1d4d52c4c6Slav defense: keep two center pawns in case of an exchange, but takes away a good square for the knight to develop.3Nf3Nf64Nc3e64... e6 black plays the semi slav defense structure. While solidly protecting the d5 point, the light square bishop gets trapped behind the pawn structure. Black could have continued with the main line slav with dxc4, or the a6 chameleon variation.4...dxc44...a65e3...White defends his c4 pawn, this is played to stay solid and avoid complex theoretical lines with Bg5. The dark square bishop intends to develop to b2.5...Nbd7Develops a piece and supports an eventual c5 or e5 pawn break. Black tries to postpone development of the dark square bishop until he has played c5 in order to recapture without wasting any time.6Bd3...The old main line, developing and getting ready to castle. Now more popular is 6. Qc2, making another useful move without letting black capture on c4 with tempo.6.Qc26...dxc4Capturing with tempo on the bishop. Intending b4 next and white has to move the same piece three times in a row.7Bxc4b5White has three options to retreat. D3 is most popular; keeping the bishop on an active diagonal. B3 is an aggressive option with some ideas of sacrificing on e3. E2 is passive, but allows the queen some scope down the d file.8Bd3...Black's plan is to fianchetto the light square bishop and push c5 and to open it's scope on the long diagonal. He must defend the b pawn and/or the rook in the corner before pushing c5. This takes several moves and he has yet to castle. To be most efficient, c5 should be played so the bishop can recapture and develop in the same move.8...a6The classical variation. To take advantage of Black's slow play, White must advance in the center immediately with e4-e5.9e4...The b pawn is defended, c5 can be played.9...c5E5 and d5 are both equally popular in this particular position. E5 is more thematic for these types of positions, but gets very tactical. D5 tends to get closed and positional.10e5...In various positions in the Meran after e5, Black has to decide to move the knight, or counterattack with cxd4, c4, or even b4. Typically, Black does not want to play Nd5 unless his bishop is already fianchettoed and can recapture after a trade of knights; he does not want to recapture exd5.10.d5c411.dxe6fxe612.Bc2Qc713.O-OBb714.Nd4Nc515.Be3e516.Nf5g617.Nh6Bg710...cxd4The tactics begin in this position. White cannot play Nxd4 due to ...Nxe5 revealing an attack down the d file.11Nxb5...White chooses a desperado capture for the b5 pawn in lieu of recapturing on c3 and messing up his structure. This allows Black's passed d pawn to survive, which White hopes to claim is a weakness later in the game.11.Nxd4Nxe511...axb5Black must take the knight; Nd5 allows Nbxd4 and Black is down a pawn with no compensation.11...Nd512.Nbxd412exf6...Regaining the knight. Best is gxf6 to open the g file for the rook to attack.12...gxf6White cannot take either hanging pawn before castling; Nxd4 still has problems with Ne5 and the queen down the d file, and Bxb5 is met with Qa5+ picking up the bishop.13O-O...13.Bxb513.Nxd4Qb614.Nf314.Be3Bb4+15.Kf1Bc5Bb4+15.Bd213...Qb6Defending both pawns. Black has plans of attacking with bishops on b7 and c5, and rook on g8 pointing at the white king. His king can settle on e7 or f8 and hope to use the protected passed d4 pawn to make a queen.14Qe2...White looks to target Black's isolated pawns14...b415Rd1Bc516Bf4...16.a4bxa317.bxa3Bb718.Be4Ba619.Qd216...h517Rac1Kf818Bc4Ra519Qd3Ra720Bxe6fxe621Qg6e522Bh6+Rxh623Qxh6+Ke724Rxc5Qxc525Rc1Qd526Rxc8Rxa227h3Qe428Qg7+Kd629Rd8Ra1+30Kh2Qf4+31g3Qf532Qf8+Ke633Qg8+Kd634Qf8+Ke635Re8+Kd536Qxb4