Chebanenko Slav for Black – Part 2 PGN Only May 20, 2026

Chebanenko Slav for Black – Part 2: Completing the Repertoire

Twenty years of practical refinement, now brought to completion. GM Vladimir Malakhov, one of the world’s foremost Chebanenko experts, returns to finish what Part 1 began.

Where the first volume covered White’s most critical tries—5.c5, 5.e3, and 5.g3—this second part closes every remaining door. The anti-Chebanenko systems, the sidelines, the move-order tricks that strong players use to avoid main theory: all of them are met with concrete solutions.

This is not supplementary material; this is the completion of a professional repertoire that has weathered decades of grandmaster practice.

A Collaboration Spanning Generations

Malakhov prepared this volume together with FM Nikita Fedotov, a young analyst with a peak rating of 2345 who has worked through each line with fresh eyes and modern engine understanding.

Fedotov revised and updated several chapters against the latest developments from 2025-2026, bringing a sharpness to the analysis that complements Malakhov’s strategic depth.

GM Pier Luigi Basso, who co-authored Chebanenko Slav for Black – Part 1, continues his editorial role here, ensuring that both volumes form a seamless whole.

The result is a repertoire that combines long-term practical experience with cutting-edge theoretical accuracy.

What the Course Covers

The structure is methodical. After 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 Nf6, White’s two main deviations are examined:

4.e3 a6 (Chapters 1-4)

• 5.Qc2 → Chapter 1 (sidelines), Chapter 2 (mainline 10.c5)
• 5.Bd3 → Chapter 3
• 5.a4 → Chapter 4
• 5.b3 → Chapter 4
• 5.c5 → Chapter 4

4.Nf3 a6 (Chapters 5-10)

• 5.a4 → Chapter 5
• 5.Ne5 → Chapter 6
• 5.Qc2 → Chapter 7
• 5.Bf4 → Chapter 8
• 5.Bg5 → Chapter 8
• 5.Qb3 → Chapter 9
• 5.h3 → Chapter 10