Anonymous3 wrote on 01/03/14 at 05:12:23:


I'll offer some comments since I play both sides of this.  First of all, I was curious why you selected the 6.Na2/7.f3 variation since it is a sideline?  7…e5 is definitely more mainstream and as White I might actually opt for the sharper 6.Nce2 line (recommended by both Ward and Watson in their books).  Similarly 7.e5 (after 6.Na2) is more popular and effective than 7.f3 and therefore more critical.

After 7.f3 you are most likely aware from your database that 7…e5 scores quite well.  The only alternatives that show up (albeit infrequently) are 7…b3 and 7…e6 but neither have done as well as 7…e5.  Assuming you are looking at the alternatives from Black's perspective, I would prefer the 7…e5 line since it immediately counter attacks in the center which seems more to the point than encouraging the White knight back from a2 to c3 as happens with 7…b3.  Indeed, in Sadler-Horvath (1993) 7…b3 was followed by 8…e5 as White cannot be allowed to remain unchallenged in the center so it's unclear to me why the 7…b3 would actually be "less tricky" than the immediate 7…e5 line.  That game (and indeed all the 7…b3 games in my database) was drawn.

Hope that helps!

It's not so easy to find a harmonious set-up for White, which makes Sadler's 9.g4 quite interesting, with wild play.

Bibs wrote on 01/03/14 at 07:20:20:

It looks better for Black to me. Black is up a pawn, can follow up with ...e6, ...Bb4, ...0-0, ...Nbd7 with harmonious development, and White's f3 hurts his development. All White has is the center but Black can strike back in the center with ...e5 and/or ...c5.

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 dxc4 4.e4 b5 5.a4 b4 6.Na2 Nf6 7.f3 the book Play the Slav recommends 7...e5 (which is at least = for Black but tricky). What about the computer suggestion 7...b3 8.Nc3 Ba6?