Slav: the c8 bishop comes out

• At a glance

  Slav: the c8 bishop comes out

  166 games, 53.3%: Fins's Slav against 1.d4. The c6 pawn supports d5, and the c8 bishop comes out to f5 before …e6.

  16 cards, one idea each. Swipe to move on.

• The big idea

  Your games: 146× · you score 52%

  Against 1.d4 d5 2.c4, Fins plays 2…c6. The point of the Slav: support d5 without shutting in the c8 bishop, which comes out to f5 or g4 before …e6.

• The big idea

  166 games, 53.3%. His moves follow Stockfish very closely; the results vary mostly with White's plan.

• The big idea

  Your games: 32× · you score 59%

  Against 4.e3 and against the Exchange Variation, he reaches the same positions dozens of times.

• The big idea

  Your games: 18× · you score 47%

  Six chapters: the main line with 5.a4 and 6.Ne5, the version with e3 and Bxc4, the 5.e4 b5 gambit, the h4 knight against the f5 bishop, the b7 pawn offered against 6.Qb3, then the Exchange Variation.

• Principle

  The c8 bishop comes out before …e6

  Your games: 32× · you score 59%

  …c6 supports d5 without closing the c8 bishop's diagonal. It comes out to f5 before …e6 shuts it in.

• Principle

  …dxc4, then use the time

  Your games: 40× · you score 66%

  After …dxc4, White wins the pawn back, but it takes time. Black uses it to bring the bishop out and settle a knight on b6 or d5.

• Principle

  …a5 against a4

  Your games: 13× · you score 65%

  When White plays a4, …a5 fixes the pawn and gives the b4 square to the knight or the bishop.

• Principle

  The bishop drops back to g6

  Your games: 22× · you score 55%

  Against Nh4, the bishop drops back to g6 or goes via e4. If the knight takes it, hxg6 opens the h-file and leaves a healthy structure.

• Principle

  The c-file in the Exchange

  Your games: 9× · you score 33%

  After cxd5 cxd5, the c-file is open. …Nc6 and …Bf5 come before …e6, and a white queen on b3 runs into …Na5.

• Imbalance

  Active bishop against time

  Your games: 24× · you score 54%

  The c8 bishop comes out early, but it becomes a target for Nh4, Qb3 or g4. White gains time chasing it.

• Imbalance

  White center against black pieces

  Your games: 7× · you score 29%

  After …dxc4, White often gets the e4-d4 center. Black challenges it with …c5 or …e5 and the minor pieces.

• Imbalance

  A symmetrical structure

  Your games: 24× · you score 62%

  In the Exchange, both sides have the same pawns. The game is decided on the c-file and by piece activity.

• The trade-off

  What you gain

  • A solid structure: the d5 pawn is supported without shutting in the c8 bishop.
  • Moves close to Stockfish's in the main lines.
  • Positions that come up often: the plans repeat.
• The trade-off

  What you give up

  • The c8 bishop comes out early and becomes a target.
  • After …dxc4, White often gets the center.
  • In the Exchange, Black plays to win without an imbalance.
• That's all

  Your turn

  These ideas only stick once you play the moves. The chapters make you find the right ones.

  Start chapter 1

Card 1 of 16: Slav: the c8 bishop comes out

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