Botvinnik Semi-Slav, The (Pedersen)

16 Black's 8th Move Alternatives
1 d4 d5 2 c4 c6 3lLlf3 lLlf6 4lLlc3 e6 5
i.g5 h6 6 i.xf6 'it'xf6 7 e3 lLld7 8
i.d3 (D)
B
In this chapter we shall consider
Black's alternatives to the main line
8 ... dxc4, which was covered in the
previous chapter. While all of them are
playable, they seem to lack the flexibility
of 8 ... dxc4.
Quick Summary
8 ... g6 (Line A) transposes to the previous
chapter if Black replies 9 ... dxc4 to
9 e4, but capturing the other way with
9 ... dxe4 is also playable. After 10
lLlxe4 i.b4+ 11 ~e2 Black should
prefer the aCGurate 11... 'it' g7 !.
8 ... i.d6 (Line B) gives White a
promising game and a large space advantage
after 9 0-0 'it'e7 10 c5! i.c7 11
e4 dxe4 12 lDxe4, which has been
confirmed in several games, although
12 ... 0-013 l:tel l:td8 14 'ii'c2lLlfS gave
Black reasonable chances in Bareev­
Granda, Groningen PCA qual 1993.
After 8 ... 'ii'd8 (Line C) 9 0-0 i.e7
White has a choice of the immediate
central action, 10 e4 (Line Cl), or
playing on the queenside with 10 a3
(Line C2). Both seem slightly in
White's favour.
The Theory of Black's 8th
Move Alternatives
1 d4 d5 2 c4 c6 3 lLlf3lLlf6 4 lLlc3 e6 5
i.g5 h6 6 i.xf6 'iVxf6 7 e3 lLld7 8
i.d3
Now:
A: 8 ... g6 203
B: 8 ... i.d6 204
c: 8 ... 'iVd8 206
A)
8 ... g6 (D)
This often transposes to Chapter 15
if Black captures on c4 later.
ge4
Another option, of which particularly
Pia Cramling seems to be in favour,
is 9 cxd5 exd5 100-0 i.g7 11 b4,
which gives the position a distinct flavour
of an Exchange Queen's Gambit.