Download PGN of July ’16 1 d4 d5 2 c4 games
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Chebanenko Slav with 5.e3 b5 [D15]
Now if you've been reading my updates for a while, you'll know that the big trend for Black after 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 a6 5.e3 is 5...Bf5, but we already had a close look at that six months ago. I often find it interesting to consider why the 'old main lines' aren't played as much - and it's not always because they are objectively inferior. But in the case of 5...b5, we can say that the game Ding - Movsesian puts it under a bit of a cloud:
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Movsesian had used a tricky move order with 7...Nbd7!? to reach this position, but Ding was ready and with 13.e6!? he created some serious problems for Black in coordinating his kingside pieces. The engine isn't too perturbed, but it seems a lot easier to play White in the arising positions and at the blitz time control he quickly obtained a winning position. I covered some alternatives for both sides as well, to complete the picture of this system - but isn't it telling of modern chess that the main idea of the Chebanenko is no longer to play ...b5?
Krause Attack with 7...Nb6 [D17]
With this update alone you can almost have a full repertoire against the Slav based on the main lines (4.Nc3). Since I recommended the system with 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 dxc4 5.a4 Bf5 6.Ne5 Nbd7 7.Nxc4 Nb6 8.Ne5 a5 9.h4 over a year ago, a lot of players have followed suit and it's time to update my old analysis with the fresh games, most notably Aronian - Anand:
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I hadn't covered Anand's 9...g6 in my old notes, but it turns out it actually doesn't stop 10.h5!, which allowed Aronian to obtain the advantage and bring him the full point in the blitz game. So there is a bit more to learn, but the conclusions are the same - Black should probably go for 7...Qc7, like in the next game...
Krause Attack with 7...Qc7 8.Bg5 [D17]
When scouring the Archives, I noticed that after 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 dxc4 5.a4 Bf5 6.Ne5 Nbd7 7.Nxc4 Qc7 there wasn't any coverage of the alternatives to 8.g3, despite moves such as 8.Qd2 and the 8.Bg5 of Ivanisevic - Skoberne being played by some strong players in one-off games.
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In the game Black equalised with 8...Ne4, but 8...e5 might be an even simpler route to equality. I did find some very dangerous ideas for Black after the tricky 8.Qd2 - you'll have to load up my analysis for the details!
Main Line Slav with 6.e3 [D19]
I'm an ardent believer in having strategic schemes up your sleeve in the computer era - since these systems tend to require less memorisation and are less likely to become 'dead' than some of the more forcing lines. A good example of such a strategic approach is the variation 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 dxc4 5.a4 Bf5 6.e3 e6 7.Bxc4 Bb4 8.0-0 followed by 9.Nh4, playing for the bishop pair advantage in a quiet position.
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This is from our model game Ponomariov - Najer, where Black tried to release the tension in a curious way with 14...Ba5?!, but even with optimal play, White's game feels a little easier to play in practice. Ponomariov's 10.h3 has been quite trendy of late and I only expect the trend to continue, as Black's few paths to equality tend to be quite specific, and not always the most natural routes in the heat of battle.
Semi-Slav without Nf3 [D31]
You read it correctly - in the game Pashikian - Matlakov, we will be covering the system 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.e3 e6 5.b3!?, a trendy way of avoiding the main (and admittedly balanced) Semi-Slav routes:
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Of course, White is not really fighting for an edge with this approach, but Semi-Slav players tend to favour long forcing variations and this is definitely a change of scene! A quick fix can be suggested in 5...c5, but in the game Matlakov played 5...Bd6 and natural developing moves, only to find himself in a worse position after trying slightly too hard to clarify the central tension. When checking my analysis, make particular note of the transpositions to proper Semi-Slav lines, as you may be able to trick your opponents with the move orders.
The Semi-Slav/Vienna Hybrid Line (5.Qd3/5.Qa4) [D43]
The next game can be useful for those looking for a 'two in one' system, as the rare 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 c6 5.Qd3 dxc4 6.Qxc4 b5 can also occur from a Vienna after 4...dxc4 5.Qa4 c6 6.Qxc4 b5. Granted, the blitz game Aronian - Giri was not that theoretically relevant, but it did prompt me to find some ideas that could be very effective in a one-off game:
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From this position, I would suggest 8.e4 over Aronian's 8.Bg5, since after 8...c5 9.e5 Black must find exactly the right move to equalise - and it is not just mimicking the engine's first line! So check the game for the key move, or how to avoid the issue altogether as Black.
The 5.g3 Semi-Slav [E04]
The 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 c6 5.g3 system may not be the main craze at present, but it has preserved a steady following and I update my old analyses with the relevant new games, including Ding - So:
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Actually, both players had played more or less the best moves up to this point, but here So faltered with 27...Qe2 and lost, where 27...Rxd7 would have allowed Black to make a draw. In spite of that, my conclusions are still not so different, except that now you have to remember a few more nuances to equalise as Black in whatever line you choose - and I give you several decent options in the notes.
Closed Catalan with 6.Qc2 [E06]
I made a detailed analysis of 6.Qc2 about six months ago, but it has retained some popularity since then, possibly due to White's difficulties proving any edge in the main line Catalan with 6.0-0 dxc4 (as I have covered before). I also take the opportunity to correct some earlier pessimistic evaluations of mine in the game Wojtaszek - Kryvoruchko:
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This position arose from meeting 7.0-0 with 7...Nc6!? - a move I had criticised previously, but it seems a pretty good way to maintain the balance while keeping an interesting position. I also appreciated some new resources for White after 7.dxc5, although the conclusion is the same - Black is fine as long as he did his homework. Still, I am sure there is more to be discovered in this variation.
It seems a good moment to wrap things up, so I wish you luck trying out the ideas in your own games! As always we welcome any submitted games, analysis or questions. Max
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