Category Archives: The Semi-Slav Defence

Sussex League Division 1 2023-24: Horsham 1 – Crowborough 1

Last Friday, Horsham 1 continued their good start to the season with a 3-1 win over Crowborough 1.

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Horsham Club Championship 2023-24: Martin – Mansson

Last night I played in the first round of Horsham Chess Club’s new format club championship. Rather than have separate sections as before, the championship is now a single Swiss tournament, with nine rounds spread over nine months; the overall … Continue reading

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Horsham Club Quickplay Knockout 2017-18: Mansson – Higgs

Last night I played Anthony Higgs in the final of the Quickplay Knockout. In order to finish the competition problem, Anthony and Brian Donnelly had arranged to play their Semi-Final, then for me to play the winner all on the … Continue reading

Posted in Club Quickplay Knockout, Games, Opening Analysis, Philidor's Defence, Reports, The Semi-Slav Defence | 1 Comment

4NCL Division 3 2014-15: e2e4.org.uk 3 – Downend & Fishponds

The final 4NCL weekend of this season started with both the second and third teams having a chance of promotion. I played for the third team on board one in round 9; we were paired against Downend & Fishponds. I … Continue reading

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4NCL Division 3 2013-14: e2e4.org.uk 2 – Spirit of Atticus A

The final match of the 4NCL weekend, and indeed of the season, for the e2e4.org.uk second team was against Spirit of Atticus A. We needed at least a draw against our higher rated opponents to achieve promotion. However, we struggled from … Continue reading

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McArthur Cup 2012-13: Horsham – Brighton

As documented on the Horsham Chess Club website here, Horsham’s attempt to progress in the McArthur Cup once again failed at the first hurdle, as we once again lost to Brighton.

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County Match (Open) 2012-13: Sussex – Surrey

Yesterday saw my first appearance in a county match for Sussex since 2008. The match, for the Open Team (no grading restriction), was against Surrey, and I was on board 3, my highest ever position in the top team. We … Continue reading

Posted in County Matches, Games, Opening Analysis, Reports, The Semi-Slav Defence | 1 Comment

Playing the Semi-Slav: White’s 5th Move Alternatives

So far in this series I have been looking at the various ways to reach the basic starting position of the Semi-Slav, which arises after 1 d4 d5 2 c4 c6 3 Nf3 Nf6 4 Nc3 e6. Now I’ll turn … Continue reading

Posted in Opening Analysis, Playing the Semi-Slav, The Semi-Slav Defence | 2 Comments

Playing the Semi-Slav: Nimzo Move Order

The final move order for reaching the Semi-Slav I want to consider runs 1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nf3 d5 4 Nc3 c6. I refer to this move order as the Nimzo move order, as it involves playing … Continue reading

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Playing the Semi-Slav: Triangle Move Order

The main alternative to the traditional move order for reaching the Semi-Slav is 1 d4 d5 2 c4 e6 3 Nc3 c6 4 Nf3 Nf6. The system where Black plays …d5, …e6 and …c6 prior to (or even without) …Nf6 … Continue reading

Posted in Opening Analysis, Playing the Semi-Slav, The Semi-Slav Defence | 1 Comment