Download PGN of October '14 1 d4 d5 2 c4 games
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Slav, Argentinian Variation 3...dxc4 [D10]
This line was a shortcut back when Vigus recommended it in Play the Slav, but has become quite topical, especially in the 4.e3 variation which has emerged as the acid test. I cover all the serious possibilities in Gareev - Holt, and I think Gareev's approach is the way to go:
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Black accepted the pawn sacrifice in the game and defended precisely to reach a fine position, but it was still very messy and White handled the immense complications better to score the full point. There's still a lot more to be discovered here but the positions are generally less demanding on White (who has the initiative and good positional compensation). Study my analysis and you'll have the edge over the board!
Main Line Slav, 5.e3 [D15]
I was surprised to find that 5.e3 hadn't been covered on ChessPublishing, and I've filled that gap with my notes to Oleksienko - Mirzoev:
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This is the basic setup Black is aiming for, and I think his position is already more comfortable here - the d2-bishop has a hard time getting into the game if White can't play e4. I've offered some slightly different lines to other sources so there's plenty to learn even if you already have all the Slav literature.
Main Line Slav, Alekhine Variation with 11...f6 [D17]
Over on the Forum, Seth_Xoma requested some coverage on one of Avrukh's GM Repertoire: Classical Slav recommendations in the Main Line Slav, namely with 12.0-0 g5!?:
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Unlike in the Morozevich Variation with 11...g5, we'll preserve control of the f5-square and in many cases Black sacrifices a pawn for nice bishop pair compensation. The recent Gupta - Bakre ended in a win for White, but I have an improvement for Black - go through the notes to update your GM Repertoire!
QGA 3.e4 Nc6 [D20]
Before a World Championship Match you'll inevitably read some discussion on the extent to which the finalists should hide their opening ideas before the match. In any case, the 2014 Candidates winner's approach in Anand - Vallejo Pons was really impressive:
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I think this setup more or less refutes 3...Nc6 - here Black avoided getting ground down on the queenside with the ...c6 break, but White was well prepared for this and scored a quite crushing victory.
Alatortsev Variation [D31]
The archived analysis of this line has held up quite well to modern praxis. That said, in Svidler - Mamedyarov White came up with a fresh idea that worked a treat:
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White has just played 9.Qb3 b5 10.Nf3, and here Black would have been fine had he made inroads on the kingside with 10...g5 and 11...h5, as is thematic for this line. The latest games confirm that Black is still in great shape here, making our next game all the more relevant...
White can also try the immediate 4.Bf4, which is just like a Blackburne...except in Vachier - Lagrave-Caruana, White tried delaying Nf3 in favour of Rc1:
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Caruana's reply was quite convincing though and he soon outplayed Vachier-Lagrave from the arising Stonewall/Chebanenko kind of position. The good news for White is that 6.a3 is stronger here than in the Blackburne proper (with Nf3), although Black is doing fine after 6...b6 (the reply that makes a3 the least useful). Another key point is that 6...Nbd7 runs into 7.Nb5! which forces Black into a slightly passive position.
Exchange QGD [D36]
Most Exchange QGD players go for the tabiya position after move 11 (with Nf3 or Nge2) without too much thought of move orders or alternatives, but knowing how to get to the tabiya is just as important as being able to play it well, and since the tabiyas are considered somewhat better for White, Black has often dabbled with ...h6 move orders (which you'll see a lot at club level too). When it works well for Black, the following position from Antonsen - Burmakin is the result:
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Black is an important tempo up on the main line as he didn't have to waste time on ...Nf8 (the knight may go to f6 or b6 instead) and also he has the extra move ...h6 thrown in. There are a lot of different move orders to consider (and I address all of them in the notes) but ...h6 isn't a problem if you play 6.e3 and delay Qc2.
Meran with 8...Bd6/Anti-Meran [D47]
One of the Forum members mentioned the game Sasikiran - Najer as being a possible threat to Black's chances in the Meran (or Anti-Meran, if you use the 6.Qc2 Bd6 7.Bd3 move order). In case you missed the post, here's the key position below:
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Naturally these lines are pretty crazy, but I've concluded that Black should avoid the 15...Nxc3 of the game and prefer 15...Qg5+ 16.Kh1 Qh5, which should give complex equality. Also, I have a novelty to offer against a recommendation in Kornev's A Practical White Repertoire with 1.d4 and 2.c4: The Complete Queen's Gambit.
The 5...Bd7 Catalan [E04]
It can be quite hard to find a line against the Catalan that offers active piece play without entailing too many risks, and for a while it seemed that the following variation would be that Golden Fleece:
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It worked a treat in Meier - Nisipeanu as the usually well-prepared German GM didn't achieve anything out of the opening after the main line of 6.Ne5, but my enthusiasm for the line dampened when I discovered the strength of 6.Nbd2!, when Black suffers a lot whether he tries to keep the extra pawn or gives it back. Usually I don't come to a final conclusion when analysing an opening but I do believe my analysis closes the chapter on 5...Bd7 as a try for equality.
Thanks for reading, and keep the questions coming in on the Forum! Anyone with a good question or game can be part of an update :) Max
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