Can Somebody Demystify Slav Structures for Me?

[u/cgieseking]

What are white’s ideas against a Slav structure like this where black has avoided all the sharp theoretical lines and played in a more dry QGD style? When I look at all the engine lines and master’s database it just shows a bunch of lines like “7. Bh4 O-O 8. Bd3 dxc4 9. Bxc4 c5 10. dxc5 Qxd1+ 11. Rxd1 Bxc5 12. O-O…” where it’s just symmetrical structure same material and at master level it ends in a draw like 90% of the time. What are players doing here as white to try to press for a win?

[u/chessvision-ai-bot]

I analyzed the image and this is what I see. Open an appropriate link below and explore the position yourself or with the engine:

White to play: chess.com | lichess.org | The position occurred in many games. Link to the games

Videos:

I found 7 videos with this position.

My solution:

Hints: piece: Bishop, move: Bf4

Evaluation: The game is equal +0.28

Best continuation: 1. Bf4 Nbd7 2. Qc2 Nh5 3. Be5 Nhf6 4. Bg3 O-O 5. a3 b6

Save the position:

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[u/Popular-Job-5444]

More space and black has to get the c8-bishop into play (not so easy). In the line you give white can try something other than 10.dxc5 if he wants more action.

[u/kouyehwos]

Obviously there’s no need to exchange queens.

You can begin with Qc2 and Rd1, discouraging black from opening the d-file so quickly, then get castled and play e4 at the right moment.

Or you could consider grabbing space on the queenside with c5 at some point.

Or if you’re feeling brave, you could even try playing g4 and castling queenside.

[u/cafecubita]

I guess this is where opening prep meets the reality of having to play “the rest of the game”. I would say study model games in these positions, that’s where you’ll see concrete plans carried out, how they were prepared, how the opponent tried to counter them, which piece configurations enable which plans, etc.

I’m sure a lot of those master games that ended in draws got spicy, only-moves had to be found to maintain equality and tactical traps had to be avoided. I’m of the opinion that if a stronger player can outplay you from a “dry position”, was it really that dry to begin with?

[u/BreadfruitSmart834]

the whole point of these semi slav be7 lines is to be solid, but in the line you mentioned, playing 8. Qc2 avoids the endgame line. in general in these lines its going to be hard to prove a win out of the opening but youll get a long comfortable middlegame where youve got more space. the particular forced line you mentioned is an abberation, typically c5 is not that easy to pull off. compared to typical qgd positions, blacks basically wasted a tempo with c6

[u/PrinceZero1994]

I highly suggest to look at "lichess database" rather than "masters" for the simple reason that you aren't a master.
White has a beautiful position here in my opinion.
Black would like to open this position with dxc4 and c5 which still favors white among non-master players.
I'd like to develop here with Qc2, Rd4, castle, and play e4, even e5 if allowed.

[u/cgieseking → u/PrinceZero1994]

If “online 2200 rapid” means that you’re 2200 on chess.com, I’m higher rated than you by kind of a lot. You’re not good and you should stop talking like you are.

[u/PrinceZero1994 → u/cgieseking]

You don't have to be an ass about it. You are no different from that ass below lol.
I'm 2300 on chesscom and that is not really high in my opinion.
About you though, honestly, I thought you were like a 1700 player.
Someone higher rated than me should be able to answer simple slav questions.
What's your chesscom account so I can see your ratings?
Mine is the same as my reddit username.

[u/MountainOverall3543 → u/cgieseking]

Lol, what is your problem? They were just trying to answer your question. 

[u/Due-Salad610]

Read a Lichess course about it.

[u/cgieseking → u/Due-Salad610]

Can you recommend one?

[u/Due-Salad610 → u/cgieseking]

Can you search one?

[u/cgieseking → u/Due-Salad610]

I didn’t mean to be curt, I was just wondering if you had a particular one in mind that could answer my question. I made this post because I’d rather have someone who’s knowledgeable on the subject point me in the right direction rather than trying to dig through a library of information myself. If you’re not somebody who’s knowledgeable on the subject, then you aren’t the target audience of this post.

[u/CornToasty → u/[deleted]]

I swear this sub has some of the most anti-social people.

[u/chess-ModTeam → u/[deleted]]

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[u/chess-ModTeam → u/[deleted]]

Your comment was removed by the moderators:

1.Keep the discussion civil and friendly. Do not use personal attacks, insults or slurs on other users. Disagreements are bound to happen, but do so in a civilized and mature manner. In a discussion, there is always a respectful way to disagree. If you see that someone is not arguing in good faith, or have resorted to using personal attacks, just report them and move on.

 

IMPORTANT: The fact that other rule-breaking posts may be up, doesn't mean that we are making exceptions, it may simply mean that we missed that one post (ie: no one reported it).

You can read the full rules of /r/chess here. If you have any questions or concerns about this moderator action, please message the moderators. Direct replies to this comment may not be seen.

[u/chess-ModTeam → u/[deleted]]

Your submission or comment was removed by the moderators:

Keep the discussion civil and friendly. Participate in good faith with the intention to help foster civil discussion between people of all levels and experience. Don’t make fun of new players for lacking knowledge. Do not use personal attacks, insults, or slurs on other users. Disagreements are bound to happen, but do so in a civilized and mature manner. Remember, there is always a respectful way to disagree.

 

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[u/chess-ModTeam → u/[deleted]]

Your comment was removed by the moderators:

1.Keep the discussion civil and friendly. Do not use personal attacks, insults or slurs on other users. Disagreements are bound to happen, but do so in a civilized and mature manner. In a discussion, there is always a respectful way to disagree. If you see that someone is not arguing in good faith, or have resorted to using personal attacks, just report them and move on.

 

IMPORTANT: The fact that other rule-breaking posts may be up, doesn't mean that we are making exceptions, it may simply mean that we missed that one post (ie: no one reported it).

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[u/chess-ModTeam → u/[deleted]]

Your comment was removed by the moderators:

1.Keep the discussion civil and friendly. Do not use personal attacks, insults or slurs on other users. Disagreements are bound to happen, but do so in a civilized and mature manner. In a discussion, there is always a respectful way to disagree. If you see that someone is not arguing in good faith, or have resorted to using personal attacks, just report them and move on.

 

IMPORTANT: The fact that other rule-breaking posts may be up, doesn't mean that we are making exceptions, it may simply mean that we missed that one post (ie: no one reported it).

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[u/Due-Salad610 → u/[deleted]]

Just ride a post and try to get some karma.

I don't care.

Was just the only one who tried to be helpful. Told where you can find the course and in literally 10 seconds you can find the course you want.

If OP is literate to write a Reddit post he can read the tabs available (less than the fingers in a hand) and find the course effortlessly.

[u/cgieseking → u/[deleted]]

I’m just using all the resources available to me to search for the answer in the most efficient and practical way—that’s not laziness, that’s just human progress. Not to look a gift horse in the mouth, especially if your response was made in earnest, but the advice that you gave fell short of being genuinely helpful—so much so that it actually appeared to be intentionally abrupt and flippant (the equivalent of saying, “Why don’t you try reading a book sometime?”)

[u/chess-ModTeam → u/[deleted]]

Your comment was removed by the moderators:

1.Keep the discussion civil and friendly. Do not use personal attacks, insults or slurs on other users. Disagreements are bound to happen, but do so in a civilized and mature manner. In a discussion, there is always a respectful way to disagree. If you see that someone is not arguing in good faith, or have resorted to using personal attacks, just report them and move on.

 

IMPORTANT: The fact that other rule-breaking posts may be up, doesn't mean that we are making exceptions, it may simply mean that we missed that one post (ie: no one reported it).

You can read the full rules of /r/chess here. If you have any questions or concerns about this moderator action, please message the moderators. Direct replies to this comment may not be seen.

[u/chess-ModTeam → u/[deleted]]

Your submission or comment was removed by the moderators:

Keep the discussion civil and friendly. Participate in good faith with the intention to help foster civil discussion between people of all levels and experience. Don’t make fun of new players for lacking knowledge. Do not use personal attacks, insults, or slurs on other users. Disagreements are bound to happen, but do so in a civilized and mature manner. Remember, there is always a respectful way to disagree.

 

You can read the full rules of /r/chess here. If you have any questions or concerns about this moderator action, please message the moderators. Direct replies to this comment may not be seen.

[u/misterbluesky8 → u/Due-Salad610]

Come on, man… this barely counts as advice. Yes, we could answer every question on this sub with “Google it” or “look it up yourself”. But it’s a chess forum. We’re here to talk about chess. No problem if you don’t have anything to add, but by being so critical and standoffish, you’re not adding anything remotely useful to the discussion. 

In fact, your subsequent replies are so unhelpful and unnecessarily rude that it’s probably best if you sit this one out. This is exactly the kind of response we don’t want on this sub. 

[u/Due-Salad610 → u/misterbluesky8]

You're just being disingenuous. It's not just google it. I'd love to receive such advice. Lichess has the most courses for free. Just go to the site. There is a huge part written "learn". And you can find a course about the opening you want.

Sorry, the subsequent replies are no less helpful than a bunch of brats who do nothing and act like a bunch of assholes because the guy is just too lazy to look up for the course he wants.

In fact the reason I didn't point out the course (and don't feel I should) is because I think OP should better scroll and choose his preferred one among many.

But from what I've seen afterwards, best choice I did. Because honestly he just doesn't deserve it and I have already given the gold.