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1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. nf3 nf6 4. c5...

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. nf3 nf6 4. c5...

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Any thoughts on this opening? I use it in our otb high school league games... any ideas for black?

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Originally posted by SilentDeath
Any thoughts on this opening? I use it in our otb high school league games... any ideas for black?
4...b6 and if 5.b4 then 5....a5

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6. Qa4?

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Originally posted by SilentDeath
Any thoughts on this opening? I use it in our otb high school league games... any ideas for black?
Ah, yes, the little known Slav Advance :-). Books generally dismiss the move c5 by White in the Slav as "releasing the tension in the center too early" and then don't bother analyzing it or even providing any suggestions for Black. It can be quite annoying, though.

I would imagine that you should strike at the center with b6 and/or e5 as soon as possible. However, I'm somewhat new to the Slav and would love to hear what more experienced players recommend.

Scott

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Originally posted by smrex13
Ah, yes, the little known Slav Advance :-). Books generally dismiss the move c5 by White in the Slav as "releasing the tension in the center too early" and then don't bother analyzing it or even providing any suggestions for Black. It can be quite annoying, though.

I would imagine that you should strike at the center with b6 and/or e5 as soon as possi ...[text shortened]... hat new to the Slav and would love to hear what more experienced players recommend.

Scott
one of the common lines is nd2 e5 for black... which is why i play bf4

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Originally posted by SilentDeath
6. Qa4?
6...b5 and black has better.

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I think it's more usual to wait on c4-c5 until black plays ..a6 - more weaknesses then on the queenside if black undermines the pawns w ..b6 &/or ..a6. & if he doesn't undermine them, white has more space - and just has to keep an eye out for ..e5, the other freeing break.

c4-c5 is quite rare before ..a6, anyhow. I've sometimes wondered though. If white doesn't play c4-c5 in the Slav, his only choice for the c-pawn is cxd5. This (unlike in the QGD Exchange) typically leads to equality due to the symmetry, and sometimes drawish games. But black has an option to mix it up with ..d5xc4, or maintain the centre as it is. Logically, then, if white rules out c4-c5 by default, isn't black actually *better* in the centre? Or at least has more options, flexibility?

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Originally posted by TommyC
I think it's more usual to wait on c4-c5 until black plays ..a6 - more weaknesses then on the queenside if black undermines the pawns w ..b6 &/or ..a6. & if he doesn't undermine them, white has more space - and just has to keep an eye out for ..e5, the other freeing break.

c4-c5 is quite rare before ..a6, anyhow. I've sometimes wondered though. If white do ...[text shortened]... lt, isn't black actually *better* in the centre? Or at least has more options, flexibility?
Game 2141758

Nice game there, Tommy, impressive stuff.

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Originally posted by SilentDeath
6. Qa4?
Just 6...bxc5 looks OK to me.

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Originally posted by cmsMaster
[b]Game 2141758
Good job but I was expecting the opening to be related to the thread topic.

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Originally posted by ketchuplover
Good job but I was expecting the opening to be related to the thread topic.
Not that I'm not flattered - but I was rather confused by this as well 🙂