GM Davorin Kuljasevic - The Importance of Modern Middlegame Tabiyas - Video 7

Opening: D45: QGD; Semi-Slav 5.e3

Player(s): Anton Guijarro, Harikrishna, Ding, Topalov, Bacrot, Korobov, Visakh, Hossain, Vidit, Sethuraman

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 e6 5.e3 Nbd7 The Semi-Slav Defense is very popular thanks to a combination of its solidity and flexibility. It often leads to interesting middlegame battles with many pieces on the board. White can meet it in many ways but here we will focus on the Anti-Meran variation: 6.Qc2 (as opposed to the Meran variation 6.Bd3 dxc4 7.Bxc4 etc.) 6...Bd6 7.b3!? (7.Bd3 is another very popular approach), which leads into a popular middlegame tabiya of our interest after 7...0-0 8.Be2 b6 9.0-0 Bb7 10.Bb2 Qe7 11.Rad1 Rad8 12.Rfe1 Rfe8. This flexible tabiya is one of the most popular in the Semi-Slav defense, with hundreds of games being played from it. Both sides have mobilized their pieces for central breaks. White would like to play e3-e4, while Black is getting ready to carry out ...c6-c5 or ...e6-e5 at the right moment. Both pairs of rooks are placed on the central files for that purpose. However, the practice has shown that pushing in the center immediately may not be the best strategy and that it is often more useful to make several useful waiting moves instead. Download HERE the PGN file with the games.

Teacher's library (57) D45 Anton Guijarro Harikrishna Ding Topalov Bacrot Korobov Visakh Hossain Vidit Sethuraman midgame