The Slav

The Slav Defence (1 d4 d5 2 c4 c6) has been one of Black's most reliable defences to the queen's pawn since its adoption by World Champions Alekhine and Euwe in the 1930s. Nowadays it is very popular both at grandmaster level (it is used regularly by Ivanchuk, Lautier and Short) and with club players. In this book Grandmaster Matthew Sadler explains the strategy and tactics of this perennial favourite. Through the use of model games for both sides, the author provides a thorough grounding in the key ideas, so that readers can quickly and confidently start to use the Slav in their own games. Also included is a survey of the trendy new 1 d4 d5 2 c4 c6 3 Nf3 Nf6 4 Nc3 a6 variation. Bibliography Introduction The Old Main Line (3 ♘f3 ♘f6 4 ♘c3 dxc4 5 a4 ♗f6 e3 e6 7 ♗xc4 ♗b4 8 0-0): Black plays to prevent e4 The Old Main Line (3 ♘f3 ♘f6 4 ♘c3 dxc4 5 a4 ♗f6 e3 e6 7 ♗xc4 ♗b4 8 0-0): Black allows e3-e4 The New Main Line (3 ♘f3 ♘f6 4 ♘c3 dxc4 5 a4 ♗f5 6 ♘e5): 13 Black fights for control of e4 The New Main Line (3 ♘f3 ♘f6 4 ♘c3 dxc4 5 a4 ♗f5 6 ♘e5): Black counterattacks The Smyslov Variation (3 ♘f3 ♘f6 4 ♘c3 dxc4 5 a4 ♘a6) The Bronstein Variation (3 ♘f3 ♘f6 4 ♘c3 dxc4 5 a4 ♗g4) The 4 . . . a6 Slav (3 ♘f3 ♘f6 4 ♘c3 a6): White plays 5 e3 The 4 . . . a6 Slav (3 ♘f3 ♘f6 4 ♘c3 a6): Aggressive options for White The Exchange Variation (3 cxd5 cxd5) Move-Orders and Transpositions Odds and Ends Index of Complete Games The skill of preparing an opening is frequently misunderstood: many players (including some strong grandmasters) believe that to play an opening well, it is necessary to analyse a great many variations; that no preparation is complete without at least one queen sacrifice and that to stop before move 20 is akin to criminal negligence.