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In the Exchange Variation of the Slav (1.d4 d4 2.c4 c6 3.cxd5 cxd5), one of the main issues is in how White should meet the lines in which Black delays the development of his c8 bishop and first plays ...a7-a6. In order to find an effective way to meet this set-up, White has delayed developing his king's knight. One of the most fashionable move orders is 4.Bf4 Nc6 5.e3 Nf6 6.Nc3, and then if 6...a6 White has options such as 7.Bd3 or 7.Be2 Bf5 8.g4. Yet this also has drawbacks in that this way of playing would be incompatible with a repertoire involving the early commitment of White's knight to f3, for example 1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 or even 1.Nf3. White would have to play 1.d4 followed by 2.c4 or perhaps even 1.c4. Is there no way to trouble Black after, for example, the moves 1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 d5 3.c4 c6 4.cxd5 cxd5 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Bf4 a6?

Download PGN of June ’24 1 d4 d5 2 c4 games

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Slav Exchange 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 a6 5.cxd5 cxd5 6.Bf4 Nc6 7.Rc1 [D13]

White's most popular response is then 7.Rc1:

, and I found an interesting recent example in Erigaisi, A - Abdusattorov, N. Although this was a blitz game it was between two young superstars, and supposedly very good preparation. Surprisingly White got a winning position very quickly, notwithstanding the eventual result.


Slav Exchange 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 a6 5.cxd5 cxd5 6.Bf4 Nc6 7.Ne5 Qb6 [D13]

Instead of 7.Rc1 there's also an interesting alternative in 7.Ne5, and this will be the main topic of this month's update:

I noticed that a couple of Grandmasters, Alexander Rakhmanov and Tornike Sanikidze, have specialized in this move and achieved excellent results. Rakhmanov also gave a couple of his games with this line in 'Rakhmanov's Secrets of Opening Preparation' and Sanikidze suggested it in a video series on a 1.d4 repertoire. I have to say that it's an interesting move with more than a drop of poison, and as it has not previously been covered here I thought that now should the time.

Black has tried a number of different moves against this of which 7...Qb6 is reputed to be the best:

White should then play 8.Nxc6 and after 8...bxc6 has a choice between 9.Qd2:

as in Paehtz, E - Schneider, I and Baadur Jobava's 9.f3:

See Sanikidze, T - Petrosian, T. Both Rakhmanov and Sanikidze prefer the latter move, even though it is lesser played. Certainly it seems to put more pressure on Black.


Slav Exchange 3.cxd5 cxd5 4.Nf3 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Bf4 a6 7.Ne5 Bd7 [D13]

Another popular choice for Black is to meet 7.Ne5 with 7...Bd7:

avoiding the danger of having a backward c-pawn after 8.Nxc6.

Yet there are other dangers for Black here too, as shown in the attacking chances White obtained with the f2-f4 plan in Rakhmanov, A - Dragun, K and Rakhmanov, A - Panarin, M.

Black avoided being mated in Rakhmanov, A - Bologan, V, but he still found himself with a miserable endgame.


Slav Exchange 4.cxd5 cxd5 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Bf4 a6 7.Ne5 e6 [D13]

This begs the question as to whether 8.Nxc6 is a threat at all,

and Sanikidze, T - Magem Badals, J suggests that it isn't, but only if Black plays very accurately.

This puts 7...e6 in the frame:

but here too he can find himself under pressure as shown in Nguyen, T - Grigorian, S.

In conclusion I would suggest that 7.Ne5 is worth a try, and is likely to be very effective against unprepared opponents. The Exchange Slav may have a somewhat dull reputation, but it does look like a lot more fun for White to play.



See you next month! Nigel Davies

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