Semi-Slav Defence

Play as BlackDefence

A rich, double-edged system that mixes ideas of the Slav and the Queen's Gambit Declined.

The main line, move by move

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 c6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 b5 8. Bd3 a6 9. e4 c5

1. 1. d4 — Claim the center with the queen pawn and open lines for the queen and bishop.
2. 1... d5 — Black stakes a claim in the center.
3. 2. c4 — The Queen's Gambit: offer a side pawn to pull Black's d-pawn away.
4. 2... e6 — Solid: support d5 and open the bishop on f8.
5. 3. Nc3 — Brings the knight into the game.
6. 3... Nf6 — Brings the knight into the game.
7. 4. Nf3 — Brings the knight into the game.
8. 4... c6 — Support the d5 pawn and prepare ...dxc4.
9. 5. e3 — Open the bishop and support the center.
10. 5... Nbd7 — Brings the knight into the game.
11. 6. Bd3 — Develop the bishop to an active square.
12. 6... dxc4 — Takes the pawn on c4.
13. 7. Bxc4 — Takes the pawn on c4.
14. 7... b5 — Hold on to the extra pawn on c4.
15. 8. Bd3 — Develop the bishop to an active square.
16. 8... a6 — Support the pawn on b5.
17. 9. e4 — Strike in the center: a sharp reply.
18. 9... c5 — Counter-strike at once in the center.

Related openings

• Sicilian Defense (Najdorf)
• French Defense
• Caro-Kann Defense
• Scandinavian Defense
• Pirc Defense

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