I am of course not Syzygy, but 3. cd ed 4. Nc3 allows 4...c6, which as far as I know has always been thought to lead to equality.

semper_fidelis wrote on 07/06/20 at 20:30:22:


Yes, White does have several interesting positional options after 3. Nf3 c6. In my opinion, a Semi-Slav devotee who wants a sharp and tense struggle should play:

- 3. Nc3 c6 (Triangle move-order)
- 3. Nf3 Nf6 (QGD move-order)

This allows the Catalan and Marshall gambit, but avoids 3. Nf3 c6, QGD Exchange, Slav Exchange, and Slow Slav.

I didn't specify either 10. Be2 or 10. Bd3 because I think the choice is a matter of taste. 

10. Be2 is arguably the main line, and there the lines with 11. e4 are sharp, critical, and dangerous. On the other hand, if Black does know what they are doing, then achieving equality becomes more a matter of memorization.

10. Bd3 is more interesting to me, because the lines with 16. f4 or 16. a4 offer a more positional approach. Engines may give White a slight advantage at first, but if Black follows correspondence games, he should be able to equalize. If you had to try to milk the most out of the position in the 11. e4 lines, I would opt for 10. Bd3 over 10. Be2.

Furthermore, if you are interested in the very main lines, I also think that 10. Bd3 and 11. a3 is more testing than 10. Be2 and 11. Rd1. However, if you play 10. Bd3, you have to be ready for some move-order tricks: recently, Carlsen tested the approach of delaying castling in favor of a quick ...a6 and ...Bb7 instead, which I think is quite intriguing.

Well, if you choose the old main line of 5. Bg5, you have to contend with the Moscow/Anti-Moscow, Botvinnik, and Cambridge Springs. The Moscow/Anti-Moscow is the soundest option for Black, while the Botvinnik is riskier, but probably the most forcing route to equality. 

If you choose the mainline Meran, 8...a6 will be the most challenging reply. Then Black has his fair share of fun after both 10. e5 and 10. d5, and White hasn't been able to prove an advantage anywhere, as usual. 

Probably the most challenging option nowadays is to go for the Anti-Meran lines with 6. Qc2 and 7. Bd3. After 9...b5, both 10. Bd3 and 10. Be2 has been thoroughly discussed, with the verdict being equality after precise play by both sides in the main lines. I would recommend looking into the Anti-Meran lines, especially the approaches with an immediate 11. e4.

Of course, if Black uses the Slav move-order, I think both the Slav Exchange and Slow Slav are very decent options for White to avoid the Semi-Slav. If Black uses the Queen's Gambit move-order, there's always the QGD Exchange.

Unfortunately, Black also has the Triangle move-order, where the Noteboom and Marshall Gambit have been holding up well for Black, so maybe the Catalan is the way to go. Ultimately, chess is equal, and it's just a matter of taste as to what the most testing lines are... 

Time to resurrect this old thread.

Does anyone have a line for White that they like against the Semi-Slav.  Would be interested to hear about what people play and what they like or don't like about it.

After much searching, I have decided to go for the main lines of the Meran, either by 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 e6 5.e3 or 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 c6 4.e3 Nf6 5.Nf3.  After 8..Bb7, I am thinking about 9.e4 rather than 9.0-0, and after 8..a6 still trying to decide between e5 (old main line) or d5 (Reynolds).

I recently won a nice correspondence game in the anti-Moscow gambit:

I think 16...c5 was the decisive mistake (but the engines don't see this at first, they even give a black advantage)

BPaulsen wrote on 12/10/12 at 01:05:05:


Bryan, White seems to maintain an advantage after 10...g5, but I don't see how he gets much of a pull after 10...Bb4 11.Qb3 Bxc3 12.Bxc3 Qc7 (instead of 12..Nxg4 in Bareev-Prie)?  Any thoughts you or others could share?