Theoria
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Semi-Slav Defense

Botvinnik Variation, Szabo Variation

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  1. 1.d4Nf6
  2. 2.c4e6
  3. 3.Nf3d5
  4. 4.Nc3c6
  5. 5.Bg5dxc4
  6. 6.e4b5
  7. 7.e5h6
  8. 8.Bh4g5
  9. 9.Nxg5hxg5
  10. 10.Bxg5Nbd7
  11. 11.Qf3
55 games29%69%

A sideline of the Botvinnik Semi-Slav in which White plays 11. Qf3, adding pressure to the pinned f6-knight instead of the usual 11. g3.

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About the Szabo Variation

The Szabo Variation replaces the standard 11. g3 of the Lilienthal Variation with 11. Qf3. The queen adds pressure on the pinned knight on f6 before White has recovered the sacrificed piece, and it postpones the kingside fianchetto. The most common replies are 11...Qb6 and 11...Bb7, and the engine rates the position as balanced. The line is rarely played, and Black has scored heavily in the small sample of online games.

Popular continuations