Slav Defense - Ideas & Beginner Mistakes

The Slav defense is a very good option for beginner and intermediate level chess players. It is known as one of the most solid opening systems for black against 1.d4. However, we need to be aware of the common beginner's mistake that we'd want to avoid (mainly as White)!
There are 3 good reasons to play the Slav defense as a beginner.
1: The first reason - to replace the pawn on d5 with another one, so the center of Black doesn't end up inferior. If White continues by capturing on d5, black simply recaptures and we get the symetrical pawn structure, which is known as lifeless, and for sure doesn't make white happy.
2: The second reason to play c7-c6 is to create a serious threat of winning for free the white c4-pawn. The pawn on c6 is going to support the b7-b5 pawn push, which then supports the c4-pawn once black makes the capture. So white needs to be much more carefull regarding that pawn on c4 after black pushes c6.
3: The more standard way of defending the d5-pawn and the black center is pushing the other pawn - the e7 one to e6, entering the Queen's Gambit Declined. If Black refrains from pushing e6, their light-square bishop is going to continue being active on the c8-h3 diagonal. Keeping that bishop active is - basically - the main idea behind the Slav. Black is, actually, intending to play e6 evantually, but first they want to get an opportunity to move their Bishop in front of the pawn chain, to g4 or f5, and only then continue their kingside development.
Video is consisted of the following chapters:
0:00 Three reasons to use the Slav defense
1:40 Issues with an early Nb1-c3 move
3:29 Black is being greedy with the d5xc4
4:43 Black is being overly ambitious (early Bf5)
5:52 Best way to fight against the early Bf5
10:36 For the comment section: How against an early Bg4?
Level: Beginner/Intermediate
#bf5slav #slavdefensechess #slavdefenseforbeginners #slavdefence
LET'S KEEP IN TOUCH
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[@wgb3203]

I like Ne5 against an early Bg4. I've had a similar position with white with the moves Nc3 and Nf6 included, and I failed to play Ne5 (and had a miserable time in the opening, idk if I won or lost that game). After looking at an engine afterwards, I found Ne5 is a nice, forcing way to threaten to grab the bishop pair.

[@BadBishopChess]

Thank you for the input! Nc3 and Nf6 involved would make only white's chances better than usual, cause of the greater possibilities of the c3 knight over the one on f3 (in case black doesn't capture on c4) - putting pressure against the d5-pawn; possible jump to b5 after c4xd5 and c6xd5; clearing the Q-side in order to involve the a1-rook potentially on the c-file, etc. Against an early Bc8-g4 playing Nf3-e5 is excellent.
If you can find the game, feel free to paste the PGN here, as I am planning a video on my viewers games. 🙂

[@wgb3203]

@@BadBishopChess Here's the game in question: 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 Bg4 5. Bg5 Nbd7 6. Ne5 Nxe5 7. dxe5 Ne4 8.
Nxe4 dxe4 9. g3 Qxd1+ 10. Rxd1 h6 11. Be3 e6 12. Bg2 Bf5 13. c5 Be7 14. b4 Rd8
15. O-O Rxd1 16. Rxd1 O-O 17. Rd4 Rd8 18. Rxd8+ Bxd8 19. f3 exf3 20. exf3 a5 21.
a3 axb4 22. axb4 Bd3 23. Kf2 f6 24. Bd4 f5 25. Ke3 Bb5 26. f4 g5 27. Bf3 g4 28.
Bd1 h5 29. Bb3 Kf7 30. Kf2 h4 31. Ke3 hxg3 32. hxg3 Ke7 33. Kd2 Kd7 34. Ke3 Be7
35. Kd2 1/2-1/2
As a bonus, here's another game after I learned about Ne5 vs Bg4 that I won in 11 moves: 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 Bg4 5. Ne5 dxc4 6. Nxg4 Nxg4 7. e4 b5 8.
Qxg4 b4 9. Na4 Qxd4 10. Be3 Qe5 11. Qc8# 1-0

[@BadBishopChess]

Thank you! I am interested in using one of these two for the potential video. 👌

[@Geelse_zot]

I would play Ne5 against Bg4. Great video! This is the kind of content an 1800 rated player like myself likes to see. Books with opening theory always seem to lead to positions with a slight advantage or equality after a lot of moves. They never focus on how a master punishes a lower rated player for mixing up the move order.

[@BadBishopChess]

Thanks! I've seen many of about 2000 rating points (FIDE) who wouldn't know to use the Qb3 idea against early Bf5 move, and possibly miss the Ne5 against an early Bg4. That's how I've got the idea to record a video on that topic 🙂

[@mayomioyelese9491]

Wanna play me sometime?

[@mayomioyelese9491]

@Geelse_zot

[@lukastux3024]

This is another brilliant video! Understanding beats memorization every single time!! Thanks :)

[@tomas-wi8dy]

love your lesson

[@siddharthjain2799]

Can you plz do a slav speed run.
Or c6 speed run. That way u can play both caro and slav