1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6. The Slav Defence to the Queen’s Gambit has always had a solid reputation, dating right back to the days of Lasker, Alekhine and Capablanca, but it’s only in the last 15 years that the popularity of the opening has really taken off at all levels.

Naturally, Slav set-ups and ideas can also be used again the other Flank openings (1.Nf3, 1.c4, 1.b3 etc.) and so by learning the Slav, in a way you are learning a universal approach.

Coming to this DVD, we will find ideas for Black which can be used by amateur and professional alike, predominantly featuring the trendy new approach to Black’s armoury involving a very early ...a7-a6.

The ...a6 Slav offers Black solidity, dynamism and variety couched in an easy-to-understand setting. Perhaps this is why Grandmasters of the caliber of Kasparov, Shirov, Morozevich, Bologan and Dreev, among many, have all used the opening with success and continue to do so!

The Slav with an early ...a6 remains as solid and as flexible in 2010 as it ever was. If anything, the reputation of this line has been enhanced since the original DVD was produced.

In this modern update Andrew Martin considers nine, new, interesting and important games, most involving strong grandmasters, which demonstrate that this is one of Black’s best defences to 1.d4. 

Andrew Martin is 53 years old and lives in Yateley, England. He is a professional chess teacher and writer.

System requirements: Pentium-Processor at 300 Mhz or higher, 64 MB RAM, Windows 7, Windows XP, Windows Vista, DVD drive, mouse, soundcard.