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1.d4Nf62.Nf3g63.Nbd2c54.dxc54.e3is playable but not challenging while after4.c3cxd45.cxd4d5we reach an Exchange Slav where the Knight is pisplaced on d2.4...Qa54...Na6!?makes sense, leading to an original position after the logical5.a3Nxc56.b4Ne6∞
5.a35.e4!?is quite interesting, especially as a surprise weapon. It leads to a completely different type of game.Nxe45...Qxc56.Bd36.e5Ng47.Qe27.Ne4Qb4+7...Qc7!?8.Nc3Bg79.Be2Nxe510.0-07...Nc67...Bg78.Nc48.Ne4Qb68...Nc68.Nb3±
Fressinet,L (2632)-Jain,K (2375) chess.com 20236...Bg77.0-00-08.c4This move which stops ...d7-d5 is obviously not the only way to treat this position.d69.h3
Now the machine suggests either11...Qa6or11...Qc6when Black has got a compact pawn-structure, a pawn and the pair of Bishops in return for the exchange, but also the permanent concern of what to do with his King.5...Qxc56.b4Qc76...Qc37.Rb1should rather favour White slightly compared to 6...Qc77.Bb2Bg78.c4
This is the main line for the 3...c5 variation. White will then have to choose if he prefers to fianchetto his light-squared Bishop or rather place it on e2. Some illustrative games :8...d68...0-09.e3b610.Be2Bb711.0-0d612.Rc1Nbd713.Nb1Rac814.Nc3Qb815.Qb3Qa816.Rfd1a6
Tabatabaei,M (2655)-Yoo,C (2573) chess.com 20229.g3b610.Bg2Bb711.0-00-012.Qb312.e4Nbd7The committal12...e5can be tried at some point. It leaves Black with a chronically weakened d5 square and a backward ---d--- pawn, but the white Cavalry is a long way from reaching d5. In order to be able able applying pressure on d6 White would also need to cover his c4 and e4 pawns first, so all in all the radical ...e5 looks playable.12...Nxe4??13.Bxg7Kxg714.Nxe4Bxe415.Qd4++-13.Qe2Rac813...a614.Rfe1Rac815.Rac1Qb816.Red1Qa817.Ne1Rc718.Nd3Rfc8=
White should retain slightly better prospects due to his space advantage.19...Qb820.Ne3Bb721.Rc2
Van Wely,L (2667)-Caruana,F (2820) Wijk aan Zee 2015 was still balanced and if the American eventually prevailed the opening wasn't to be blamed. Instead of his last move White could also have started operating on the kingside, with21.g4!?12...Nbd713.Rac1Rac813...a5!?is very sensible, especially now that the white Rook left the ---a--- file.14.Rfd1Rfc815.Bh3axb416.axb4Qc617.Nf1
Note this manoeuvre, rerouting the Knight to e3.17...e618.Bg2Qa419.Qc3!?d519...Ne8!?20.Ne3?!20.Ra1=20...dxc421.Ng4Qb3??
Indjic,A (2607)-McShane,L (2674) lichess.org 202115.Nf1Qb816.Ne3As I understand the position, the most promising strategy for White seems to wait until the black Queen is far away from the kingside, on a8, to start a flank action there.e616...Qa817.g417.h417...h618.h4
Xiong,J (2656)-Jones,G (2677) Douglas 201817.Qa217.h417.Bc317...Ne818.Bxg7Kxg719.Qb2+Ndf620.g4
Kuzubov,Y (2663)-Ragger,M (2672) Brest 2018 White had the upper hand.20.Bh3!?20.b5