Chess openings – Slav Defence
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185 Comments
Dereque, at 10:09, after white plays Nh4 and after Bg3, there are lot of similar positions like i told you right now where white/black can get bishop pair that way, but opponent's rook file gets opened. So, does that mean that in those positions is worth taking bishop pair or no?
What about 4.Nc3 Bf5 5.cxd5 Nxd5!? I'm seeing 6.Qb3 Nxc3 (6… Qb6, with a similar position, but no isolated pawn on the d file. The best I can find is for white to play something like 7.Qxb6 axb6 8.e4 Nxc3 9. exf5 – Leaving a messy board – has black found equality there? 7. c5 also looked interesting, but it is entirely different, and I didn't see many games with it so I have ignored that option) 7.bxc3 (7.Qbx7 Nd5! 8.Qxa8 Qb6 or Qc7 and the white queen is safe but imprisoned – Is black compensated for the material loss?) Qb6 leaving no obvious punishment for having played Bf5. The best idea I have come up with there is 8.Nd2, threatening e4 and pushing to expand, but 8… e5! seems to foil that (or at least complicate it to make it unpleasant to look at.
I have been looking into an alternative move order as white: 4.Nc3 Bf5 5.Qb3 (This leaves no d5 pawn for black to capture, leaving only the committal Qb6, as far as I can tell) Qb6 6. cxd5 Nxd5 (6… cxd5 transposes to the normal trick) 7.Nxd5 cxd5 (7… Qxb3 8.Nc7+ Kd8 9.axb3 Kxc7 and black's pawn isn't isolated, but he cannot castle) 8.Qxd5 (winning the pawn, though allowing 8… e3, forcing the queen to move again, but overall this looks good for white to me)
I am quite new to chess, and very much appreciate your engaging way of teaching! With every view I learn something new. However it is sometimes hard to follow when you list possible moves in quick succession. Maybe adding the numbers and letters to the board-animation would make things easier for us newbies=) Please keep up the good good work!
8:02 you say queen b3 but show the bishop doing a knight move. It's pretty clear what you mean, but I just thought you should know. Thanks for the videos.
This guy is one of the best teachers I have encountered on a chess channel. And my rating has fluctuated 1800-1950, so I'm not exactly a beginner. Kudos to you, sir.
Great video. You certainly analyze the key variations in openings that give non masters problems. The slav has been a problem to me for a long time. When I was really weak I thought white plays d4 c4 and win; but introduction to the Slav was a nightmare and I never found a way that made me feel comfortable in the opening.
By watching your video I know for sure that I got to do some serious reading up on this defense. Probably I might even begin implementing it as black. I normally play 1. d4 c5 but I am really not comfortable in some lines. I figure if white plays the best moves my defense should be refuted. And after watching your video on the Modern Benoni I had to ask why do I always play 1. d4 c5? Kasparov Chessmate suggested the move so I saw it as legitimate, and I liked the early aggression it gave black. But after playing it for so long and tactical lines I prepared being refuted hard, it's probably time to ditch this defense.
Scrap it and try out the Slav Defense. And probably I try playing some new lines in the Queen's Pawn like London System. And it's time I started playing some dynamic openings like in King's Pawn.
Though this video is very useful it's not what most beginners looking for. The word "defence" is meaning yourself the game for black and not for white. I don't see why so many videos are made on youtube about Slav defence for white. Queens gambit is the game for white and slav defence for black. Isn't it obvious? Nonetheless thank's for your video and maybe sometime you will make videos on purpose defence for black bacause it is much easier to understand if look at the game from right sight.
I love this video! Very instructive! I was wondering something: In the line where 4…dxc4 5.e4 b5, what if White played a developing move like Bf4, instead of trying to regain the pawn with a4, thus gaining an even bigger development lead? Does that cause any major troubles for Black?
Why black accepts the gambit with dxc4 (giving his central pawn for a flank pawn) if he had prepared to compensate the eventual white's capture by c6? He prepares and then gives up the idea. It's said that this is common at 3:12 and 5:46 So I understand this is no theory but experience, right?
@Dereque Kelley: I really enjoy your videos and this one was no exception. however, I have to point out that black's move 6. b6 is actually a blunder according to stockfish. It is quite an intricate line though afterwards with 7.e4/dxe4(temporary pawn sacrifice) 8.Ne5/e6 9.Bb5+ and the line continues in various ways, but white is up by quite a margin(+3.6).
I stumbled upon this line when analyzing one of my games on lichess, where my opponent played 6.b6 (didn't find it during the game though) But as I said before, I love your content and keep up the great work!
Of all the chess videos I've seen over the years, your videos are the most concise and chock full of the most crucial and useful information while still being very clear and easy to follow. Tremendous work. Memorizing openings might not be the most fun part of chess but your videos make it less painful lol.
Dereque, at 10:09, after white plays Nh4 and after Bg3, there are lot of similar positions like i told you right now where white/black can get bishop pair that way, but opponent's rook file gets opened. So, does that mean that in those positions is worth taking bishop pair or no?
The Slav defense is squatting on the rook and refusing to move. (Edit: Just kidding, did anyone understand what I was joking about?)
What about 4.Nc3 Bf5 5.cxd5 Nxd5!?
I'm seeing 6.Qb3 Nxc3 (6… Qb6, with a similar position, but no isolated pawn on the d file. The best I can find is for white to play something like 7.Qxb6 axb6 8.e4 Nxc3 9. exf5 – Leaving a messy board – has black found equality there? 7. c5 also looked interesting, but it is entirely different, and I didn't see many games with it so I have ignored that option) 7.bxc3 (7.Qbx7 Nd5! 8.Qxa8 Qb6 or Qc7 and the white queen is safe but imprisoned – Is black compensated for the material loss?) Qb6 leaving no obvious punishment for having played Bf5. The best idea I have come up with there is 8.Nd2, threatening e4 and pushing to expand, but 8… e5! seems to foil that (or at least complicate it to make it unpleasant to look at.
I have been looking into an alternative move order as white:
4.Nc3 Bf5 5.Qb3 (This leaves no d5 pawn for black to capture, leaving only the committal Qb6, as far as I can tell) Qb6 6. cxd5 Nxd5 (6… cxd5 transposes to the normal trick) 7.Nxd5 cxd5 (7… Qxb3 8.Nc7+ Kd8 9.axb3 Kxc7 and black's pawn isn't isolated, but he cannot castle) 8.Qxd5 (winning the pawn, though allowing 8… e3, forcing the queen to move again, but overall this looks good for white to me)
This is great. You're a terrific teacher. I used to play the Slav and this was a fun reminder.
Wonderful lesson 🙂 I wonder what pieces are those? They do look quite elegant.
Wonderful explanation. Thanks!
Does this work with the Slav Squat as well?
Hello Mr Kelly!
I am quite new to chess, and very much appreciate your engaging way of teaching!
With every view I learn something new.
However it is sometimes hard to follow when you list possible moves in quick succession.
Maybe adding the numbers and letters to the board-animation would make things easier for us newbies=)
Please keep up the good good work!
Have a nice evening
For the first time , I have watched beautiful but uncomplete vedio .
Great explanation.
he says the word 'pawn' funny
My first language is not english, but…it's defenSe or defenCe?
Nice presentation.
make a big video on birds opening
make a big video on birds opening
which opening is better slav or kings Indian defense
thnx for such an informative video
this is the very best teacher…he goes at the right pace and clarifies…keep up the good work.
what happens if white c4 pawn …takes black d5 pawn ?
8:02 you say queen b3 but show the bishop doing a knight move. It's pretty clear what you mean, but I just thought you should know. Thanks for the videos.
You should add this to your Queen's Gambit playlist.
"Very poorly paced pliece"
This guy is one of the best teachers I have encountered on a chess channel. And my rating has fluctuated 1800-1950, so I'm not exactly a beginner. Kudos to you, sir.
Great video. You certainly analyze the key variations in openings that give non masters problems. The slav has been a problem to me for a long time. When I was really weak I thought white plays d4 c4 and win; but introduction to the Slav was a nightmare and I never found a way that made me feel comfortable in the opening.
By watching your video I know for sure that I got to do some serious reading up on this defense. Probably I might even begin implementing it as black. I normally play 1. d4 c5 but I am really not comfortable in some lines. I figure if white plays the best moves my defense should be refuted. And after watching your video on the Modern Benoni I had to ask why do I always play 1. d4 c5? Kasparov Chessmate suggested the move so I saw it as legitimate, and I liked the early aggression it gave black. But after playing it for so long and tactical lines I prepared being refuted hard, it's probably time to ditch this defense.
Scrap it and try out the Slav Defense. And probably I try playing some new lines in the Queen's Pawn like London System. And it's time I started playing some dynamic openings like in King's Pawn.
Good
Learned a great amount of chess knowledge
Big fan of your videos. Thank you.
For defending b pawn and not losing influence over d5 pawn, why can't white play Qd7 ?
6:51 m one move have to escape two pawn to white play Na2 b3,Nb4 Be6
Can u make a video on QGD
Though this video is very useful it's not what most beginners looking for. The word "defence" is meaning yourself the game for black and not for white. I don't see why so many videos are made on youtube about Slav defence for white. Queens gambit is the game for white and slav defence for black. Isn't it obvious? Nonetheless thank's for your video and maybe sometime you will make videos on purpose defence for black bacause it is much easier to understand if look at the game from right sight.
I love this video! Very instructive!
I was wondering something: In the line where 4…dxc4 5.e4 b5, what if White played a developing move like Bf4, instead of trying to regain the pawn with a4, thus gaining an even bigger development lead? Does that cause any major troubles for Black?
I like how pedagogical your videos are. Thanks a lot (Julien from France)
what about queen to d7 at 4:17?
4:45 what if Qd7? protects both
Cool video, good explanations
Why black accepts the gambit with dxc4 (giving his central pawn for a flank pawn) if he had prepared to compensate the eventual white's capture by c6? He prepares and then gives up the idea. It's said that this is common at 3:12 and 5:46 So I understand this is no theory but experience, right?
Very good video, thank you!
@Dereque Kelley: I really enjoy your videos and this one was no exception. however, I have to point out that black's move 6. b6 is actually a blunder according to stockfish. It is quite an intricate line though afterwards with 7.e4/dxe4(temporary pawn sacrifice) 8.Ne5/e6 9.Bb5+ and the line continues in various ways, but white is up by quite a margin(+3.6).
I stumbled upon this line when analyzing one of my games on lichess, where my opponent played 6.b6 (didn't find it during the game though)
But as I said before, I love your content and keep up the great work!
😁😁
Do you ever give out chess boards
sadly u didnt cover what is most happening to me, white captures on d5 (without blakc having the bishop out)
Amazing analysis brother
Thank you ! I'm learning a lot with your channel !!
Of all the chess videos I've seen over the years, your videos are the most concise and chock full of the most crucial and useful information while still being very clear and easy to follow. Tremendous work. Memorizing openings might not be the most fun part of chess but your videos make it less painful lol.
Almost 10 years now and still the number 1 introduction to the Slav on YouTube
I just recently found this channel but really like how he shows/explains the openings / counters and chess in general.
Slav Defense: Exchange Variation, 3…cxd5
1. c3 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3. cxd4 d5 4. g3 Nc6 5. Nf3 Bf5 6. Nc3 Nf6 7. Qb3 Qd7 8. Ne5
Nxe5 9. dxe5 Ne4 10. Nxe4 Bxe4 11. f3 Bg6 12. e4 O-O-O 13. Bb5 Qc7 14. e6 fxe6
15. Bf4 e5 16. Rc1 exf4 17. Rxc7+ Kxc7 18. O-O 1-0
I really like how you explain the moves
I learned something from this, bc I never play the Slav, but may just give it a try.