The Semi-Slav with GM Marian Petrov

It is well-known that if Black can’t gain equality quickly enough, White will take full control and will have a much higher chance of winning. To combat this constant problem for Black, we encourage you to take a look at GM Petrov’s amazing course.

If you are looking for a new way to take White out of his/her comfort zone, don’t hesitate to learn from GM Marian Petrov’s series about the age-old, yet modernly-popular Semi-Slav.

From outstanding game reviews between GMs to deep analyses of variations, you will be more than ready to surprise your opponent and claim a jaw-dropping Semi-Slav victory!

In this course, GM Marian Petrov will guide you through all the possible main variations in the Semi-Slav Defense. Specifically, he will cover the following:

1. How to play actively as Black
2. How to exploit White’s central pawns and gain space (and material)
3. Various options for Black against different threats (including Bg5, e3, Qc2, and Bf4)
4. Countering White’s initial advantage and gaining equality rapidly

What will this course do for you?

Once you have completed this course, you will be able to adapt this attacking strategy to suit your playing style. From there, you can begin practicing what you have learned about the Minority Attack (and its many variations) into your own games.

About the Author:

GM Marian Petrov (FIDE 2537)

Is an accomplished professional chess coach, theorist, and Bulgarian champion for 2002 and 2017, as well as winner of many open tournaments around the world. Also a FIDE trainer and coach of the team of Wales at the last Olympiad in Baku in 2016. He graduated from the National Sports Academy in Sofia, Bulgaria with a Bachelor’s degree in Chess Pedagogy, a four-year undergraduate program designed to prepare top-level chess trainers.

What you will learn:

• The essential 5. Bg5 line with/without capture lines on f6
• Combatting standard setups by White with an early e3
• Taking charge if White is not careful enough with an early dxc4/dxe4
• How to maneuver your Black pieces to their best squares