The Slav : Concise coverage of a dependable and dynamic opening favoured by many top-class players

The Slav has been played by 11 of the first 13 World Champions, and has been favored by many stars of modern chess, including Anand, Kramnik, Shirov, Ivanchuk, and Morozevich. Its great popularity is due to its extreme solidity and abundant possibilities for dynamic counterplay. This book provides detailed coverage to help players as both White and Black face the challenges of this tough yet rewarding opening. All lines after 1 d4 d5 2 c4 c6 are discussed, except those that transpose to the Semi-Slav. The sharpest tactical lines of the Slav receive especially detailed coverage. These include the critical piece sacrifice in the main line (5...Bf5 6 Ne5 e6 7 f3 Bb4 8 e4 Bxe4), the Steiner line (5...Bg4) with 6 Ne5 Bh5 7 h3, and the possibly dubious, but highly dangerous Geller Gambit (5 e4), which was a favorite of the young Kasparov. The trendy ...a6 lines are also covered systematically for the first time in chess literature.