Well, all other moves that 2.c4 will be something other than the Slav. But of course you can still play 2..c6:
1.d4 d5 2.e4 c6 = Caro-Kann. But 2..de4 is way better.
1.d4 d5 2.Nc3 c6 3.e4 = Caro-Kann.
1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 c6 = (a slightly inferior line in) the London.
1.d4 d5 2.f4 c6 = ? There must be better moves than 2..c6.
The most popular alternative to 2.c4 is 2.Nf3.
Basically the most common alternatives are the London system, the Colle system and the Richter-Veresov opening 1. d4 d5 2. Nc3. The last one is rarely seen, but Alexandra Goryachkina used it as a surprise against Hou Yifan in their last classical game in the Women's World Championship match and caught her opponent completely unprepared on move 2. Also the Torre system can be played if Black plays Nf6 early or a straight 2. Bg5, but it is more common to wait for Nf6. The Blackmar-Diemer gambit 2. e4 is possible, in that case 2. ... c6 transposes to the Caro-Kann directly and 2. ... dxe4 3. Nc3 c6 4. Nxe4 is another Caro-Kann position.
Torre attack (Nf3 Bg5, supposedly bad here), Colle (e3-c3), Hodgson attack (2. Bg5), Veresov (Nc3 Bg5), Jobava attack (Nc3 Bf4), London system (Bf4), Catalan (g3).
Within the Slav there are also alternatives: Exchange and slow Slav being the most prominent.
At your level (and my level as well) I would focus on playing classical moves and understanding plans rather than learn theory. No opponent will all theory in the Botvinnik semi-Slav and you need to know what to do if your opponent plays a move you don’t know. Choose an opening in which you know where all your pieces (and pawns) belong and know some plans for the early middlegame.
Within the Slav there are also alternatives: Exchange and slow Slav being the most prominent.
At your level (and my level as well) I would focus on playing classical moves and understanding plans rather than learn theory. No opponent will all theory in the Botvinnik semi-Slav and you need to know what to do if your opponent plays a move you don’t know. Choose an opening in which you know where all your pieces (and pawns) belong and know some plans for the early middlegame.
Agree! Understanding ideas is much more important than knowing moves. And rightly: there is much more to worry about in the Slav, than in these more inferior White continuations.
Thank you for all the fast responses.
Just think about the main point of c6 : protecting d5 pawn with another pawn, not blocking Bc8.
So there is no point playing c6 anyway if white doesn't play c4.
Develop your pieces : Nf6, maybe Bf5/Bg4, e6 preparing to castle then.
The chigorin might be something for you to check out. You can play it against a few move orders, you get active piece play, a safe king, and you don't need to worry about white playing 30 moves of theory.
Edit: I know op said slav/semi, but if he claims to be a beginner than walking into a shirov-shabalov, meran, etc might be a bit much
Hello,
So i know beginners like myself shouldnt get too caught up in specific openings, but I just cant help myself because they are fascinating to me. So I want to start playing the Slav or Semi-Slav against 1. d4. What other openings/systems could my opponent play after 1. ...d5 to not let me get into the Slav, so I can learn at least basic principles against these openings.