The Anti-Moscow Variation is one of the sharpest, most double-edged, most aggressive and most interesting Semi-Slav positions!
The positions arising from the Anti-Moscow are absolutely mad. The whole idea for white is to give up his c4 pawn, allow black to secure it by playing b5, making it a solidly defended extra pawn, and then to smash black to bits!
Black has an extra pawn, but his pieces are still stuck on the back rank, and his king is still in the center. At the same time, white is naturally deploying his forces and preparing an attack. The positions are much easier to play for white because of that. It’s often the case that black has to play “only moves”, and white can afford to go wrong and be imprecise. The Anti Moscow is very aggressive and one wrong move could mean a switch from +1 to -1 or even more.
The variation starts after white plays Bg5, the more aggressive of the two main moves (e3 is more solid), and black challenges the bishop with h6. White now has the option to give the bishop up (Bxf6, entering the Moscow), or playing Bh4, sacrificing his c4 pawn and entering the Anti Moscow.
The variation branches out on move nine for white. His main move, and the best move, is Be2, simply developing. The three sidelines that are possible, which are possibly more aggressive than the main line, are h4, Ne5 and e5.
The Semi Slav player has to know all four. There are so many traps and trick and places where you could lose the game in one move. Study it carefully!
For more information on the Anti Moscow, look at games by Alexey Dreev and get his book “Moscow and Anti-Moscow”.
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