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1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6
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From the Queen's Gambit, this is the start of the Slav or Semi-Slav, depending on how Black progresses from here. |
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3. Nf3
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I normally prefer 3. Nc3 here against most defenses, but it's important to overload e5 and protect d4 in this position. |
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3... Nf6 4. Nc3 e6
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Typical Semi-Slav pawn structure. |
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5. Bg5
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Some main lines call for 5. e3, but the Bishop move played here feels stronger. I don't know that these types of pins are ever 'really bad' ideas. |
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5... dxc4
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And now we have a Queen's Gambit Accepted sort of pawn arrangement. The problem here is that Black has allowed the pin on his Knight before playing dxc4 which now makes 6. e4 even more attractive. |
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6. e4
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Builds the center and attacks c4. And now, because of the pin, Black is faced with e5. |
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6... b5
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Probably stronger here with a pawn already on c6 (interesting transition between pawn structures) than in a straightforward QGA. However, I still think the advice 'never try to hold onto the extra pawn in the Queen's Gambit Accepted' still applies to this position. Black hopes to hang onto the pawn and ride it into a winning end-game. He hopes to break the pin with h6 then play against the Q-side. However, securing the pawn is costing time and development. |
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7. e5 h6
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As expected. Black needs to clarify the pin situation before advancing his Q-side pawns. |
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8. Bh4
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White holds the pin. |
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8... g5
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Black keeps hounding the Bishop. After 9. Bg3 Nd5 and Black will be happy with the Q-side position. |
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9. Nxg5
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Oh ... that took a while to find. It looks to just sac the Knight for a pawn, but it actually ends up trading the Knight for a Knight and the extra pawn ... and ruins any thought of a Black 0-0. |
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9... hxg5 10. Bxg5
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And the pin is still in place! Black can't save the Knight. |
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10... Nbd7 11. g3
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The pin isn't going anywhere ... time to finish development. |
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11... Rg8 12. Bh4 Be7 13. exf6
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And the Knight goes back into the box. |
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13... Nxf6 14. Bg2
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Now Black can't ignore the threat of Bxc6. |
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14... Nd5 15. Bxe7
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Forced due to the threat of Bxh4 and White can't respond gxh4. |
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15... Qxe7 16. O-O Bd7
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Black doesn't have a great place to put the Bishop but I thought Bb7 was better (contesting the h1-a8 diagonal). White's ownership of this long diagonal eventually wins the game. |
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17. Re1 Nxc3 18. bxc3 O-O-O
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I don't know about this one. My gut reaction would have been to play something like f6 followed by Kf7 and get the heavy pieces behind the Q-side pawns. I think there's some inherent instability in playing 0-0-0 into that Black pawn structure. |
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19. a4
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Let's see if we can open some holes. |
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19... Be8
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Looking towards e5 or c5 perhaps? |
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