Book excerpt: The Slav has been played by 11 of the first 13 World Champions, and is favored by many of the stars of modern chess, including Anand, Kramnik, and Shirov. This is the first English-language book to provide comprehensive coverage of the Slav, a vastly popular opening due to its extreme solidity and abundant possibilities for dynamic counterplay. The author provides detailed coverage to help players as both White and Black face the challenges of this tough, yet rewarding opening. All lines after 1 d4 d5 2 c4 c6 are discussed, except those that transpose to the Semi-Slav, with the sharpest tactical lines of the Slav receiving especially detailed coverage.