10. Modern Semi-Slav Meran with 8...Bb7
With 8...Bb7 Black develops the Bishop before ...a6. After 10.e4 c5 11.d5 Qc7 12.dxe6 fxe6 Black has the open f-file and the b7 Bishop against e4, White attacks the e6 pawn.
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 e6 5.e3 Nbd7 6.Bd3 dxc4 7.Bxc4 b5 8.Bd3 Bb7 9.O-O a6 10.e4 c5 11.d5 Qc7 12.dxe6 fxe6
Move by move
- 1.d4 – White opens with the Queen's pawn: it occupies d4, controls e5 and c5 and prepares c4 to put pressure on the Black center.
- 1...d5 – Black answers symmetrically: the d5 pawn prevents e4 and claims its share of the center.
- 2.c4 – The Queen's Gambit: the c4 pawn attacks d5 and threatens cxd5, to take away Black's control of e4.
- 2...c6 – The Slav Defense: c6 supports d5 without blocking the diagonal of the c8 Bishop, which can come out to f5 or g4 before ...e6.
- 3.Nf3 – The Knight comes out toward the center, controls e5 and protects d4; White keeps the choice open between Nc3, e3 and the Exchange Variation.
- 3...Nf6 – The Black Knight controls e4 and defends d5 a second time: White cannot push e4 without preparation.
- 4.Nc3 – The Knight increases the pressure on d5 and prepares e4; now ...dxc4 becomes a real threat, because c4 is not defended.
- 4...e6 – The Semi-Slav: with ...e6 the c6-d5-e6 triangle makes d5 rock solid and prepares ...dxc4 followed by ...b5. The price is the c8 Bishop, now shut in.
- 5.e3 – White protects c4 and d4 with the pawn and opens the f1 Bishop: it avoids the complications of the Botvinnik and prepares Bd3.
- 5...Nbd7 – The Knight goes to d7: it supports the breaks ...e5 and ...c5 and leaves the b8 square free, without blocking the c-pawn.
- 6.Bd3 – The Bishop goes to d3, its best square against the Black castled position: after ...dxc4, however, it will have to move again.
- 6...dxc4 – The Meran: Black captures on c4 right now, after the Bishop has moved to d3, so White recaptures spending a second tempo.
- 7.Bxc4 – White recaptures the pawn, but the Bishop on c4 will be attacked right away by ...b5.
- 7...b5 – Black drives away the Bishop with tempo and gains space on the queenside: it prepares ...Bb7 and the break ...c5.
- 8.Bd3 – The Bishop returns to d3, where it supports e4 and aims at h7: it is the most active square among the possible retreats.
- 8...Bb7 – The Bishop goes to b7 before ...a6: it develops at once and supports the break ...c5, which will open its diagonal toward g2.
- 9.O-O – White castles and prepares e4: with the King safe it can open the center.
- 9...a6 – Black prepares ...c5: with the a6 pawn the b5 pawn will stay protected after the c-pawn advances.
- 10.e4 – White pushes e4: it occupies the center and threatens e5, which would drive away the f6 Knight.
- 10...c5 – Black breaks at once: it attacks d4 and opens the diagonal of the b7 Bishop, which now aims at e4.
- 11.d5 – White advances the d-pawn instead of exchanging it: it closes the diagonal of the b7 Bishop and attacks e6.
- 11...Qc7 – The Queen controls e5 and prepares ...c4 or ...Bd6: Black lets White exchange on e6 rather than close the game.
- 12.dxe6 – White exchanges on e6 to open the c4-g8 diagonal and leave Black with a weak e6 pawn.
- 12...fxe6 – Black recaptures with the f-pawn: it opens the f-file for the Rook and controls d5, and the diagonal of the b7 Bishop is free again.
How to exploit the position
Dynamic position: Black has the central pawns and the b7-e4 diagonal, White attacks the e6 pawn.
- The e4 pawn is attacked by Bb7 and Nf6: with ...c4 drive away the d3 Bishop, one of its defenders.
- Develop with ...Bd6 and ...O-O: the Rook on f8 on the open f-file aims at f2.
- The e6 pawn is the weak point: keep an eye on Ng5 and Nd4, which attack it, and complete development before capturing on e4.
- With ...b4 drive away the c3 Knight to remove another defender of e4.
Master tips
The push ...c4
In the Meran with ...Bb7 the c5 pawn can advance to c4 with tempo on the d3 Bishop, the piece that defends e4.