on c4. Black then may go for queenside space and initiative by playing ...b5. White will play in the center, Black will aim to get a powerful initiative on the queenside often leading to a tense, sharp and complicated game.

[edit] White avoids the Meran

If White wants to avoid the Meran Variation without entering the muddy waters of the Anti-Meran gambit, 5.cxd5 or 5.Qb3 are possibilities (ECO code D43 and D45). Alternatively, after 5.e3 Nbd7, a popular alternative to 6.Bd3 is 6.Qc2, effectively waiting for black to commit to dxc4 before playing Bd3. Another increasingly common gambit to avoid the Meran system is the sharp 5.e3 Nbd7 6.Qc2 Bd6 7.g4. Popularized by Alexander Shabalov, the gambit destabilizes the center for Black and has been successful for several grandmasters, including Kasparov. It has also been successful against computers, in games such as Kasparov vs. Deep Junior, Game 1.

[edit] Anti-Meran Gambit

The Anti-Meran Gambit (ECO code D44) comes after 5.Bg5. White refuses to shut in the dark-squared bishop, instead developing it to an active square where it pins the black knight.

[edit] Botvinnik Variation

This line is also extremely complicated. Black captures a pawn by 5...dxc4. White takes charge of the centre with 6.e4 and Black proceeds to defend his booty with 6...b5. Usually the game now continues with 7.e5 h6 8.Bh4 g5 9.Nxg5 hxg5 10.Bxg5 Nbd7. White will get his piece back, along with two pawns, meaning he will be a pawn up, but Black will soon complete his development while White will be lagging behind. This is frequently referred to as the Botvinnik System. White will fianchetto his king's bishop and castle kingside, while Black will play ...c5, ...Qb6, castle queenside, and can carry an attack on either flank leading to absurdly complex play. The opening was popularized by the 1945 USSR vs USA radio match Arnold Denker vs Mikhail Botvinnik. Today, Alex Yermolinsky has an excellent record with the White pieces and Alexei Shirov champions the Black pieces in this opening.

[edit] Moscow Variation

The Moscow Variation 5.Bg5 h6 6.Bxf6 Qxf6, leads to double-edged play. Black has the bishop pair, but must avoid allowing White to open the game too quickly and exploit Black's lagging development. The gambit line 6.Bh4 (the Anti-Moscow Variation) was once considered rather dubious, but has seen a recent resurgence. In return for the gambited pawn, White receives a lead in development and a strong initiative. This dynamic mode of play, which is characteristic of the modern game, has seen this line being played by many strong grandmasters.

[edit] References and further reading

• Encyclopedia of Chess Openings, volume D, chapters 43-49
• Glenn Flear (2005). Starting Out: Slav & Semi-Slav. Everyman chess. ISBN 1857443934. 
• David Vigorito, Play the Semi-Slav, Quality Chess, 2008 ISBN: 9789185779017