Semi-Slav Defence: free opening course
Black supports d5 with both the c-pawn and the e-pawn. The centre is very solid, and Black often takes on c4 and gains space with the b-pawn. You learn the Meran, the Anti-Meran, the Moscow and the Anti-Moscow. You also learn the Exchange line and the quiet set-up with the knight on d2.
Key ideas
- Hold d5 with pawns on c6 and e6. Your centre is hard to break, and you can choose when to take on c4.
- Take on c4 when White's bishop has just moved. Then the b-pawn gains space and time against it.
- Your light-squared bishop starts behind the e6 pawn. Bring it to b7 on the long diagonal, or to f5 when the d-pawn is gone.
- Your main pawn breaks are the c-pawn to c5 and the e-pawn to e5. Prepare one of them before you move it.
- Against the bishop on g5, the h-pawn asks the question. Taking on f6 gives you two strong bishops. A retreat to h4 leads to sharp play.
The 6 variations in the course
- Meran: 8...Bb7 9.O-O b4: 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 dxc4 … — White develops with e3 and Bd3. Black takes on c4 and gains space with ...b5. The bishop goes to b7, the b-pawn chases the c3 knight, and the c-pawn break to c5 frees Black's game.
- Anti-Meran: 6.Qc2: 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Qc2 Bd6 … — White plays 6.Qc2 to prepare e4 and avoid the Meran. Black develops the bishop to d6, castles and takes on c4. Then the b-pawn gains space and the e-pawn breaks to e5.
- Moscow Variation: 5.Bg5 h6 6.Bxf6: 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bxf6 Qxf6 … — White pins the f6 knight with 5.Bg5. Black asks the question with ...h6, and White gives up the bishop for the knight. Black gets the two bishops, takes on c4 and fianchettoes the dark-squared bishop on g7.
- Anti-Moscow Gambit: 6.Bh4 dxc4: 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bh4 dxc4 … — White keeps the pin with 6.Bh4. Black takes on c4, and after 7.e4 kicks the bishop with ...g5. Black grabs space with ...b5 and gets an extra pawn, while White gets a lead in development.
- Exchange line: 5.cxd5 exd5: 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. cxd5 exd5 6. Bg5 Be7 … — White trades on d5 early. Black takes back with the e-pawn, and now the c8 bishop is free. Black develops it to f5 and trades it for White's best bishop. The position is calm and equal.
- Quiet move order: 4.e3 e6 5.Nbd2: 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Nbd2 Nbd7 6. Bd3 Bd6 … — White plays e3 before Nc3 and then puts the knight on d2. The knight supports a push to e4. Black develops the bishop to d6, castles, and frees the game by trading in the centre and pushing the e-pawn to e5.
Traps you will learn (2)
- Anti-Meran: 11...Bb7? 12.e4 — A warning for Black. With the bishop on d6 and the knight on f6, the e-pawn push to e5 forks them both. And the queen on d8 faces the rook on d1. Move the queen first.
- Anti-Moscow: 8.Nxg5? hxg5 — After ...g5 White sometimes gives the knight on g5 to keep the pin. It does not work. Black takes, and the extra piece is worth much more than two pawns.
How the opening courses work
Each course teaches an opening in a few main variations. For every move you read why it is played, which other moves are good, and which tempting moves are mistakes and why. Each course also shows the traps of the opening: the ones you can set and the ones to avoid.
After a lesson you play the moves yourself in a drill. The lines you learn go into your review, which brings them back when you are about to forget them (spaced repetition). 30 line courses add many short lines per opening, a few new ones a day, and every named opening, more than 3,800 lines, has a lesson of its own.
Questions and answers
Is the Semi-Slav Defence course free?
Yes. The Semi-Slav Defence course on chessGM is free, with all 6 variations, 2 traps, the drills and the review. There is no paid plan that unlocks more.
Who is the Semi-Slav Defence course for?
It is a course at advanced level for Black, written for players rated around 2000.
How do I practise this opening?
After each lesson, play the moves yourself in the drill. The lines you learn go into your review, which brings them back when you are about to forget them, and you can try the opening in games against the bots.