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The Queens Gambit Declined Slav Defense 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6
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The Queens Gambit Declined Slav Defense 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6
End Game Lesson
Opening Lesson 1
Opening Lesson 2
Opening Lesson 3
Opening Lesson 4
Opening Lesson 5
Opening Lesson 6
Opening Lesson 7
Jacques Meises Dutch defence 1. d4 f5 2. g3 b6
The Staunton Gambit 1.d4 f5 2.e4
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The Queens Gambit Slav Defense 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6

4.cxd5 cxd5 is the Exchange Variation If you opponent does this he wants channel the opening into familiar territory
  • For a guide to this Opening click

  • 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 or 3.Nc3 are the usual move.
  • Not 3.c5 which relieves the tension in the center right away.
  • It has been named the "Bad" Slav
  • Black can just go 3...e5 then 4...b6 or vice a versa. He will have a fine game.

    • Bad Slav

  • You may ask. "Why do people play 2.Nf3 or 3. Nf3?" It is to prevent e5
  • 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 e5!!
  • The Winawer Counter- Gambit is very strong.
  • White wins 40% Loses 25% 35% draw
  • For help with this Opening please click

  • 3...e6 has opened a new Crossroad. White has many options. It is most likely that Black is hoping to be allowed to take the c pawn on the next move and go into a Noteboom
  • 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 e6

    • 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 e6

    crossroad

  • 4.Nf3 Allows the Slav Noteboom Variation. The Noteboom may be better for black than white
  • 4.Nf3
  • For a Guide to this Opening Click

    • 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 e6 4.Nf3

  • One great option for White is
  • the Marshall Gambit 4.e4
  • 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 e6 4.e4
  • For a guide to this opening please click

    • 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 e6 4.e4

  • You can also avoid the noteboom by 4.e3 you guard your c pawn but this blocks in your Queens
  • This strong system for white is called
    The Meran Variation 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 e6 4.e3
    For a Guide to this Opening
    •

    1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 e6 4.e3
    The Meran Variation

  • 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Bg5
  • 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Bf4
  • Sometimes White plays his Bishop out on the third move to g5 or f4
  • For how to handle these lines please click

    • 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Bg5

    Trompowsky like Slav

    1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Bf4

  • 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 is by far the most common line.
  • But what if Black takes the pawn on c4 3...dxc4 and tries to hold it.

    • 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 dxc4

  • After 4.e3 b5(trying to hold the pawn) 5.a4 and 6.b3 get you back the pawn
  • 5.a4 e6 6.b3
  • Black might then go for a Noteboom formation but don't waist you time by checking with Bb4
  • For a guide to this Opening click

    • 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 dxc4 4.e3 b5 5.a4 e6 6.b3

  • After 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3
  • Black wants to restrain White's center by bringing his bishop to f5. But this creats a weakness.
  • Why Can't black bring his Bishop out yet 4...Bf5?

  • Because of the threat of 5.cxd5 an 6.Qb3
  • For example 5.cxd5 cxd5 6.Qb3 Qb6 7.Nxd5

    • 4...Bf5 5.cxd5 cxd5 6.Qb3 Qb6 7.Nxd5

    Best after 5.cxd5 is 5...Nxd5

    sr3.jpg

  • This is why 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 dxc4!! is the main line
  • The pawn at c4 prevent the Qb3 move

    • 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Nf3 dxc4

  • Now the best move is 5.a4!! preventing black from saving the pawn at c4 with 5...b5
  • But their are other lines that have proven sound
  • One way is 5.e3 b5

    • 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 dxc4 5.e3 b5

    [Event "RUS-Team"] [Site "Smolensk RUS"] [Date "2000.??.??"] [White "Dyachkov,S"] [Black "Rublevsky,S"] [Round "3"] [Result "0-1"] [WhiteElo "2532"] [BlackElo "2662"] [ECO "D15"] 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. e3 b5 6. a4 b4 7. Na2 e6 8. Bxc4 Bb7 9. O-O Nbd7 10. Qe2 c5 11. Rd1 Qc7 12. Ba6 Be7 13. dxc5 Nxc5 14. Nxb4 Nxa6 15. Nxa6 Qc8 16. Nb4 O-O 17. Bd2 a5 18. Nd3 Ba6 19. Bc3 Ne4 20. Bd4 Rd8 21. Rac1 Qb7 22. Nfe5 Rac8 23. Qg4 Bf6 24. Nf4 Rxc1 25. Rxc1 Rc8 26. Qd1 Rxc1 27. Qxc1 Bxe5 28. Bxe5 f6 29. Bc7 e5 30. Ne6 Qd5 31. Nd8 Nc5 32. h3 Bc4 33. Qc3 Ne4 34. Qe1 Nd2 35. f3 Nb3 36. Kh2 Qc5 37. Qc3 Qxc7 38. Ne6 Qc6 39. Nd8 Qd5 40. e4 Qd4 0-1

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    Or a strong line 5.e4 the Geller Gambit
  • For help with this Opening please click

    • 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Nf3 dxc4 5.e4

    Geller Gambit

  • 5. a4 Bf5
  • Here we can decide how to win back the c4 pawn 6.Ne5(Kraus attack) and 6.e3 are main lines. In another line White can also try to take out the bishop at f5 with 6.Nh4

    • 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 dxc4 5.a4 Bf5

  • 6.Ne5 !!
  • This is the main variant to the 6.e3 line.
  • Its a fine move White Wins 41% loses 22% Draws 37%
  • For help with the 6.Ne5 line click

    • If 6.Nh4 then 6...Bc8!! is best. Don't allow the knight to exchange off the bishop with 6...Bg6
  • White should consider puting his Knight back on f3 after the bishop moves (6...Bc8) to stop e5
  • White may allow black to go e5 exchanging the e pawn in order to save his c pawn.
  • Or just getting e5 in gives black a good line.
  • For a guide to this Opening click

    • 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 dxc4 5.a4 Bf5 6.Nh4

  • 6. e3 e6 7. Bxc4 Bb4 8. O-O O-O
  • Now you choose to go 9.Qe2 to push the e pawn or Black can
  • If another move like 9. Bd2 then go 9... c5!! as game below

    • Event "?"] [Site "Zurich"] [Date "1947.??.??"] [White "Grob,Henry"] [Black "Euwe,Max"] [Round "?"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "A06"] 1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 c6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. e3 e6 7. Bxc4 Bb4 8. O-O O-O 9. Bd2 c5 10. Qe2 Nc6 11. dxc5 Bg4 12. Rfd1 Ne5 13. e4 Qa5 14. Bf4 Bxf3 15. gxf3 Qxc5 16. Ba2 Bxc3 17. Rac1 Ng6 18. Bg3 Nh5 19. Rxc3 Qg5 20. Qd2 Nhf4 21. Bc4 Rad8 22. Rd3 Rxd3 23. Bxd3 Rd8 24. Qc2 h5 25. Kh1 Rxd3 26. Rxd3 Nxd3 27. Qxd3 h4 28. Bb8 Qc1+ 29. Kg2 e5 30. Bxe5 Qg5+ 0-1

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    If 9.Qb3 Qb6 9...Qb6 is a good move followed up by 10...c5 but
  • 9...Qe7 does a little better stats wise. (9...c5 is very rare but O.K.)
  • Here many have tried 10. Ne5 but 10. Nh4! gets rid of the Bishop pair as the game below

    • 9.Qb3 Qb6

    [Event "15th ECC Final"] [Site "Bugojno BIH"] [Date "1999.??.??"] [White "Vaganian,R"] [Black "Sakaev,K"] [Round "2"] [Result "1-0"] [WhiteElo "2617"] [BlackElo "2648"] [ECO "A06"] 1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 c6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. e3 e6 7. Bxc4 Bb4 8. O-O O-O 9. Qb3 Qb6 10. Nh4 Bg6 11. Nxg6 hxg6 12. Rd1 Nbd7 13. g3 Rad8 14. Bf1 e5 15. Bg2 Rfe8 16. Na2 Bd6 17. Qxb6 Nxb6 18. a5 Nbd5 19. a6 bxa6 20. Nc3 Nb4 21. Kf1 exd4 22. exd4 c5 23. dxc5 Bxc5 24. Rxd8 Rxd8 25. Bg5 Re8 26. Rd1 Ng4 27. Ne4 Bf8 28. h3 Ne5 29. Rd8 Rxd8 30. Bxd8 Ned3 31. b3 Nc1 32. Nd2 Bc5 33. Bb7 Kf8 34. h4 Bb6 35. Bg5 Ncd3 36. Ke2 Nxf2 37. Nc4 Nfd3 38. Nxb6 axb6 39. Bxa6 Nxa6 40. Kxd3 Ke8 41. Kc4 Kd7 42. Kb5 Nc5 43. b4 Nd3 44. Be3 f5 45. Bxb6 f4 46. gxf4 Nxf4 47. Ka6 Ne6 48. Be3 Nc7+ 49. Kb7 Nb5 50. Kb6 Nd6 51. Bf4 Nf5 52. b5 Nd4 53. Be3 Nf5 54. Bc5 Nxh4 55. Ka6 Nf3 56. b6 Ne5 57. b7 Nc6 58. Bf2 Nb8+ 59. Ka7 Nc6+ 60. Kb6 Kd6 61. Bg3+ 1-0

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  • 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. e3 e6 7. Bxc4 Bb4 8. O-O O-O 9.Qe2 Ne5
  • Now you can go 9.. Ne5 to stop the e pawn push click to see how this is covered

    • 5.a4 Bf5 6.e3 e6 7.Bxc4 Bb4 8.O-O O-O 9.Qe2 Ne4

  • or simply as here 9..Bg4

    • You can't push the e pawn yet because you lose the pawn 10.e4 Bxf3 11.Qxf3 Qxd4

  • But their are plenty of ways to play it as below

    • 9.Qe2 Bg4 10.e4 Bxf3 11.Qxf3 Qxd4

    [Event "?"] [Site "Sarajevo"] [Date "1969.??.??"] [White "Gligoric,Svetozar"] [Black "Barczay,Laszlo"] [Round "8"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "D19"] 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. e3 e6 7. Bxc4 Bb4 8. O-O O-O 9. Qe2 Bg4 10. h3 Bh5 11. Rd1 Nbd7 12. e4 Qe7 13. g4 Bg6 14. Bg5 h6 15. Bh4 Qe8 16. Bd3 Nh7 17. Bg3 Ng5 18. Nxg5 hxg5 19. e5 Bxd3 20. Rxd3 Bxc3 21. bxc3 Qe7 22. c4 Rfd8 23. Rb1 Nf8 24. Qe4 Rd7 25. d5 cxd5 26. cxd5 exd5 27. Rxd5 Rad8 28. Rxb7 Rxb7 29. Rxd8 Qxd8 30. Qxb7 Qd1+ 31. Kh2 Qxa4 1/2-1/2

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