You sure Aquarius? The hanging queen makes me question that statement.
Need a positional, quiet and solid answer to the Slav
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I second the recommendation 4. Nbd2. It's better than Qc2 IMO, because I had enormous difficulties achieving any advantage against the dxc4 lines when I played Qc2 as white.
That line is good but not forced. He'd have to learn a lot of Semi-Slav theory also and I think 4. Nbd2 is more what he wants to play
Yes and there are plenty of side variations and all that it not forced. It's also sharp and not really that close to what the OP is looking for.
He's looking for safe stuff. The Meran is hardly safe for either side
Oct 12, 2015
0
#47
In exchange slav, don't worry about not being able to postpone Nf3, playing 4.Nc3 allows the winawer gambit 4...e5!? which is annoying. Just play 4.Nf3, 5.Nc3 and 6.Bf4. Black can equalize, but it is hard to do and at club level white almost always gets advantage. Here is an example of my own OTB game against 2070-rated player:
According to computer, I had at least some advantage at every point of the game. Exchange slav is my only weapon against slav, but it seems to be enough since I haven't yet lost a game (I mean long OTB game) with it! It is nice to be playing fo only two results. 
And stronger opponents might even lose to you when they desperately try to win.
FunPin wrote:
In exchange slav, don't worry about not being able to postpone Nf3, playing 4.Nc3 allows the winawer gambit 4...e5!? which is annoying.
I'm pretty sure the Winawer Gambit does not come in the exchange Slav nor on the fourth move but rather after 3. Nc3 e5!?
Oct 12, 2015
0
#49
I'm new to this thread, but having read most of the responses I've noticed that a basic question hasn't been asked.
Is this repertoire for OTB chess or correspondence chess? It seems that Skynet is mostly interested in correspondence chess, and that memorizing lines isn't an issue.
I'd recommend the e3 slow Slav stuff for an OTB player who has a good memory. But the Exchange Slav is a fine weapon too. Players such as Aronian and Kramnik have used it to good effect against opponents who are much stronger than any you are likely to face. You don't need to play the f3 lines to get a good game, as Aronian has shown. Take a look at some of the recent games of elite GMs and you will see that White retains an edge for quite a while in the Exchange.
In both the e3 and Exchange Slavs, there's room for originality. Both can be played quietly, and for the win without going overboard.
Still, if you play chess you can't avoid tactics. A strong positional player is always on the lookout for tactics. Don't be afraid to get into a fight.
Perhaps help can be foumd in:
A Strategic Chess Opening Repertoire for White by John Watson (2012)
https://web.archive.org/web/20140627105428/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/hansen161.pdf
Playing 1.d4: The Queen's Gambit by Lars Schandorff (2012)
https://web.archive.org/web/20140626221508/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/hansen162.pdf
The Kaufman Repertoire for Black & White by Larry Kaufman (2012)
https://web.archive.org/web/20140626221508/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/hansen162.pdf
Grandmaster Repertoire 1: 1.d4, Vol. 1 by Boris Avrukh (2008)
https://web.archive.org/web/20140627012924/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/hansen119.pdf
Starting Out: The Queen's Gambit by John Shaw (2002).
https://web.archive.org/web/20140627062050/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/hansen45.pdf
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Wd591R-bJI
GM Ipatov, former world junior champion was probably inspired by his trainer GM Grivas who has played the move several times, and has published a survey at a well-known chess magazine.
This is a very good choice for Catalan players.
Interesting--may be a more accurate way to get a catalan rather than Qc2. I'll have to look into it. Seems straightforward.