8. Classical Slav (dxc4 and Active Bishop on f5)
Black defends d5 with c6 and freely develops the light-squared Bishop to f5.
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 dxc4 5.a4 Bf5 6.e3 e6 7.Bxc4 Bb4 8.O-O O-O 9.Qe2 Nbd7 10.e4 Bg6 11.Bd3 Bh5 12.e5 Nd5
Move by move
- 1.d4 – White takes the center with the queen's pawn, already defended by the Queen, and opens the diagonal for the c1 Bishop. The repertoire plan is c4 next move to attack Black's d5 pawn at once.
- 1...d5 – Black answers symmetrically: the d5 pawn prevents e4 and contests the center. White can now hit it from the side with the c-pawn.
- 2.c4 – The Queen's Gambit attacks d5 with a flank pawn. It is not a real sacrifice: after 2...dxc4 White regains the pawn with e3 and Bxc4, or takes the center with e4.
- 2...c6 – Slav Defense: Black supports d5 with the c-pawn and leaves the c8 Bishop's diagonal free, so it can come out to f5 or g4 before ...e6. In return it gives up the ...c5 push for now.
- 3.Nf3 – The Knight defends d4 and controls e5, preventing ...e5. It is the most flexible move: White waits to see where Black's c8 Bishop will go.
- 3...Nf6 – Black develops and defends d5. The main choices now are ...dxc4, ...a6 or ...e6 with the Semi-Slav.
- 4.Nc3 – The Knight attacks d5 a second time and prepares e4. Black can now take on c4, because White does not yet have e3 to recapture at once with the Bishop.
- 4...dxc4 – Black captures on c4 and threatens to hold the pawn with ...b5. White must regain it without losing control of the center.
- 5.a4 – The pawn prevents ...b5, which would keep the c4 pawn. The price is the b4 square, which becomes a good outpost for black pieces.
- 5...Bf5 – The Bishop comes out to f5 before ...e6, the typical advantage of the Slav. From f5 it controls e4 and holds back White's central push.
- 6.e3 – The pawn opens the diagonal for the f1 Bishop, which will recapture c4. White gives up e4 for now.
- 6...e6 – Black opens the f8 Bishop and supports d5 and f5. The c8 Bishop is already out, so ...e6 does not shut it in.
- 7.Bxc4 – White regains the pawn: material is level and the c4 Bishop is active on the a2-g8 diagonal.
- 7...Bb4 – The Bishop exploits the b4 square left by a4 and pins the c3 Knight, making the e4 push harder.
- 8.O-O – The King goes to safety and the pin on c3 is no longer toward the King. Now e4 becomes possible.
- 8...O-O – Black castles and completes the kingside development. The b8 Knight remains to be developed.
- 9.Qe2 – The Queen defends the c4 Bishop and supports e4. It also prepares Rd1 on the d-file.
- 9...Nbd7 – The Knight controls e5 and prepares ...Bg6 or ...Nb6. Black gets ready for White's e4 push.
- 10.e4 – White takes the center and attacks the f5 Bishop. It now threatens e5 to chase away the f6 Knight.
- 10...Bg6 – The Bishop retreats to g6, where it keeps controlling e4 and the b1-h7 diagonal.
- 11.Bd3 – The Bishop defends e4 and opposes the g6 Bishop on the b1-h7 diagonal. White prepares e5.
- 11...Bh5 – The Bishop pins the f3 Knight to the e2 Queen: White has less control of d4 and e5.
- 12.e5 – White gains space and chases away the f6 Knight. The e5 pawn takes f6 and d6 away from the black pieces.
- 12...Nd5 – The Knight centralizes on d5, a strong square in front of the d4 pawn. From here it controls c3, e3 and b4.
How to exploit the position
White has more space thanks to the e5 pawn; Black has a strong Knight on d5 and the Bh5 pin on the f3 Knight.
- Play Ne4: the Knight aims at d6 and g5 and frees the diagonal for the Qe2-Qe4 battery with Bd3 against h7.
- Break the pin with Qe4 or g4 when the King is safe: the h5 Bishop will stay out of play.
- With Ne4-g3 chase away the h5 Bishop and prepare the kingside attack, where Black has few defenders.
- Black wants ...c5 to hit d4: keep the pawn well defended and do not leave the c-file to Black.
Master tips
Space with e5
After e4 and e5 White takes the f6 and d6 squares away from the black pieces and builds the kingside attack.