Konstantin Sakaev

COMPLETESLAV II

Responsible editorKonstantin Sakaev

Cover designerMilos Sibinovic

TypesettingMarcin Turecki

Second edition 2013 by Chess Evolution

Complete Slav ICopyright © 2012 Chess Evolution

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, electrostatic, magnetic type, photocopyin, recording or otherwise, without prior permission of the publisher.

IISBN 978-83-937009-2-9

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Key to symbols ...................................................................................................... 7Preface ................................................................................................................... 9

Part 1 — Variations 4...dxc4 ................................................................................ 114...dxc4 rare+5.e4 ......................................................................................................... 114...dxc4 5.a4 rare+5...¥g4 ............................................................................................ 134...dxc4 5.a4 e6 6.e3 ..................................................................................................... 174...dxc4 5.a4 e6 6.e4 ..................................................................................................... 26

............................................................................................... 404...dxc4 5.a4 ¥f5 6.e3 rare+6...e6 7.¥xc4 ¥b4 8.0-0 0-0 .......................................... 52

£e2 .......................................... 58 .......................................... 67

............................................................................. 69 ................................................... 81

£ ..................................................................................................... 90

£11.¥g2 g5 ........................................................................................................ 101

Part 2 — Variations 5£b3; 5g3 ......................................................................... 1134...e6 rare +5.£b3 ....................................................................................................... 113

................................................. 123 ....................................................................................... 123

Part 4 — Meran ................................................................................................. 129 .......................................................... 129

.................................................. 134 .................................................... 144

.......................................... 149 .................................. 155

Table of contents

Part 5 — Classic Meran ......................................................................................161£c7 ..........161

£c7 12.dxe6 fxe6 13.£e2 .......................................................................................... 167

£c7 12.dxe6 fxe6 13.¥c2 ........................................................................................... 169

............................................................................................................... 175

................................................................................................................ 178

¦e1 ............................................................................................ 185

Part 6 — Meran 8...a6 ........................................................................................ 191 .............................. 191 ............................... 193

Part 7 — Anti - Meran ...................................................................................... 205£c2 ............................................................................................... 205£c2 ¥d6 rare+7.b3 ....................................................................... 209£c2 ¥d6 7.g4 ............................................................................... 217£c2 ¥d6 7.¥d3 0-0 8.0-0 dxc4 9.¥xc4 ..................................... 221

Part 8 — Rare Botvnnik variations ................................................................... 233

hxg5 10.¥xg5 ¥e7 ...................................................................................................... 233

Part 9 — Botvinnik Variation ........................................................................... 241

11.g3 ¦g8 .................................................................................................................... 241

11.g3 £a5 ................................................................................................................... 245

11.g3 ¥b7 12.¥g2 £b6 13.exf6 0-0-0 14.0-0 rare+14...c5 15.d5 b4 16.¦b1 .......... 249

11.g3 ¥b7 12.¥g2 £ £a6 ................. 254

11.g3 ¥b7 12.¥g2 £b6 13.exf6 0-0-0 14.0-0 c5 15.d5 b4 16.¦b1 £b5 ................. 259

Part 10 — Moscow Variation ............................................................................ 2694...e6 5.¥g5 h6 6.¥xf6 £xf6 ..................................................................................... 2694...e6 5.¥g5 h6 6.¥xf6 £xf6 7.e3 g6 ......................................................................... 2764...e6 5.¥g5 h6 6.¥xf6 £ ...................................................................... 281

Part 11 — Anti - Moscow Variation ................................................................. 2914...e6 5.¥g5 h6 6.¥h4 dxc4 7.e4 g5 8.¥g3 b5 rare+9.¥e2 ¥b7 10.e5 ....................... 291

......... 306

........................................................................................................................... 310

.................................................................................................................... 318

................................................................................................................. 323

= Equality or equal chances

² White has a slight advantage

³ Black has a slight advantage

± White is better

μ Black is better

÷ unclear

© with compensation

„ with counterplay

ƒ with initiative

‚ with an attack

… with the idea

™ only move

N novelty

! a good move

!! an excellent move

? a weak move

?? a blunder

!? an interesing move

?! a dubious move

+ check

# mate

Key to symbols

The second part of the Complete Slav contains all systems that were not presented In the first part, namely a popular variation 3. f3 f6 4. c3 dxc4 and also all systems after 4...e6. Not to mention the possibilities such as 5. g3 or 5. £b3, I have presented lines after 5. e3 starters Meran (6. ¥d3 dxc4 7.¥xc4 b5) and Anti-Meran (6. £c2 ¥d6) lines. Also the variations rising after 5. ¥g5 are examined deeply, namely Moscow (5... h6 ¥xf6) and Anti-Moscow (5... h6 ¥h4) variations as well as Botvinnik system 5... dxc4.

A possibility to cover such a multitude of systems in only one book (it was possible to create even 5 tomes) occurred only because I have tried to shorten the lines almost to the bare minimum.

There are plenty of openings books in where not the most important lines

book starts to be wishy-washy . In such situations I have decided to only describe why this or other move does not deserve to be examined deeply. Thanks to such a way of thinking this elaboration did not lose its quality and in my opinion it is even easier to find a relevant recommendation.

All of presented variations are analyzed on the same level as those described in the first part of whole elaboration.

The book covers the state of the theory for July 2013.

Konstantin Sakaev

Preface

5.e3 Is not dangerous, due to the fact that White will lose a tempo - Nc3 will come under attack. 5...b5 6.a4 b4

already several times. The knight will be able to return to play -

blockading place there. The drawback of this plan is obviously slowness - Black will manage to finish a development and prepare c6-c5.

strength - 7...¥a6 (Black may try to obtain more complex play - 7...c5, but still - the chances are roughly equal. 8.¥xc4 e6 9.0–0

8.¥e2 e6

(12...£a5 13.¥a3 cxd4 (13...¥e7

dxc4

5.e4 Very risky gambit-like move.

5.¥g5?! is dubious - 5...b5 - White risks to stand without a pawn, with no compensation.;

(8.a4 e6 9.0–0 8...e6 9.a4 - 3.Nc3 e6 4.Nf3 dxc4

Nf6 9.a4 The Complete Slav, Book;

a6 9.a4 - 3.Nc3 e6 4.Nf3 dxc4 5.g3

9.a4 The Complete Slav, Book 1;

PART 1 Variations 4...dxc4

GAME 1

12 Part 1

14...¥xa3 15.¦xa3

15.¥a3

10.¥d2 a5

Shulman - Potkin, Khanty Mansyisk 2011

Ionov, Sochi 2010.

(9.£h5?

¥a6 12.£g4 12...g6

Budapest 1996

11.£h5

11...g6! is more promising move in com-

parison with

11...£d7 12.¥e2÷, which leads to unclear position.

12.£g4 ¥d5

a) Velden - Yilmaz, Enschede 2008;

b) 13.¥e2 ¥d5 14.¥f3

h5 16.£f4 a5μ Magerramov - Sasikiran, Dubai 2002;

16.¥e2 a5μ Nakamura - Carlsen,

13.¥e2 ¥e7³

13Complete Slav II

dxc4 5.a4

5...¥g4 It was popular 50 years ago, but

is already out of date. No wonder - light-squared bishop will come under attack quickly and will be limitted by the pawns.

5...c5?! is dubious - 6.d5 (White can also choose 6.e4 and after 6...

, his advanatge is very small in this endgame. 6...e6 (6...¥f5 7.a5! This move allows White to obtain favorable pawn structure. What is more - a4 square is set free for the queen and pawn c4 will be retrieved in a comfortable version.

! with irresistible Nf3-e5 and Nb5-c7+.7.e4 exd5

8.e5 d4 - a2-a4 appears to be useful - after Nd7-b6

Position is complex, but advantage is in Black s hands. Rare 5th moves of White does not create any problems to Black. The sacrifice of e4 pawn leads to a complex fight, but

5. e3 leads to a complex, even play.

GAME 2

14 Part 1

the Knight comes under a4-a5.

initiative and many ways of its development. 10.£b3 - easy and convincing:

13.¥g5 £a5+ 14.¥d2

advantage.;

There are many reasons, why not to set blockade on dark squares 5...a5 1) Black can do it later, if necessary - it is better to develop the pieces. 2) In some variations, Black needs a5 square for the queen. 3)The structure is fixed - Black loses a chance to play a7-a6 and b7-b5 or c6-c5 (because of the b5 square weakness). After e.g. 6.e4 ¥g4 7.¥xc4 e6 ¥xf3 9.gxf3 ¥e7

advantage.;

standing there, he is not very useful. The only benefit is that he does not block a queen and pawn d4 is under attack. Now, White shall strengthen the centre. The drawback of the fast capture of the centre is connected with a defence of pawn d4. 6.e4 (White may also choose to capture the centre step by step - 6.e3

Taking on a6 weakens a complex of light squares and also gives Black an open `b´ file.

White is dominating

in the centre and g2-g4 does not play a big role. After e.g. 14...¦e8

White s advantage has increased,

2001. 6...¥g4 7.¥xc4 e6 (7...¥xf3

0 (9.¦c1 ¥e7 10.0–0 10.Rc1 9...¥e7

15Complete Slav II

10.¦c1! A good way to once and for all repel a Nc2 threat.

a) Not precise is 10.h3, because of 10...¥xf3!

(10...¥h5 11.£e2 (The position after is extremely sharp and convoluted:

11...h6! The only way of ensuring safety to light-squared bishop.

- pawn f´ is ready

for action.- there is also a threat

of `h´ pawn march. 12.¦fd1

White s dominance in the centre, he stands better.)

11.£xf3 does not look good - pawn should stay on h2´ to protect the king in a proper way.

14.fxe3

14...¥b4! 15.¦df2 ¥xc3 16.bxc3

a simplification of a position.;

b) Also safer, but less ambitious

is better due to a spatial advantage.;

11.h3 ¥xf3 (11...¥h5

is even worse: - Bg6

is trapped. 12.£xf3 £a5 13.¦fd1 White has small, but stable advantage, Anikaev - Taimanov, Moscow 1984.

played, but they are weaker:

is still alive and that assure Black good counterplay.;

0 ¥c2 11.£d2 ¥b3÷

This is the only way Black is able

16 Part 1

simply play e2-e4 and take back on c4 with clear advantage.

7...e6 8.g4! The toughest one, White chases the bishop. 8...¥g6

9.h4 c5 10.h5 ¥d3 11.d5!

The most promising line for White appears

a small advantage. 9...¥b4+ 10.¥d2 £e7 11.¥xb4

- thanks to a pair of bishops, White has small, but stable advantage.

? N

- White keeps chances for a win. 11...£xb4+ 12.£d2 £xd2+ 13.¢xd2 exd4

N When the rook will stay on c1, she will neatly cooperate with the knights.

endgame will be not pleasent for Black, Beliavsky - Rublevsky, Tivat 1995.

£e7 12.f4± compensation for a pawn

is not sufficient.

15.¦c1²

cxb5

N

17Complete Slav II

dxc4 5.a4 e6 6.e3

A premature exchange allows White to choose plans connected with an early development of the light-squared bishop.

Also 8...¥e7 gives White additional possibilities, but they are not very dangerous. 9.£e2

(White may also choose a playable endgame: 9.dxc5!? 9...£xd1 10.¦xd1 ¥xc5

If White plays 17.¦ac1, Black can be better off than in the main line: 17...b6 (17...¢b6? 18.a5+ ¢a6 19.¥xc5

Tisdall - S.Johannessen, Drammen 1994 18.b4 bxa4 19.bxc5 b5

-

This is still a middlegame and the pawns on the queenside does not help Black. Summation: rare 5th moves of Black does not solve opening problems.

GAME 3

18 Part 1

11.¥d2

(After 11.h3 Black s plan is not to allow immediate e3-e4 by 11...¥b4

16.¥b5!? deserve s an attention. It forces Black to play weakening a7-a6 before Bc8-d7.

Khalifman - El Debs, Moscow 2011

Nice (blindfold) 2010)

11...¢e7

White

forces Black to render one of the bishops - White, thanks to a pair of bishops, will have a small, but stable advantage. 12...¥e7 13.¦ac1 b6

- White stands better - Bb7 will be limited by f3-e4 pawn chain,

Gyimesi - Sumets, Warsaw 2006. 13.b4 b6)

White has a small advantage, Caruana - Bologan, Porto Carras 2011.)

9...cxd4

10.¦d1

12.¦xd4!

, White has a tad bit better position, Van Wely - Motylev, Moscow 2010.

11.Nxd4 Nxd4 12.exd4)

exchange, Black will not be capable of controlling a d5 square.

11.Rd1

19Complete Slav II

Shirov - Fridman, Kallithea 2008 12...bxc6 13.e4

Pe.Nielsen - Schandorff, Denmark 2008

Gustafsson - Alexa.Kharitonov,Plovdiv 2008 13...e5 14.h3 a5 15.¥e3² Grigoriants - Alexa.Kharitonov, Moscow 2011)

13.a5!?

a) 15.¥d3²;

b) ? 14.£f3 £c7 15.b3

¥d7 16.¥f4 ¥d6 17.¥xd6 £xd6

Dorfman - Vaisser, Aix les Bains 2007;

16.c4² the hanging pawns supported by the pieces ensure White s

initiative, Berkes - Svetushkin, Romania 2012.

10.¥e3 A bishop stands here very passive - it is not the way to create

Roiz - Rustemov, Germany 2011- Sedlak, Greece 2012;

(11.¥g5 ¥d7 (After 11...h6 White can play strong and after

threat of sacrificing the bishop on h6.

Khismatullin - Belozerov, Sochi 2008 12.£e2

20 Part 1

a) 14.a5 ! gives nothing - 14...¦xf7 15.¥xe6 due to a precise 15...£f8 White s compensation is sufficient at most for an equality, Sakaev - Vitiugov, Khanty Mansyisk 2009.15.¥xe7 £xe7=;

b) After 12.¦c1, a proper reaction allows an

improvement of the light-squared bishop - !

- White is ready for transporting the rook on the

(After 13.£b3 Black may play

better than homecoming.(If Black wants to fight, he can choose

13...¦c8=;

12...¦e8!

a)

Va.Popov, St.Petersburg 2010;

b) Black can also play typical

attacks d4 pawn and meanwhile prepares simplifications.

(13...¦c8 14.h4!

Matlakov - Rublevsky, Taganrog 201114...¥e8 15.¦ad1ƒ Jakovenko -

16.¥xe7 £xe7 17.¥b3 a5 18.£f3

Moscow 2012;

13.¦ad1

14...¥b4!? is also interesting - the idea is to let the knight go through e7.

Svidler, Moscow 2011)

Mozharov - Rublevsky, Moscow 2010

21Complete Slav II

15...¦f8! (15...¥c6 Al.Smirnov - Danin, Kaluga 2012, allows White to play impressive N 16...¢xf7 17.£xe6+ ¢f8 18.¦e5 White s initiative is very dangerous and Black has to play extremely precisely:

- the endgame should end in a draw, but Black still has to be careful.exd5= - thanks to a a4 pawn, the bishop is not so weak, Jorczik - Stefansson, Pardubice 2012.)

a)

(12.d5 does not give much -

14...¥e6!

(14...¥b4 15.¦e4 a5 16.¥g5 16...£c7 17.£b3 ¥f5

18.¦f4ƒ Dreev - Grigoriants, Moscow 2008)

15.¥xe6 fxe6= - Black is close to an equality, Short - Vitiugov, Caleta 2013.)

a1) 12...¥b4 is risky due to 13.¦e3! (After Black can play 13...¦c8

14.¦h3

¥xc3 16.¥d3‚ White s attack is very dangerous.;

a2) 12...¥e8 13.d5±;;

b) - 11...Nb4 12.Ne5 Nfd5 13.Bg3.;

22 Part 1

leading to a playable position, which is roughly equal.

(12...¥d7 has been played more

13.d5!

(13.£b3 gives nothing - 13...¥e8 defending f7 square. (13...¥c6 is weak -

Moiseenko - Logashov, Moscow 2009 After putting the bishop on an active position - , White develops his initiative, it should lead to a victory. 14.¦ad1 ¦c8=, d5-break does not work and it is hard to improve the queen s position.)

15.¥xd5

19.¦xe7 g6 (19...£b6? Nyzhnyk -

Banusz, Romania 2012 20.£xd8

keeps a pressure, Moiseenko - Inarkiev, Khanty Mansyisk 2011. 22...¦b8 23.¦a7 ¦xb2

24.¦xa6 ¦fb8 25.h3± - a draw is not guaranteed.)

16.£xd5 ¥c8 17.£e4 ¥f6 18.¦ad1

21.¦xb7 £d4² playing precisely, Black should keep a draw, but his position seems unpleasent,

2012.)

13.¥g3 ¥d7 14.£b3 =

14...¥c6 15.a5 ¦c8

16.a6!? Bocharov - Rublevsky, Sochi 2007 16...bxa6! Playing b7-b6 in such position is dangerous - the light-squared

23Complete Slav II

bishop will be exchanged and pawn a7 will be eternally weak. 17.¥xa6

20.¦c1 £b6 21.¦ca1

¥c3 26.¦xc8 ¦xc8 27.£a2 ¥xa1 28.£xa1 ¦a8 29.£b2 £b6 Black takes a pawn on d4 and will reach an endgame with draw tendencies.;

(11.¦e1 - 10. 11...¥d7 12.¦ad1

12.£e4! Transfering the queen to the kingside is of a great danger for Black.

a) g6 15.¥h6 ¦e8= Korobov - Vitiugov, Khanty Mansyisk 2011;

b) 12.¥b3 leads to an interesting

¢h8 19.¥e3 fxe5 20.dxe5 £c7

23.¥xf4

Khanty Mansyisk 2011 23...¦xf4 24.g3 ¦ff8 25.¦d7 £c5 26.£xe7 £xf2+=)

16...¢h8 17.¥g5 ¥c6 18.¦ac1÷ Ivanchuk - Delchev, France 2012;

14.£g3! Anand -

17.¦ac1² Ding Liren - Jakovenko, St.Petersburg 2012

13.a5;

12.¥g5

24 Part 1

12...h6!

a) 12...¥d7 allows to play 13.d5

18.¦ad1!

Due to a passive position of the rook, White does not have big chances for a whole point, Topalov

18...hxg5 19.¦xd7± in this or er way, White should win a pawn, but with a precise defending, Black s chances for a draw are higher than White s for a victory.;

b) 14.¥xd5 ¥xg5 15.¥e4 ¥f6

13.¥xf6 , if White takes the bishop,

Black is always prepared to take back with a pawn - a pawn structure is favourable for him, Ivanchuk - Tkachev, France 2010. 13...¥xf6

14...£c7!? is an interesting attempt - it attacks Ne5 and so does not allow to break with d4-d5.

16...¥h4!= 15...¥h4! Before coming back to the camp, it is useful to fish the pawn out - the maneuver

£g5!? Edouard - 18.f4

£xd5 18.£xd5 ¦ad8 19.£b3 ¦d1+ 20.£xd1 ¥xd1³;

- Debashis, Kolkata 2012

25Complete Slav II

It is good to fix a structure - after

coming on c6, the bishop will not come under a5-a6.

After 13...¥c6 White can play an unpleasent 14.a6 and Black cannot

13...¥e8 is also a good attempt - 14.¥g5

2010 Probably, it is good for White to keep a stress by

£e6= Sasikiran - Gashimov, Ningbo 2011;

16.¦xa6 ¦c7 17.¥f4 ¥c8 18.¦aa1 18...a6

(is more tricky than simple transportation of the rook to the kingside Tomashevsky - Balogh, Istanbul 2012 19...¦a7 20.¥e5² Now, if Black develops his bishop on b7, the rook will be out of play. Despite of that, Black s position is not so bad.

14.¥g5 ¦c8! White stands more pleasant

- pawn a6 will be under a constant attack. 15.¥b3 ¥e8=, Black is prepared to stabilize a postion by Nf6-d5.

N After 17...¥e8 18.h3² a small

initiative is in White s hands, Vitiugov-Dubov, Moscow 2012.

.

Summation: A 5... e6 system has gained well-deserved popularity and appears to be a good choice for positional players. It is very promising - White has severe problems to gain even a small opening advantage. Classical positions with an isolated pawn, resulting from a line 6.e3 c5

require deep and large knowledge of the ideas rather than concrete variations.