Another Reliable Outing for the Meran Defense

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I have been a Meran practitioner for years, and one line that I find reliable is the Lundin variation where Black asserts his Queenside presence immediately with 8...b4.  In the early 90's, this line was considered inferior, however subsequent experience has shown that Black is OK if he plays prudently with a timely ...Be7 and ...0-0.   It's fair to say that the line is drawish with accurate play.

Here is my most recent outing with the Meran.  White's 11.Re1 offered no edge, however it created no weaknesses, either.  I'd hoped to get winning chances, but there just wasn't much to do.  Maybe the line really is drawish.