Slav Setups against English, Reti, and Larsen
Introduction and Free Preview
The camp Slav Setups against English, Reti, and Larsen is already a digital product. This product includes all the videos from the masterclass as well as the PGN file related to the training sessions. Overall, the material consists of approximately 7.5 hours of video and a PGN database which includes 46 files!
You will find the following lectures:
1.Nf3 d5 2.g3 Nf6 3.Bg2 c6 - Repertoire for Black - GM Davorin Kuljasevic
1.c4 c6 2.Nf3 d5 3.e3 - Practical Repertoire for Black - GM Petar Arnaudov
1.c4 c6 2.Nf3 d5 3.g3 - Positional Repertoire for Black - GM Mihail Marin
Ambitious Repertoire against the Larsen - 1.b3 d5 2.Bb2 Bf5 - GM Krasimir Rusev
1.c4 c6 2.e4 d5 - Repertoire for Black - GM Grigor Grigorov
In this article, we will briefly present some interesting moments taken from the lectures
1.Nf3 d5 2.g3 Nf6 3.Bg2 c6 - Repertoire for Black
In this lecture, GM Kuljasevic provides a complete repertoire for Black after 1.Nf3 d5 2.g3
Here is how GM Kuljasevic introduces the subject:
Despite its modest appearances, the Reti Opening should not be underestimated. It provides White with flexibility and positional soundness while avoiding long and forced opening variations that we see in many 1.e4 and 1.d4 openings. The anti-Reti repertoire that I will suggest here for Black is based on the super-solid Slav setup that usually (but as we shall see, not always) involves a combination of moves Bg4, d5, c6 and e6. Bishop's development to g4 - the so-called Capablanca system - is the cornerstone of this repertoire. It is also possible to develop the bishop to f5 (Lasker system), but this leads to slightly different positions where the bishop often gets hit with an e2-e4 with a tempo, so it will not be examined here.
The PGN version of the article consists of 7 chapters, each one of them covering a specific opening system.
Below, you can find one of them.
1.c4 c6 2.Nf3 d5 3.e3 - Practical Repertoire for Black
The setups with e3 are quite popular weapons to face Slav Defence. If Black didn't know what to do, White could try to exploit the fact that his pawn is still on d2 and organize a dangerous attack. In the position on the diagram below, Black has many options as 4...a6, 4...g6, 4...Bf5, 4...Bg4, 4...Nd7 but the main and the strongest one is 4...e6
Now White should decide to enter the 1.d4 territory after 5.d4 or to play 5.b3. The lecture is mainly devoted to 5.b3, but you will also find some suggestions against 5.d4.
The author offers a fresh look at those positions and suggests systems without too much theory and with chances to play for a win with the Black pieces.
1.c4 c6 2.Nf3 d5 3.g3 - Positional Repertoire for Black
To some extend the lecture of GM Mihail Marin is very similar to the one of GM Kuljasevic. In this regard, the current lecture will help you to get a deeper understanding of the arising structures.
The starting position of the lecture arises after 1.c4 c6 2.Nf3 d5 3.g3 Nf6 4.Bg2 Bf5
Below, you can see how GM Marin introduces his repertoire choice:
This way of developing the bishop leads to the so-called Lasker system.
For two main reasons, the last move is a bit mysterious. Firstly, after the probable d2-d3, the bishop will hit onto a stonewall, with apparently few chances of exerting effective activity. Secondly, the bishop is constantly exposed to Nh4.
The second question is easier to answer. At this stage, the threat Nh4 is not real (we will soon find out why). Later, Black will prepare the bishop's retreat to h7 by playing ...h7-h6.
The first issue is more complex. Black will need to coordinate his army in such a way that the bishop will be useful, one way or another. I will indicate a few such cases later in some concrete lines.
I usually get this position with White and in practice, I have tried several setups. I will offer viable solutions against all of them.
Below, you shall take a look at one of the opening lines.
Ambitious Repertoire against the Larsen - 1.b3 d5 2.Bb2 Bf5
In this lecture, GM Krasimir Rusev provides a complete repertoire against 1.b3. Previously, this was considered a sideline that did not require a lot of attention. However, with more and more games played at the top level, it proved to hold some poison if Black is not careful with the plans or specific move orders. The opening has been on the rise with numerous strong players often employing it in rapid and blitz- e.g. Carlsen, Nakamura, Nepomniachtchi etc. The main idea of starting with this move is to get a fresh position with complicated middlegame play and, at the same time, avoid long theoretical battles. Nevertheless, if Black is familiar with a few subtleties, he should get excellent chances.
The first important choice for Black arises after 1...d5 2.Bb2
At this point, GM Rusev explains his choice in the following way:
Black has a couple of different options to choose from- the most popular ones are 2...Nf6, 2...Bg4, 2...Bf5. To put it briefly, 2...Bg4 results in lively double-edged positions, 2...Bf5 is a bit inaccurate in my opinion, and the most solid personal favourite of mine is 2. ..Nf6. By playing 2...Nf6, Black waits for White to dedicate to a setup and only then puts Bf5 if appropriate.
The PGN version of the lecture is divided into 2 parts - Opening Theory and Model Games.
Below, you shall take a look at one of the model games.
1.c4 c6 2.e4 d5 - Repertoire for Black
The current lecture features the variation 1.c4 c6 2.e4 d5
More often, this position arises in the Caro-Kann Defence after 1.e4 c6 2.c4. Therefore, the current material will be very useful both for Caro-Kann and Slav players. In almost all the variations, Black will be playing against an Isolated Queen's Pawn (IQP). Therefore, at the beginning of the lecture, GM Grigorov provides model games featuring this important pawn structure.
In all the variations, GM Grigorov provides a repertoire that requires minimal theoretical knowledge. At the same time, Black gets solid and a reliable position.
Below, you can see his suggestion against the Panov Attack.