Semi-Slav

I've got the material for Month 6 and they start the introduction for the Semi-Slav. It's look very nice and detailed! Almost makes me want to start learning it.

Unfortunately I've never had any experience with Semi-Slav! Can anybody tell me more general ideas about the opening because the books surely don't help? How does it compare to Nimzo-Indian/QID? More aggressive? Less aggressive? Amount of theory? More of a positional play vs Nimzo?

To answer you question it is absolute madness. I have had good results against 2000+ players. But have also been destroyed in a couple of games. ( Much more agressive than Queen Indian) and infinitely more so than the dull Lasker QGD or exchange Queen gambit that I nomally see or play. It really is one of those games that a single mistake can throw the game either way. Expect piece sacrifices in almost every game from either player.

The theory is not too hard to learn either. To play it is to learn it.

"Behind a solid center, Black prepares the
dangerous fianchetto, Bb7"

Is the ICS line playing 8. ...a6 or 8. ...Bb7, I cannot wait until month 6 or 7 and my result against d4 is bad despite being a d4 player. Using Dutch defense failed, due to the "Anti-Dutch" line in first month (It coincide with "findings" in chess.com database search". I really need to learn Meran now...

Actually I am not sure about the definition of "Generalized fianchetto" as opposed to the most standard one. Does it means that Black will have a bishop protected by pawn shielding after trading c pawns?