I'm interested in what rating this "beast" in slav and semi-slav is. They are really quite different openings. At sub FIDE 2000 level the semi-slav is very often misunderstood and butchered, i.e the OP is getting spooked by something he doesn't need to worry about.
Ok so it is noted opponent is 1600ish, so would concentrate on knowing what to do on in slav, bishop outside pawn chain type positions.
Dierdre, I've been playing, studying, and teaching chess for about 50 years. I may be wrong from time to time, but it's not from a lack of effort.
I have said several times that move order is important. If white defers playing c4 until the right moment, white can all but dictate the opening against a pure Slav player. Sooner or later, Black will have to either play e6 and White transposes directly into the Catalan, or Bg4, and White plays other systems against it, again avoiding the Slav.
In short, u propose to avoid the slav to play something maybe more complicated to handle...
I like Slav exchange suggestion : simple and not so easy for black to handle.
Bg5 or not, don't tell me black is confident in this variation! Especially at 1500 rated level, they feel bored, think games go toward the draw, play passive, and... lose.
Really, London system and slave exchange are the good ideas.
U can also consider 1.d4 d5 2.Bg5, which can lead to similar play.
I'm interested in what rating this "beast" in slav and semi-slav is. They are really quite different openings. At sub FIDE 2000 level the semi-slav is very often misunderstood and butchered, i.e the OP is getting spooked by something he doesn't need to worry about.
Ok so it is noted opponent is 1600ish, so would concentrate on knowing what to do on in slav, bishop outside pawn chain type positions.
The OP is easily intimidated and is interested in learning something besides the boring stuff he usually does.
I think if I fianchetto early, I'll hold on and am looking at at least a draw. Games start in the evening, and I have two exams today, so I'm guessing I may play sloppily.
If a player is a 'beast' in slav and semi-slav, then I think it means that player is good in end games and perhaps prefers closed positions. I would play e4 against such players and even play gambits to make the game sharp and tactical. In short, if his strength is end game, then you should try to finish the game in middle game.
It's been years since I've purposefully played e4 to start. I feel like I'd get stuck fast and have a hard time developing my pieces. If I had another week to prepare and didn't have so much other stuff to do, I'd have taken this up without asking.
As an avid Slav player, the Slav exchange with Bg5 isn't at all unexpected. Black almost certainly has something planned for that.
As a Slav player myself, I agree. After 1 d4 d5 2 c4 c6 3 cxd5 cxd5 4 Bg5 Nc6 or 4...g6 the game is equal and development is fairly easy.
speaking of exchange slav: the following [boor attack, credit FM Carl Boor] line is a lot of fun as a surprise weapon, have had many quick kills and beautiful wins, very few know it though it has grown in popularity of late, for example:
Poucin, I agree, the Exchange Slav isn't at all drawish. I also agree that the London is a good option. My suggestions were just ways to avoid a well prepared opponent's preparation if that opponent only plays the Slav and Semi-Slav.
I rather doubt many people who play the Semi-Slav regularly will play the Schlechter Slav (please note the spelling). I like the Schlechter Slav for Black, but only when White has committed to an early e3.
Avrukh does not mention such a thing, for sure.
He advocates (1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6) 4.e3, and meets 4...e6 with 5.b3, both in the first, and second edition of his book.
I believe that Black has equal chances, but I won't tell you how: I play the very same line as white!
speaking of exchange slav: the following [boor attack, credit FM Carl Boor] line is a lot of fun as a surprise weapon, have had many quick kills and beautiful wins, very few know it though it has grown in popularity of late, for example:
Holy crap. I don't even know where to start with this. This is beautiful. Thanks for posting this! I'll look it over during dinner.
Once again, I was talking about tricky transpositions.
I cited my source earlier, chapter 11 of volume 1. Page 186 deals with c6, which he places within the chapter on the Catalan. The chapter repeatedly deals with c6 lines, and Avrukh himself says there are many move orders to reach the positions he considers in that chapter.
I've cited my sources.
upsh//?top secrets
@Optimissed I think Catalan is what I'm going to shoot for. SmyslovFan suggested it and I hadn't thought of it, but it seems solid.>>>
DeirdreSkye obviously doesn't understand the ideas.
Essentially, black has two main options against the Catalan. ...dxc, opening the centre, where black gets a more fluid position, and ...c6, which is more rigid and which white can attack by advancing pawns, especially the b pawn. Opening the centre is supposed to be better for black, in general. Therefore, the Catalan makes sense if you want to avoid Slav theory. No doubt someone will say that black has an equal position but, in reality, it's white who has the attack.
By the way, in the Catalan, white doesn't usually play Nc3. At least, certainly not early in the game, because it can get in the way or become a target for black's pawns.
lol ,
Freakin unbelievable.A lecture about Catalan from a guy that doesn't even know what Catalan is.
At least you made me laugh.
I will try one last time.
THERE IS NO WAY TO AVOID SLAV WITH CATALAN BECAUSE CATALAN DOESN'T EXIST AGAINST SLAV.
A k-side fiancheto against Slav is not Catalan.Black is not obliged to play ...e6 and he has at least 3 good systems to play against the k-side fiancheto that don't transpose to Catalan
How much intelligence someone needs to understand that simple thing?
There are many things that I don't understand but that is not one of them.
You haven't been particularly helpful or polite in this thread. There are many things I don't understand, and your actions account for several of them.
Thank you for all thats theory...knowledge is power !!!!!!!
I'm happy to see that a lot of people where able to help you out and give good advice. I'd just like to share that most people to avoid the slav with me will play an early e3, but I do not think this avoids the semi-slav. I would stick with the advice you already been given though, I have an inferior understanding of the queen pawn openings, that is true. I am an e4 player but I'd like to learn more about d4 someday.
That's a Cambridge-Springs Defense. Back in the old days, it was considered part of the QGD complex as was the Slav. Now, it's usually lumped in with the Slavs. Obviously, it can be reached by either 2...e6 or 2...c6.
Wow, I read here a lot of nonsense...
Ideally, white's knight DOES belong to c3 in the Catalan, but this is not always feasible, as Black may reply with an eventual ...dxc4, when white has some issues picking back the pawn.
And it is white the one who wants to open the center, not Black!
Here is a typical game where white (with some help from the opponent) plays both Nc3 AND opens the center early.
In any case, white can not enter a Catalan from the Slav initial moves- unless Black does not mind and playes a very early ...e6 (usually not the case). Or, in other words, DeidreSkye is right.
Pfren, it's quite possible to trick a player who uses the Semi-Slav (c6 and e6) as Black into reaching a Catalan position. I pointed out ways to do that.
I agree, if Black is intent on playing a true Slav and knows what they're doing, White's best is to play a Slav/Semi-Slav of his or her own.
But as Avrukh pointed out, it is possible to play in the style of the Catalan, even against a Slav move order, and reach a playable position. He showed how that could be done in his book on the Slav from Black's perspective.
If a player is a 'beast' in slav and semi-slav, then I think it means that player is good in end games and perhaps prefers closed positions. I would play e4 against such players and even play gambits to make the game sharp and tactical. In short, if his strength is end game, then you should try to finish the game in middle game.