Opening vs. 1 e4 for Semi-Slav player

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gundamv

What opening should someone who plays Semi-Slav against 1 d4 as Black play against 1 e4?

MacDingus

Caro or Scandi if you like the structure.

Sicilian if you like the nature.

ghostofmaroczy

John Donaldson paired the SemiSlav with the Accelerated Dragon Sicilian.

Vladimir Kramnik paired the SemiSlav with the Sveshnikov Sicilian (as did Sveshnikov himself).

Viswanathan Anand paired the SemiSlav with the Najdorf Sicilian.

Alexey Dreev paired the SemiSlav with the French.

gundamv

How about Caro-Kann?  Similar pawn structure.

toiyabe
MacDingus wrote:

Caro or Scandi if you like the structure.

Sicilian if you like the nature.

This.  

ghostofmaroczy
gundamv wrote:

How about Caro-Kann?  Similar pawn structure.

I don't like the way Soltis (in Pawn Structure Chess 1995 edition) compares the Caro-Kann and Slav.  Just because Black goes ...c6 and ...d5 does not make them the same.  The pawn structures are actually completely different--because of what White does.

gundamv

I find it easier to free Black's position in the Semi-Slav with the queenside pawn advance than in the Caro-Kann where the queenside pawn advance is not as good and where a central pawn break with ...c5 or ...e5 (right approach according to Soltis) is hotly contested.

ghostofmaroczy

Yes, of course.  The queenside advance ...b5 is essential in the SemiSlav.  

As to pairing up defenses, I pair the SemiSlav with the French.  To me, there is no connection between Caro and Slav.

GMVillads

...e5

Esmayli_Behnam

2.Nc6 Sicilian because like Slav it has the right mix of solid structures with yet inherently dynamic potential. 

EKAFC

Caro is a good option but I like to play the French or the Taimanov Sicilian

ratif8

i dont know what you play as a white but French and semislav why not!