Semi-Slav: Meran is variation 4 of 6 in the Slav Defence course, a intermediate opening course for Black (ECO D47). It runs 26 moves and begins 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 …. Black plays ...e6 and ...Nbd7, then takes on c4 and expands with ...b5, ...Bb7, ...a6 and ...c5. Against White's e4-d5 thrust Black opens the f-file and gets active pieces. In the lesson every move is explained on a board and then drilled; it is free.
Move by move
1. d4 – White takes the centre.
1... d5 – Black matches.
2. c4 – The Queen's Gambit.
2... c6 – The Slav move order.
3. Nf3 – Develops.
3... Nf6 – Develops.
4. Nc3 – More pressure on d5.
4... e6 – The Semi-Slav: d5 is rock solid and Black waits to see where White's pieces go before taking on c4.
5. e3 – Solid support for d4; the bishop will come to d3.
5... Nbd7 – Prepares ...dxc4 and ...b5 and supports ...e5 or ...c5.
6. Bd3 – Develops; the bishop aims at h7.
6... dxc4 – Now Black takes, gaining a tempo because the bishop moved twice.
7. Bxc4 – Recaptures.
7... b5 – The Meran: Black gains queenside space with tempo on the bishop.
8. Bd3 – The bishop returns to its best diagonal.
8... Bb7 – The bishop goes to the long diagonal, where it will be strong once ...c5 opens it.
The lesson goes on for 10 more moves, each with its explanation.
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