Personally think he is quite wrong 3Nc3 e5 is nothing to fear, remember somebody maybe Nikolic being duffed up by Kasparov after this. Possibly 3...pxp is a more respectable option to usual 3...Nf6 but not even sure about this.
1 d4 d5 2 c4 c6 3 Nc3
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Dec 7, 2012
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#3
3...Nf6 is by far the most common option, and 3...e6 is normal too; all else leads to a white advantage, larger than in the case of 3...Nf6. The only caveat is that because those more aggressive options (3...dxc4 and 3...e5) are so uncommon, some white players at the club level (but not strong players!) may not know how to continue and reach the advantage black has given them. It's more psychological than chess-related.
Dec 7, 2012
0
#4
Rep book on slav, I have got recommends 1 d4 d5 2 c4 c6 3 Nc3 pxp because doesn't want to be move ordered into playing after 3...Nf6 4e3
4...e6 semi-slav, or 4...g6.
The equilvanent position after 3Nf3 Nf6 4e3 black can comfortably play Bf5 or Bg4 because their is no pressure on d5. So if anything 3Nc3 seems more accurate to me.
The master at my local chess club thinks that after 1 d4 d5 2 c4 c6, 3 Nf3 has to be played, because 3 Nc3 allows Black to play 3...e5, which gives Black very strong play. But I notice that grandmasters are playing 3 Nc3, and never do I see 3...e5. What do the grandmasters know that the local master does not know?