TopNotch wrote on 11/09/06 at 00:32:57:


I think many people, myself included, are a little loathe to offer advice to an IM.  Actually though, I've had a hard time coming up with any advantage against 7...dxc4 8.Bxc4 e5 myself, so I'd love to see some ideas.

Edit: MNb beat me to posting those links!

For some reason no one is tackling this thread, an even though I do not play this position with either color I would have thought that the Semi Slav would have been a very popular topic with forum users.

The following hard to find game may or may not be of interest to you, but I think it deserves careful study:

[Event 4th PAL/CSS Freestyle Tournament]
[Date "2006.??.??"]
[White Xakru]
[Black Zor_Champ]
[FINAL]
[Result 1-0]
[WhiteElo 2502]
[BlackElo 2589]
[ECO D45]

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. c4 c6 4. Nc3 e6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Qc2 Bd6 7. g4 dxc4 8. Bxc4 e5 9. g5!?
Nd5 10. Ne4 Bc7 11. Bd2 exd4 12. Nxd4 O-O 13. O-O-O Ne5 14. Be2 Re8 15. h4 Ng4 16. Bf3 Bb6 17. Rhg1 Nh2 18. Be2 Qe7 19. Nf6+ Nxf6 20. gxf6 Qxf6 21. Be1 Bc7 22. Bc3 Qxf2 23. Nf5 Qxf5 24. Rxg7+ Kf8 25. Bd3 Qf3 26. Bxh7 Bg4 27. Rg5 Ke7 28. Bb4+ Ke6 29. Qc4+ Kf6 30. Bc3+ Re5 31. Re1 Bh3 32. Bc2 Rd8 33. Qf4+ Qxf4 34. exf4 Nf3 35. fxe5+ Ke7 36. Bb4+ Ke6 37. Bb3+ Rd5 38. Bxd5+ cxd5 39. Rg3 Nxe1 40. Rxh3 Ng2 41. Bd2 Bxe5 42. h5 1-0

I hope a close examination of the above game proves useful in your search for an advantage in this system.

Regards,

Toppy