Is The Chameleon Slav c5 Line Really Best?

Read my annotations in the diagram above and then my question is whether I should stick with the c5 line I like [with the capture on b6], or if I should instead change to this 6. h3!? line I don't really know anything about yet?

SETO KAIBA?

@YugiMutou @Yu-Gi-Oh

Yes. I discuss my username in this blog post:

https://www.chess.com/blog/KeSetoKaiba/kesetokaiba-username-meaning

The chess.com usernames you tagged also haven't logged into chess.com in literally years, but okay lol. Let's have this forum thread for the opening question I had though xD

In the meantime, you can check out my YouTube channel

https://www.youtube.com/@kesetokaiba/videos

I have no experience with this line , however we all know en-passant is forced

Thank you for sharing.

Ray Duque III, GMBD

Can't say I am up on my Slav theory as I play the Exchange Variation as White and the Dutch as Black, but my inclination would be to say that no it is not. While it does immobilize Black's queenside and prevents b5 from being good, it is very committal very early, and gives Black a fixed goal, ...e5. Thinkabout the Kings Indian. What gives Black the green light to play ...f5? Enticing d5 out of White, taking pressure off of e5. If the center is fluid, ...f5 is a horrible loosening move for Black. With d5 played, it's a great move. So the commitment of c5 makes ...e5 and immediate target for Black.

thanks for sharing! i'll try to use it

EDIT: I admit I didn't read your post, and thought you were talking about the move 5. h3 which, as it turns out, is a fascinating move... Some of the positions look like they resemble known slav / semi-slav lines with a6 and h3 thrown in... which could make it a practical way of dealing with the Chameleon. But most importantly black is screwing up at a very high rate with an early Bf5 / b5, both of which are terrible, and isn't often playing the precise continuation with e6 (which looks like a boring line... and chameleon players want to avoid a semi-slav setup). Likewise dxc4 appears to be a slav main line, but with a 2 centipawn improvement for white, it seems. So you'd just play that like a slav main line which you already will face probably.

Probably it will work very well. After looking at both lines I'd actually go with 5. h3 instead of the h3 you posted there. White is getting a winning advantage immediately in like 50% of games after 5. h3 due to 5... Bf5 or 5... b5.

he’s a 3rd rate player using 4th rate openings

I played the a6 Slav in a couple of OTB tournaments. My experiences were pretty straightforward: If black gets in e5, he's at least equal and probably better. If white clamps down on that square and prevents e5, then black's position can become very cramped and passive.

Obviously I'm no expert on this line, though I did achieve a crushing position as black against a 2385 player in an OTB team match. I took a draw because it gave my team a win (and I'm lazy).

i would stick to c5. I think it offers a decent position and more importantly its simple to understand. this a6 slav line isnt super popular so you dont want to dedicate too much time to this one specific line.

If it's a rare line you should really prefer not to play the most common continuation, and instead look for some equally obscure response. If a viable one exists it's the better option.

This opening is pretty interesting. Also I didn't know it was called the chameleon opening!

you can try a4 a5. if you would like to push flank pawns it seems more fun. I just made up this plan with the engine B)

and then g3 in response to 5. a4 e6 is like more practical since it's a better Catalan

Ji

Ji