Positional Slav for White – Part 2: Understanding Structures That Last a Lifetime
The Slav Defense with 4...Bf5 has always been Black's most principled attempt to solve the opening's central problem: developing the light-squared bishop before closing the position with ...e6. It's theoretically sound, strategically ambitious, and demands precise understanding rather than pure memorization.
In this second volume of their Positional Slav for White repertoire project, GM Alexey Dreev and GM Pier Luigi Basso present a classical yet deeply modern approach built around the flexible 7.Be2 — delaying Nxg6 until White can dictate the most favorable moment for the exchange. But what sets this course apart is its format: most chapters are structured as analytical conversations between the two authors, exploring not just what to play, but how to think in these middlegames.
The goal isn't to memorize variations. It's to internalize structures that will serve you for decades.
A Collaborative Approach to Positional Mastery
Dreev and Basso have refined their partnership over multiple projects, and their collaborative method shines here. Rather than presenting a rigid repertoire, they discuss critical positions together — debating plans, evaluating pawn structures, and explaining the logic behind White's strategic decisions.
The 7.Be2 system offers White long-term pressure with the bishop pair, and the course shows how to convert small advantages into wins without taking unnecessary risks. Black's main tries after 5...e6 6.Nh4 include the immediate 6...Be4 (forcing f3 and changing the position's character) and the natural 6...Bg6 (leading to the classical mainlines with 7.Be2).
Both options are covered in depth across 14 theory chapters, with powerful theoretical novelties presented in the critical 6...Be4 7.f3 Bg6 8.Qb3 lines.
Course Structure and Variation Coverage
This course continues directly from Positional Slav for White – Part 1, which covered Black's alternative setups after 4.e3. Both volumes are part of the comprehensive 1.d4 According to Dreev series, offering a complete repertoire against all of Black's major defenses.
Variation Map:
After 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.e3 Bf5 5.Nc3 e6 6.Nh4
- 6...Bg6 7.Be2 Nbd7 8.0-0
- 8...dxc4 9.Bxc4 Bh5 → Chapter 1
- 8...Ne4 → Chapter 2
- 8...Bd6 9.g3 → Chapters 3–4
- 8...Be7 → Chapter 5
- 6...Be4 7.f3 Bg6 8.Qb3
- 8...Qb6 and 8...Qc7 → Chapters 6–10 (including powerful theoretical novelties)
- 6...Bg4 (Black's worst reaction) → Chapter 11
Alternative 5th move setups:
- 5...a6 6.Qb3 (serious move, as Nh4 ideas lose power)
- 6...b5 (the most logical, but a major positional commitment) → Chapters 12–13
- 6...Ra7 (Malakhov's system — avoiding queenside weaknesses) → Chapter 14
Premium Course Features
This is a Modern Chess Premium course, built as a complete training system:
- 14 theory chapters with video explanations
- 30 test positions — critical moments with tactical and strategic solutions
- 5 training positions for interactive computer practice
- To-Go Version of every chapter — condensed files for pre-game review
- Memory Booster — for long-term recall of key ideas
- Multilingual PGN files — English, German, French, and Spanish
- Full download access — all materials are yours to keep
The Slav with 4...Bf5 isn't going anywhere. Black's setup is solid, the positions are rich, and the resulting middlegames reward deep understanding.
With Dreev and Basso as your guides, you won't just learn what to play — you'll learn how to think in these structures, making them a permanent part of your repertoire. Explore the complete repertoire and deepen your Slav understanding today.
INTRODUCTION BY GM PIER LUIGI BASSO
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