The Complete Semi-Slav bundle is two complete repertoires in one bundle. It combines GM Sam Shankland’s Lifetime Repertoires: Semi-Slav with his complimentary Lifetime Repertoires: Black vs the English, Réti and sidelines for a complete Semi-Slav based repertoire against every first move by White except 1. e4.
Lifetime Repertoires: Semi-Slav
In this, GM Sam Shankland's Semi-Slav repertoire for Black, Shankland has strived to create a complete opening course that will stand the test of time. It will never go out of fashion because it is always in fashion.
He is a world-leading expert in the Semi-Slav and a huge name in chess. Not only is the 2018 US Champion a top player active and at his prime at the elite level, but he has proved an inspiring and hugely instructive coach.
GM Shankland has created a first-rate opening repertoire based on arguably the best defense to 1.d4 that is designed to last.
Under the hood, GM Shankland has included:
✔️ A QuickStarter Guide to get you going;
✔️ Early sidelines dealt with;
✔️ Veresov, London and Exchange Slav;
✔️ All 4th and 5th move deviations discussed;
✔️ The Delayed and Open Meran;
✔️ 22 model games analyzed.
At almost 500 variations, GM Shankland's course is undoubtedly large. However, few of the directions he has chosen lead to long forcing variations and there isn't a ton of theory.
Lifetime Repertoires: Semi-Slav is comprehensive but it avoids complications. It is designed to be practical, but prompt you to look deeper.
GM Shankland's primary aim was to find the "sweet spot" between ease and ambition without cutting corners that will offer you longevity in your opening choice.
Here is a balanced repertoire designed to get you playing quickly but keep you interested over, potentially, an entire lifetime playing chess.
Lifetime Repertoires: Black vs the English, Réti and sidelines
Disarm White's move-order traps. Stake your claim in the center. And, get the set-up YOU want. Neutralize the English, Réti, and White's sidelines with this battle-hardened add-on repertoire.
Playing against 1.c4, 1.Nf3 or even 1. b3 is a whole different game than the classical 1. d4. So, if you're a Semi-Slav player like GM Shankland, then these slow maneuvring games full of move-order transpositions can easily trick you into playing something outside of your repertoire. So, although it's equally valuable as a standalone repertoire, this repertoire is especially valuable for any Semi-Slav player trying to stay within their repertoire.
Here's Sam Shankland's simple promise:
A sound and equal position that maximizes your WINNING chances.
⚔ Against 1.c4, we play 1...c6 and 2...d5, building the Semi-Slav triangle.
⚔ Against 1.Nf3, we play 1...d5 followed by the ambitious ...g6 and ...Bg7.
⚔ Against everything else, we stake our claim to the center with 1...d5.
If you want a repertoire that's objectively strong; easy to remember; and gives you chances to play for a win, then Lifetime Repertoires: Black vs the English, Réti and sidelines hits the sweet spot.
👌 Includes 6 hours and 31 minutes of video, where Shankland gives you playing tips and mental shortcuts to shorten your learning curve.
👌 Get a break-down of the essential middlegame strategies at the end of every variation. So you will always know what to do after the opening.
👌 Rock-solid and easy to remember.
👌 Score quick wins against inaccurate play. Know White's most common pawn-pushing mistakes, and how to punish them move by move.
👌 Equalize with ease against random first moves. Take the sting out of the Grob (1. g4) , the Bird (1. f4), and other unorthodox openings, and steer the direction of the game into familiar and comfortable middlegames.
👌 Neutralize 1.b3 in one chapter. The devious Nimzo-Larsen opening can transpose to 1.c4 and 1.Nf3 positions and vice-versa. Against this, Shankland opts for a reversed London System set-up to disable these traps and guarantees you a harmonious position.
👌 Includes 9 model games with Shankland's commentary. So you can copy the strategy of the greats, and use them in your games.
Every variation, positional assessment, and plan recommended has been tested both in the lab and over the board, against top 100 players!
Get YOUR game, for the rest of your life!
