Playing the Semi-Slav: Triangle Move Order

Posted on September 1, 2012 by James Mansson

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 is often referred to as the Triangle, so I refer to this move order as the Triangle move order. Continue reading →

Visit the Bibliography for recommended reading relating to playing the Semi-Slav as Black.
Posted in Opening Analysis, Playing the Semi-Slav, The Semi-Slav Defence | 1 Comment

Playing the Semi-Slav: Traditional Move Order

Posted on August 31, 2012 by James Mansson

The traditional move order for reaching the Semi-Slav is 1 d4 d5 2 c4 c6 3 Nf3 Nf6 4 Nc3 e6. In this order, Black initially keeps open the option of developing his queen’s bishop to f5 or g4. If he can do this safely, then he will have a comfortable position. Continue reading →

Visit the Bibliography for recommended reading relating to playing the Semi-Slav as Black.
Posted in Opening Analysis, Playing the Semi-Slav, The Semi-Slav Defence | Leave a comment

Playing the Semi-Slav: Overview

Posted on August 29, 2012 by James Mansson

The post is the first in a series in which I look at building a repertoire against 1 d4, 1 c4 and 1 Nf3 based on the Semi-Slav Defence.

The basic starting position of the Semi-Slav can be reached via several move orders. The traditional order is 1 d4 d5 2 c4 c6 3 Nf3 Nf6 4 Nc3 e6, and indeed this is the one used in Alexey Dreev’s two recent books on the opening. However Black has two other major routes to the position: 1 d4 d5 2 c4 e6 3 Nc3 c6 4 Nf3 Nf6 and 1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nf3 d5 4 Nc3 c6. The position can also be reached via 1 c4 and 1 Nf3, should White be happy to transpose into the Queen’s Gambit.

Each of these orders has its advantages and disadvantages. Continue reading →

Visit the Bibliography for recommended reading relating to playing the Semi-Slav as Black.
Posted in Opening Analysis, Playing the Semi-Slav, The Semi-Slav Defence | Leave a comment

Horsham Chess Club has a new website

Posted on August 10, 2012 by James Mansson

Horsham Chess Club has a new website, which can be found here. Over the last month or so, I have been working in conjunction with Club Secretary Ian Comley and others to create a new site for the club. At the moment, the all the content is visible to the public, but we hope to add some material that is only available to club members who log in. Club members who wish to set up an account can get in touch with either Ian or me; you should have our contact details.

Posted in Miscellaneous | Leave a comment

Horsham Club Knockout 2011-12: Mansson – Stimpson

Posted on June 29, 2012 by James Mansson

Last Tuesday was the last official club night of the season. It was a chance to get the remaining games in the club competitions finished. I managed to play my Knockout Final game against Phil Stimpson, although I do still have the Final of the Quickplay Knockout, against Mike Forster, to complete. That match should be played right at the start of next season, before the Champion’s simul; this will mean that we will have a winner by the AGM the following week. Continue reading →

Posted in Club Knockout, Games, Miscellaneous Queen's Gambit, Opening Analysis, Reports | Leave a comment

Horsham Club Championship 2011-12: Stimpson – Mansson

Posted on May 30, 2012 by James Mansson

I finally finished my games in this year’s club championship last night, with a win over Phil Stimpson. Phil surprised me in the opening with an unusual 6th move, and initially has some uncomfortable pressure on my position. However, within a matter of moves this dissipated, leaving me with a comfortable endgame. Phil was now short of time, as he had spent alot thinking about the preceding moves. He made a couple of mistakes and was soon in a lost position, from which he was unable to escape. Continue reading →

Posted in Club Championship, Games, Opening Analysis, Reports, The Sicilian Defence | Leave a comment

4NCL Division 3 2011-12: e2e4.org.uk 2 – Wessex

Posted on May 11, 2012 by James Mansson

Going into the last round, e2e4.org.uk 2 were tied for the lead in Division 3 with Wessex on 16 points. KJCA Kings, AMCA Rhinos and North East England were on 15, while Hackney and Cheddleton 2 were on 14. The pairings for the round were:

  • Wessex – e2e4.org.uk 2
  • North East England – AMCA Rhinos
  • KJCA Kings – Cheddleton 2
  • Hackney – Cambridge University 3

A win for us would make us champions; a draw would guarantee promotion; a loss would leave us depending on the results of the other matches. Continue reading →

Posted in 4NCL, Games, Miscellaneous Queen's Pawn, Opening Analysis, Reports | Leave a comment

4NCL Division 3 2011-12: e2e4.org.uk 2 – North East England

Posted on May 10, 2012 by James Mansson

While our round 9 match had proved one-sided, the same could not be said of our round 10 encounter with the North East England team. The position at the start of the round was that KJCA Kings and North East England led with 15 points each, and we were joint third with Wessex on 14. In the chasing pack, Cambridge University 3 and AMCA Rhinos were on 13, and there were four teams on 12. We therefore really needed to win to be almost sure of promotion. Continue reading →

Posted in 4NCL, Games, Opening Analysis, Reports, The Symmetrical English | Leave a comment

4NCL Division 3 2011-12: e2e4.org.uk 2 – AMCA Rhinos

Posted on May 9, 2012 by James Mansson

Going into the final weekend, the e2e4.org.uk second team had a chance of gaining promotion, but there was little room for error. KJCA Kings and North East England were leading the league on 14 match points, followed by AMCA Rhinos on 13, and we were joined on 12 by Wessex and Anglian Avengers 2. We had already lost to KJCA Kings and beaten Anglian Avengers 2 in earlier rounds, but had not played any of the other leading teams, so we would have the chance to get ahead of at least some of them by defeating them directly. Continue reading →

Posted in 4NCL, Games, Opening Analysis, Reports, The Catalan Opening | 1 Comment

Horsham Club Championship 2011-12: Taylor – Mansson

Posted on April 25, 2012 by James Mansson

I played my penultimate game in the club championship last night, against Paul Taylor. Following a sharp opening, in which I missed a couple of chances, the game ended up in an interesting, unbalanced endgame. After a long period of manoeuvring by both sides, I allowed my opponent to advance his passed pawn with dangerous threats. Although the position could still be held, I then blundered and was forced to resign at once by my opponent’s reply. Continue reading →

Posted in Club Championship, Games, Opening Analysis, Reports, The Sicilian Defence | Leave a comment