The Semi-Slav, one of the most popular openings among the chess elite, is also one of the most popular chess openings that Black can play against 1.d4. This book provides expert guidance on how to play this exciting variation. The reader receives an exciting Black repertoire against 1.d4, and a choice of two lines against Whites main tries.

Lars Schandorff's two volumes on 1.d4 were celebrated by reviewers and grandmasters. GM Simen Agdestein said: "I have recently been reading Lars Schandorff's Playing 1.d4 books, thinking that it cannot possibly get more instructive than this." Meanwhile, GM Boris Avrukh's verdict was simple: "Lars, I want to play your book." Now Schandorff switches sides and offers a top-class Semi-Slav repertoire against 1.d4. The Semi-Slav strikes the perfect balance of ambition and soundness, which has made it popular at every level up to and including the world championship. Black needs to know his stuff, but Schandorff is the ideal guide to make the learning process a pleasure.

Glenn Flear presents a repertoire for Black based on the Semi-Slav Triangle. This includes the dynamic Abrahams-Noteboom Variation, as well as options for Black against the Marshall Gambit and White's quieter tries.

The very closely linked Slav and Semi-Slav Defences are two of the most popular and combative openings that Black can play against the Queen's Gambit. They have provided the battleground for thousands of exciting encounters between the world's chess elite, including Garry Kasparov, Vishy Anand, Vladimir Kramnik, Alexei Shirov, and Alexander Morozevich. Players of all levels are attracted to the Slav and the Semi-Slav because they are solid, dependable defences that do, however, promise abundant possibilities for dynamic counterplay. In this easy-to-read guide, Grandmaster and openings expert Glenn Flear goes back to basics, studying the essential principles of the Slav and Semi-Slav Defences and their numerous variations. Throughout the book there are an abundance of notes, tips, and warnings to guide improving players, while key strategies, ideas, and tactics for both sides are clearly illustrated. *User-friendly layout to help readers absorb ideas *Concentrates on the key principles of the Slav and Semi-Slav *Ideal for improving players

Chess Developments provides state-of-the-art openings coverage. Chess Developments focuses on the current trends – concentrating on critical lines, theoretical novelties and powerful new ideas. It offers players of all levels the opportunity to keep up-to-date with current opening theory whilst also expanding and improving their repertoires. In this book, Bryan Paulsen examines key lines in the Semi-Slav Defence, which is hotly debated at both world championship and club level. Paulsen covers the fascinating Botvinnik Variation, the solid Moscow Variation, the razor-sharp Anti-Moscow Gambit, the popular Cambridge Springs Defence and the hybrid Queen's Gambit Declined. He studies the most theoretically important and instructive games in recent years, highlighting the main developments and novelties for both sides. Whether playing White or Black, this book provides you with vital knowledge of a popular opening. *Essential coverage and analysis of the Semi-Slav 5 Bg5 *Includes the Botvinnik, Moscow, Anti-Moscow and Cambridge Springs *Packed with key new ideas and critical lines

James Vigus presents a comprehensive and trustworthy repertoire for Black, and provides you with enough knowledge to play the Slav with confidence in your own games.

The Slav is a reliable defence to the Queen's Gambit which has been popular for well over a century. The author, a Slav specialist, attempts to provide a detailed analysis of the opening, variation by variation, suggesting numerous improvements in key lines.