Heister's recent game a6 slav

I don't know what there will be to discern on this one, he went wrong in the opening and the game ended as a short. <25 moves.  My opponent is a NM, but he was playing 30 some odd games on here which means he didn't try as hard as I did. :D  I'm posting this because it's an a6 slav.  I used recent theory, so  JD might want a look.

Your 5th move looked a little off for any of the a6 slav theory that I am aware of, so I did some research and it appears 5...e6 takes you out of typical a6 slav/chebanenko theory.

5...e6 isn't mentioned in my chebanenko book (by Bologan) at all. 5...b5 is the most common move to stay in a Chebaneko system. The only other moves consistant with the a6 plan is to play 5...Bf5 or 5....Bg4 and meet  Qb3 with Ra7 which is actually the orignal idea of the Chebaneko even though its not played too often any more.  Ra7 looks odd but black recokens that the Queen on b3 is just as misplaced as the Rook on a7. Also, once black plays the eventual b5, the rook is ready to double on e file.

By playing 5...e6, I am pretty certain you have entered into the meran systems of the semi-slav where black has played a early a6; however, in the most recent meran theory Black has been trying to do without a6. Check out some Recent Anand games for some more on the Meran without a6; here is a video to get you started:

http://www.chess.com/video/player/pawn-structure-101-caro-slav---anands-brilliance

I admit that 8.Be2 probably isn't best in this line, but its a pretty typical anti meran idea in a lot of lines. Usually the idea of playing Be2 instead of Bd3 is to meet dxc4 with a4 (impossible with the bishop on d3) and delay the recapture on c4 thus holding back black's queenside expansion. Clearly with the early a6, this idea doesn't work here.

The rest of the game is pretty impressive. I don't know if you have checked the game over with your engine yet, but I looked it over with Fritz 13 and once the NM broke book with 8.e2, 100% of your moves until the end of the game match fritz 13s 1st choice. Several of the moves were natural developmental moves but is still a heck of an accomplishment.  

Interesting thoughts.  I looked at 5. b5 but decided against it since it doesn't fit my taste.  I think 8. e6 must be a tranposition then if it was left out of your book ( I don't buy or read opening books because I feel a good research in a database can do just as well).  

8. e6 It seems too important to be overlooked.  Many super GM's have played it since 2006 when the move 9. b3 first appeared.  Ironically the 8. Be2 move has never appeared in high level play against this line, but I did say that I see why he didn't know it!

It is easy to play good moves when the opponent is playing superficially... I like and hate your comment about fritz 13.  I don't think this game was much of an accomplishment.  The red letters in front of his name are meaningless if he's not playing at full strength. 

I didn't mean to say that 5...e6 was a bad move or an unimportant move; its just not a Chebanenko move. :)

I really am only aware of one mainline Chebaneko line where black chooses to keep the dark squared bishop behind e6 and that is in the following line which is really just a transposition into an exchange slav:

As far as the Be2 idea, in the line you played in this game you are correct its never been played (as far as either of my databases are concerned) but I can show you a line where its more normal:

Regarding his title; I don't think you should be that surprised about beating him, Ratingwise you actually have a higher ratingr so it shouldn't be that unreasonble for you to pop off a win. Be proud of the accomplishment. I would be.  Here is a game I won against an FM. http://www.chess.com/echess/game?id=75183150 He blundered the exchange and immediately resigned (though he probably shouldn't have. I seem to have a teribble time converting) Regardless, I am still proud of the win.

Thanks for the comments.  I guess I wont' be playing a Chebaneko any time soon :D. 

Oh and the line you showed where Be2 is normal is a really good one.  It has everything to do with where the black pieces are planning to go.  I was planning to play c5 and Nc6 which is a much faster in regard to developing an attack.

With the knight at e7, blocking everything and basically forcing black to develop in a certain way (with the c8 bishop on b7 for example) white could be successful with a greater variety of plans.

I don't have Fritz, but I ran this through stockfish a few minutes ago.  Woh. It's +3 before we ever leave the opening :)  So... I'm ok with playing this way again even without following normal theory.

As the victim of the catastophe I can explain a few things that went on here.  I have been working on the b3 line against the semi slav from Watson's Strategic chess openings.  The bb4 line has caused me issues in two games now.  Most likely canning it soon if I can't find decent play against it.  Be2 is generally pretty much forced in this line as e5 can come with good effect.  May be that the extra move a6 permits bd3.  I got rolled by an FM in a recent tournament because of it without the a6 bb4 bd2 bd6 interlude as was not anxious for a repeat.  For the most part this b3 line a negative line often leading to hanging pawns and a space edge for white when one can survive.  11. cd is likely an error.  Probably qc2 followed by rooks on c1 and d1.  The attempt to reach an isolated pawn position was disastrous obviously.  I could not find a legitimate plan and thus rab1, I think everthing else allows black effortless and normal isolated queen pawn play with advantage.  Maybe time to go back to the exchange slav which I can play in my sleep or look elsewhere.  Regardless, good game.  

Ya.  Sorry for being so negative on the notes.  I wanted JD to take a look because he had been interested in the a6 slav.

No problem.  Believe me, I was not happy with my play as well. 

On side note, welcome to the group; Its nice to have our first titled player around even if you did knock me off the main homepage list of highest rated players! :)

LOL, thanks.  Hopefully I will be knocked off as well.