The Catalan vs. the Semi-Slav, Chebanenko and Triangle by Mihail Marin

The Semi-Slav, Chebanenko system and the Slav triangle are solid and flexible weapons for Black. The repertoire examined on this meets them all in a provocative way.

In order to avoid reaching a somewhat passive Catalan setup, Black has to get out of his comfort zone and accept the pawn sacrifice on c4. White’s compensation typically consists of an advance in development and a space advantage in the centre and play frequently acquires a neo-romantic character. There are lines where it is hard to prove an objective advantage for White in analysis mode, but Black’s route to a safe position is not simple, either. In over-the-board play White has excellent chances for maintaining the initiative for a long time. A compact and promising repertoire for active players.

• Video running time: 6 hours (English)
• With interactive training including video feedback
• Extra: Training with ChessBase apps - Memorize the opening repertoire and play key positions against Fritz on various levels
• Database with model games

Sample video

1. Introduction
2. Semi-Slav 5...dxc4 6.Bg2 b5
3. 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 e6 5.g3 dxc4 6.Bg2 b5
4. 7.Ne5 - Introduction
5. 7.Ne5 Nd5 8.e4 Sidelines
6. 7.Ne5 Nd5 8.e4 Nxc3 9.bxc3 Bb7/Bd6/Qc7/a6
7. 7.Ne5 Nd5 8.e4 Nxc3 9.bxc3 Be7
8. 7.Ne5 a6 8.0-0 Bb7 9.b3 cxb3
9. 7.Ne5 a6 8.0-0 Bb7 9.b3 b4
10. 7.Ne5 Qb6 8.0-0 Bb7 9.b3 cxb3/Bb4
11. 7.Ne5 Qb6 8.0-0 Bb7 9.b3 cxb3 10.axb3 Nbd7
12. Semi-Slav 5...dxc4 6.Bg2 Nbd7 7.0-0 b5
13. 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 e6 5.g3 dxc4 6.Bg2 Nbd7 7.0-0 b5
14. Introduction
15. 8.e4 b4
16. 8.e4 Be7
17. 8.e4 Bb7 9.e5 Nd5 10.Ng5 N7b6
18. 8.e4 Bb7 9.e5 Nd5 10.Ng5 Nxc3
19. 8.e4 Bb7 9.e5 Nd5 10.Ng5 Be7 11.Qh5 Bxg5
20. 8.e4 Bb7 9.e5 Nd5 10.Ng5 Be7 11.Qh5 g6
21. 8.e4 Bb7 9.e5 Nd5 10.Ng5 Be7 11.Qh5 g6 12.Qh6 Bf8 13.Qh3 Be7
22. 8.e4 Bb7 9.e5 Nd5 10.Ng5 Be7 11.Qh5 g6 12.Qh6 Bf8 13.Qh3 Be7 14.Nce4 h6 15.b3
23. 8.e4 Bb7 9.e5 Nd5 10.Ng5 h6 11.Nxe6 fxe6 12.Qh5+ Ke7
24. 8.e4 Bb7 9.e5 Nd5 10.Ng5 h6 11.Nxe6 fxe6 12.Qh5+ g6
25. Semi-Slav 5...dxc4 6.Bg2 Nbd7 7.0-0 Be7 8.e4 0-0 9.Bf4
26. 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 e6 5.g3 dxc4 6.Bg2 Nbd7 7.0-0 Be7 8.e4 0-0 9.Bf4
27. Sidelines
28. 9...b5 10.d5 cxd5
29. 9...b5 10.d5 Qb6
30. 9...Nh5
31. 9...Re8 10.a4 Sidelines
32. 9...Re8 10.a4 b6 11.Qe2 a5
33. 9...Re8 10.a4 b6 11.Qe2 Ba6
34. 6...Bb4
35. Semi-slav closed
36. 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 e6 5.g3
37. 5...Be7
38. 5...Bd6
39. Chebanenko System 4...a6 5.g3
40. 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 a6 5.g3
41. 5...dxc4 6.Bg2 g6/b5
42. 5...Bf5/Bg4/g6
43. 5...b5
44. Triangle and Classical Slav
45. 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3
46. 3...e6 4.g3 dxc4 5.Bg2 b5 6.Ne5 Bb7 7.0-0 f6
47. 3...e6 4.g3 dxc4 5.Bg2 b5 6.Ne5 Bb7 7.0-0 Nd7
48. 3...e6 4.g3 dxc4 5.Bg2 b5 6.Ne5 Bb7 7.0-0 Ne7
49. 3...Nf6 4.Nc3 dxc4 5.g3
50. Exercises 01-10
51. Exercise 01
52. Exercise 02
53. Exercise 03
54. Exercise 04
55. Exercise 05
56. Exercise 06
57. Exercise 07
58. Exercise 08
59. Exercise 09
60. Exercise 10
61. Exercises 11-21
62. Description
63. Exercise 11
64. Exercise 12
65. Exercise 13
66. Exercise 14
67. Exercise 15
68. Exercise 16
69. Exercise 17
70. Exercise 18
71. Exercise 19
72. Exercise 20
73. Exercise 21

System requirements:
Minimum: Pentium III 1 GHz, 2 GB RAM, Windows 7, DirectX9 graphic card with 256 MB RAM, Windows Media Player 9 and internet connection for program activation. Recommended:PC Intel Core i7, 2.8 GHz, 4 GB RAM, Windows 10, DirectX10 graphic card (or compatible) with 512 MB RAM or better, 100% DirectX10 compatible soundcard, Windows Media Player 11 and internet connection for program activation.