Statistics shows that nowadays the Anti-Meran system 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.e3 e6 5.Nf3 Nbd7 6.Qc2 is the weapon of choice of White in the Semi-Slav. GM Sakaev and IM Semkov distribute all topical variations in three parts.

Part one examines in great detail the sharpest line 6.Qc2 Bd6 7.g4!? bringing about plenty of original analysis and explanation of the plans. Part two discusses fianchetto lines with 6.Qc2 b6 or 6.Qc2 Be7 followed by b7-b6. Part three is devoted to the Karpov system 6.Qc2 Bd6 7.Be2 (or 7.Bd3) as well as 7.b3. Finally there is a short survey of the latest trends in the popular now early a7-a6. The presentation of material follows the method of the Queens Gambit Accepted by the same authors.

Introduction

Statistics shows that nowadays the Anti-Meran system ( 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.e3 e6 5.Nf3 Nbd7 6.Qc2 ) is the weapon of choice of White in the Semi-Slav.

During the last four years the queen's move displaced the older 6.Bd3 and every player, who has this structure in his repertoire, should take into account this trend. Tournament practice is swarming with new ideas, es­pecially in the stunning line 7.g4!. While the classical treatment with 7.Be2 and 8.0-0 is gradually losing momentum, queenside castling is becoming topical even in the schemes with 7.b3.

If you like fighting chess and do not mind experimenting, the Anti-Meran is a perfect choice. Kasparov and other top players use it with both colours. Many paths are still untrodden, waiting to be explored.

With the Classical Slav 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 dc4 5.a4 and the old Meran living through a crisis, the hopes are in the move order 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.e3. It would al­low White to reach the sharp complex lines of the Anti-Meran.

Amazingly, but there are practically no books on this theme. Reference material is scarce. Professional players, who could shed some light on the subject, prefer to keep their secrets in the notebooks as too much is on stake. An opening crash would mean not only one point less, but a gaping hole in the repertoire, which is much worse. There are calmer systems, where one novel­ty rarely changes its evaluation as a whole. The 7.g4 variation is still young, and separate games have great impact on it.

In our study we have done our best to pass beyond simple summary of known facts. We brought along plenty of original analyses and tried to anti­cipate future developments. We devoted two chapters on the modern fianchet-to systems with ...b6 and also paid attention to different versions of early ...a6. A good part of the book deals with the Karpov system and lines with 7.b3...

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.e3 e6 5.Nf3 Nbd7 6.Qc2

009 Introduction

010 Part 1. 6...Bd6 7.g4

012 Chapter 1: 6...Bd6 7.g4 Ng4

022 Chapter 2: 6...Bd6 7.g4 Ng4 8.Rg1 f5

033 Chapter 3: 6...Bd6 7.g4 dc4

053 Chapter 4: 6...Bd6 7.g4 dc4 8.Bc4 e5

059 Chapter 5: 6...Bd6 7.g4 Bb4

075 Chapter 6: 6...Bd6 7.g4 h6

090 Chapter 7: 6...Bd6 7.g4 0-0

093 Part 2. 6...Be7, 6...b6

094 Chapter 8: 6...Be7

111 Chapter 9: 6... b6!?

121 Part 3. 6...Bd6 7.Be2, 7.Bd3, 7.b3

124 Chapter 10: 6...Bd6 7.Be2

134 Chapter 11: 6...Bd6 7.Be2 0-0 8.0-0

143 Chapter 12: 6...Bd6 7.Be2 0-0 8.0-0 dc4

151 Chapter 13: 6...Bd6 7.Be2 0-0 8.0-0 dc4 9.Bc4 b5 10.Bd3

160 Chapter 14: 6...Bd6 7.Be2 0-0 8.0-0 dc4 9.Bc4 b5 10.Be2

169 Chapter 15: 6...Bd6 7.Be2 0-0 8.0-0 dc4 9.Bc4 a6

181 Chapter 16: 6...Bd6 7.Bd3 0-0 8.0-0

187 Chapter 17: 6...Bd6 7.b3

196 Chapter 18: 6...Bd6 rare moves; 6. Qc2 a6

199 Afterword 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.e3 a6 and other deviations