Anglo-Slav Variation, Gurevich System

The Gurevich System arises after 1. c4 c6 2. Nf3 d5 3. e3. The position can also be classified under the English Opening. Rather than fianchettoing on g3 and b3 as in the main Anglo-Slav lines, White plays the modest 3. e3. This protects the c4-pawn indirectly, so that ...dxc4 can be answered by Bxc4, and opens the f1–a6 diagonal for the king's bishop. The d-pawn stays back. It can later go to d4, heading for Slav- or Queen's Gambit-type structures, or remain on d2 or d3 in a reversed setup. Black keeps the usual Slav aims of solid central control and active development of the light-squared bishop.

3...Nf6 is by far the most common reply and keeps the game flexible. 3...Bg4 develops the bishop at once and pins the knight on f3. 3...e6 aims for a compact Semi-Slav-like formation and leaves the bishop inside the pawn chain. The engine rates the position as roughly balanced. White scores slightly better in practice, though decisive results dominate on both sides. The play is positional and not heavily theoretical.