Theoria
8765432abcdefgh1

Semi-Slav Defense

Meran Variation, Blumenfeld Variation

D49tacticalaggressive

  1. 1.d4d5
  2. 2.c4c6
  3. 3.Nc3Nf6
  4. 4.e3e6
  5. 5.Nf3Nbd7
  6. 6.Bd3dxc4
  7. 7.Bxc4b5
  8. 8.Bd3a6
  9. 9.e4c5
  10. 10.e5cxd4
  11. 11.Nxb5
47 games49%43%

Sharp Meran line in which White meets 10...cxd4 with the knight offer 11. Nxb5, keeping the threat against the f6-knight in the Old Variation.

Train it in Theoria

About the Blumenfeld Variation

In the Old Variation, 10...cxd4 attacks the c3-knight. Because capturing on f6 at once would favor Black, White answers 11. Nxb5, offering the knight while the e5-pawn still threatens f6. The most tested reply is 11...axb5 12. exf6 gxf6 13. O-O Qb6 14. Qe2, leaving Black a pawn up for the time being. 11...Nxe5 is the Sozin Variation and 11...Ng4 the Rabinovich. The engine rates the position roughly balanced.

Popular continuations