James Mansson’s Chess Blog

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 my attention to this key position, and the main lines that arise from it. Continue reading →

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 the Nimzo-Indian in combination with the Semi-Slav. Continue reading →

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 →

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 →

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 →