Theoria
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Semi-Slav Defense

Botvinnik Variation, Ekstrom Variation

D44tacticaloffbeataggressive

  1. 1.d4d5
  2. 2.c4c6
  3. 3.Nf3Nf6
  4. 4.Nc3e6
  5. 5.Bg5dxc4
  6. 6.e4b5
  7. 7.e5h6
  8. 8.Bh4g5
  9. 9.exf6gxh4
  10. 10.Ne5
86 games60%34%

A rare, sharp sideline of the Semi-Slav Botvinnik in which White plays 9. exf6 and 10. Ne5 instead of 9. Nxg5, leaving Black a pawn ahead.

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About the Ekstrom Variation

The Ekstrom Variation departs from the Botvinnik main line at move nine. Instead of 9. Nxg5, White captures the knight with 9. exf6, and after 9...gxh4 plays 10. Ne5, centralizing the knight rather than recovering material at once. Black stays a pawn ahead, and both sides are left with doubled and isolated pawns. 10...Qxf6 is by far the most common reply. The engine slightly favors Black, though White has scored well in the few online games.

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