Chess Opening Theory/1. d4/1...d5/2. c4/2...c6/3. Nc3/3...Nf6/4. Nf3/4...e6/5. Bg5/5...h6/6. Bh4/6...dxc4/7. e4/7...g5/8. Bg3/8...b5

Anti-Moscow Anti-Moscow D43 8...b5 Black defends the c pawn. This is the starting point of the Anti-Moscow variation. White's main move is /9. Be2/, preparing to castle short and start an attack on Black's king, which is still stuck in the center. An immediate 9. a4 to try and strike back at the defended pawn is a mistake, although it's commonly played at amateur level. 9... b4 gives Black strong initiative. Amateurs frequently deepen the hole by playing 10. e5, but now after 10...bxc3, 11. exf6 is too slow and White has collapsed. Theory table 9. Be2 Bb7 10. O-O Nbd7 11. Ne5 Bg7 12. Nxd7 Nxd7 13. Bd6 9. ... ... 10. ... ... 11. ... ... 12. Nxf7 Kxf7 13. e5 compensation 9. h4 g4 10. Ne5 Nbd7 11. Be2 Bb7 12. Nxd7 Qxd7 13. Be5 References Semi-Slav Defence Anti-Moscow_Variation:_5...h6_6.Bh4_dxc4