Just as some chessplayers have a feel for how to play certain positions, Graham Burgess has mastered the method for writing effective opening books. His latest effort, on the popular Slav Defense, combines solid research and full coverage with objective assessments and a bit of original analysis. As a result, THE SLAV is now the most relevant theoretical work on a very complex and popular opening.

The Slav, characterized by the moves 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 is a flexible defense that has been played by 11 of the first 13 World Champions. This popularity can be traced to the variety of methods available for both players. Much like the Sicilian Defense, the Slav can lead to tense positions with opportunities for both strategic and tactical skirmishes. While some players are put off by the symmetrical pawn structure of the exchange variations after cxd5 …cxd5, there are viable ways for both sides to play to win in these structures as well (much as is the case in the Exchange Variation of the French Defense after 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 exd5). In between, there are aggressive white systems (for example the Geller Gambit after 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 dxc4 5.e4 b5), aggressive black systems (the Winawer Gambit with 3.Nc3 e5), and a main line that can be played in several interesting ways by both players.

There have been several useful books written on this variation – Mathew Sadler’s 1997 book of the same name comes to mind (click HERE to see Silman’s review of this book) – but the theory is advancing at a high rate in several areas. For example, Sadler was the first to write extensively about the trendy 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 a6. This line has gotten a workout at the top levels – Shirov has been perhaps its highest rated regular proponent, but Piket, Volkov, Hodgson, Topolov, and Short have also given it a go with the black pieces. This chapter alone makes the book must reading for white players of the main lines. Given the embryonic state of published theory on this line, I appreciate Burgess’ willingness to express his own opinion here, even when it may conflict with other opening authorities. In one line, he quotes analysis he did for this section in NCO and discusses his difficulty in assessing a position that Hertneck had recommended for white but Bareev had analyzed to a slight advantage for black. Here he gives his own take on the situation. In an unusual (but appreciated) bit of insight, he suggests that he is still conflicted about the position. Later, he calls into question assessments by Volkov (one of the key players in this variation) and Hubner.

The real heart of the book, the Exchange and ...a6 variations notwithstanding, concerns the acknowledged main line of the Slav, which arises after 4...dxc4 5.a4. Here most of the coverage centers on black’s main plan of controlling e4 by posting his bishop outside the pawn chain with 5...Bf5. There are several ways for white to play the position, primarily via 6.Nh4, 6.e3, and 6.Ne5. Each has its own brand of poison, and Burgess provides reasonable coverage on each of them. While white has his chances in the lines with the first two, theory suggests that black can hold his own with both players having their chances.

The real crux of the variation at the moment concerns the position after 6.Ne5 e6 7.f3 Bb4 8.e4. This involves a piece sacrifice after 8...Bxe4 9.fxe4 Nxe4 10.Bd2 Qxd4 11.Nxe4 Qxe4+ 12.Qe2 Bxd2+ 13.Kxd2 Qd5+. It is a commentary on the state of chess theory to note that most of the sidelines up to this point have been settled in terms of evaluations. Here white has two choices, 14.Kc3 and the main line, 14.Kc2. The latest state of theory, which Burgess spends about 20 pages discussing, is that white may be able to maintain a slight advantage.

While this may not seem like much, the theoretical tide has been turning, especially as Kramnik has become an advocate for the white side of this variation. As noted previously, there have been some good books written on this particular variation. Besides Sadler’s book, which I’ve already mentioned, IM Silman and IM Donaldson wrote an underrated three-book set from the mid-1990s published by Chess Enterprises. None of these, however, has updated coverage of this critical variation. Sadler, for example, does a good job of covering what was the critical line circa 1997 – 14.Kc2 Na6 15.Nxc4 0-0-0 16.Qe3!. As white has been scoring well from this position, most attention is now centered on 15...0-0, a move that Sadler does not consider. There are also other tries, such as the older 15...b5 and the experimental 15...Ke7!? that are covered by Burgess but not by Sadler.

In general, I liked Sadler’s book, but Burgess’ coverage underscores the simple fact that you can cover a lot more material in 256 pages than you can in 144. When you consider that this is a popular opening, you also have to accept that a lot can happen, theory-wise, in four years.

Besides extensive, up-to-date coverage, this book has a variety of other factors that weigh in its favor. First, the author has penned a useful introduction that focuses on move order questions. There are a variety of ways to get to various Slav set-ups, and this chapter explains why white or black may play a particular move order – what they could be aiming to achieve and/or avoid. This is a topic that mystifies many players, and they often find themselves in an unfamiliar or unintended set-up as a result. The book also is written for both players and covers all variations, which makes it useful for a wider group of players. There is also a useful index.

Make no mistake, this is an excellent book, and a specialist in this opening or an advanced player will probably find this book worthy of even a higher rating than I give it. For less advanced players, however, the book may not provide the overall guidance they need to take full advantage of its strengths. In some respects, those players may get more general benefit from Sadler’s book; while it does not have the latest theoretical coverage, it is very user friendly for somebody seeking to assimilate the key ideas of the defense.

In conclusion, THE SLAV is now the latest and best look at the theory of this popular defense. The author does a good job of presenting all relevant lines and revises many existing assessments. Given the importance of this variation, this book is a must for anybody who opens with 1.d4 or defends that first move with the Slav.

CLICK to see Watson's review of the same book.

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