The Semi-Slav Defense is a variation of the Queen's Gambit Declined, which can be reached by:

    1. d4 d5
    2. c4 e6
    3. Nc3 Nf6
    4. Nf3 c6

 

 

 

 

 

Semi-Slav Defense can be reached by different moves. In Semi-Slav Defense white has good tempo and has more spce for developing. Black's tactic is to play calm game and wait on White's mistake.

Semi-Slav was first officially played in 1854 in Russia, and not played again for 42 years. Semi-Slav gains popularity in 1930s, when almost 8% of the games start with Semi-Slav. and then rapidly falling in 1960s to about 2%.

Until now, 8,557 were played using Semi-Slav (this number is only for the  1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 c6  moves) , of which 41.4% ended draws, 35.4% ended in victory for the white and 23.2% ended in victory for the black. Semi-Slav Defense is not so often played on high level, but almost evrey GM has use it at least once. Highest-ranked game using Semi-Slav is when Aronian and Anand played in 2007, in match which Anand won.

White's best response is 5.e3, which is played in 60% of the games. With this white connect the pawns and has good pawn structure, but it also blocks natural deveopment for DSB (Dark Squared Bishop)  to g5. Other good response for white is 5.Bg5, but with this move white will almost surely trade his DSB for f6 knight, giving opportunity to black to use his queen in the early battle for the center. After 5.Bg5, black will almost certainly will play 5.Nbd7 (this is the best move even if White play 5.e3) or 5.h6. Either of these moves are good. With 5. Nbd7 black is defending his f6 knight. and also will take white's DSB if he takes f6 knight. With 5.h6 Black is forcing white to trade or to move. If white doesn't want to trade then he can move 6.Bh4 still pinning the knight, but his bishop is away for central battle or he can retreat, which is not good beacuse white is losing tempo.

On 6th move, good move for White is 6.Bd3. With this move White develops his bishop and also is preparing kingside attack. Also if Black is not careful, White can do an early mate using his queen and LSB (Light Squared Bishop). Also good move for White is 6.c5. With this move black is ending the gambit, which was declined few moves ago. Also he's developing his pawn structure and restricting the movement of the Black's DSB. After this Black's best move is 6.b6, directly challenging the c5 pawn. After that White is playing 7.b4, defending the pawn, in any other case white loses a pawn, except 7.Na4, but white is risking losing his good pawn structure. In this case the White mustn't take the pawn on b6, otherwise he is risking a losing a pawn and a good pawn structure. If White play 6.Be3, Black will almost certainly play dxc4, trying to move away LSB of b2-h7 diagonal and potential kingside attack or early mate.

If after 6.c5, Black doesn't play 6.b6, White need to play 7.Be3. I explained about this move before, so i won't do that again.

 

 

If Black has previously palyed Nbd7, White can play Ne5, if he didn't move c5, otherwise he'll lose a pawn. After this black must trade knights, because if he retreats to b8, he's losing tempo, And if he playes Nb6. White can play c5 and he must move to d7, so White's bishop can take it and Black must put one figure in bad place (LSB or Queen). He can play Nc4, but in this case white will take additional central pawn and will open up the game for his active bishops. If Black accept the trade immediately white will play dxe5, attacking Black's knight. Black must move away and not defened the h7 pawn, which can lead to an early mate.

 

 

So here are the tips for the White if he plays Semi-Slav Defense:

- Try to move c-pawn to c4 (only if you play e3, beacuse if you lose your d-pawn, you'll also lose the c4 pawn)
- Move your LSB to e3, attacking kingside and also have potential chance of early mate.
- If Black has moved Nbd7, move Ne5, asking a trade of the knight, very useful if you are hoping on early mate or kingside attack.


So keep tracking, beacuse there'll be tips for black for Semi-Slav Defense. Also there'll be analyses for other defenses, attacks, opening, gambits...