Slav Defense
You play Black · 27 variations
Mixed practice
The machine picks a different variation every time.
Take a quiz
10 positions: find the next theory move in each. No take-backs, no hints.
Main variations · 17
- Czech Variation, Carlsbad Variation, Morozevich VariationD171. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. Ne5 Nbd7 7. Nxc4 Qc7 8. g3 e5 9. dxe5 Nxe5 10. Bf4 Nfd7 11. Bg2 g511 moves
- Czech Variation, Dutch Variation, Sämisch VariationD191. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. e3 e6 7. Bxc4 Bb4 8. O-O O-O 9. Qe2 Ne4 10. g410 moves
- Czech Variation, Wiesbaden Variation, Sharp LineD171. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. Ne5 e6 7. f3 Bb4 8. e48 moves
- Czech Variation, Krause Attack, Fazekas GambitD171. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. Ne5 Na6 7. e47 moves
- Czech Variation, Lasker VariationD181. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. e3 Na66 moves
- Czech Variation, Bled AttackD171. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. Nh46 moves
- Exchange Variation, Trifunovic VariationD141. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. cxd5 cxd5 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bf4 Bf5 7. e3 e6 8. Qb3 Bb48 moves
- Exchange Variation, Boor AttackD101. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. cxd5 cxd5 4. Nc3 Nf6 5. f35 moves
- Chebanenko VariationD151. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 a6 5. e3 Bf55 moves
- Chebanenko Variation, Advance SystemD151. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 a6 5. c55 moves
- Quiet Variation, Landau VariationD121. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 Bf5 5. cxd5 cxd5 6. Qb3 Qc8 7. Bd2 e6 8. Na38 moves
- Quiet Variation, Amsterdam VariationD121. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 Bf5 5. cxd5 cxd5 6. Nc3 e6 7. Ne5 Nfd77 moves
- Quiet Variation, Schallopp DefenseD121. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 Bf5 5. Nc3 e65 moves
- Modern LineD111. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. g3 Bg4 5. Bg2 e6 6. O-O6 moves
- Modern LineD111. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. g3 c6 4. Bg2 Bg4 5. O-O Nbd7 6. c46 moves
- Modern LineD111. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. g3 dxc4 5. Bg2 g65 moves
- Geller GambitD151. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. e4 b5 6. e56 moves
Other variations · 10
- Alekhine VariationD151. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. e35 moves
- Bonet GambitD111. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Bg54 moves
- Breyer VariationD111. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nbd24 moves
- Diemer GambitD101. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. e43 moves
- Schlechter VariationD151. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 g64 moves
- Slav Gambit, Alekhine AttackD101. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 dxc4 4. e44 moves
- Smyslov VariationD161. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Na65 moves
- Soultanbeieff VariationD161. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 e65 moves
- Steiner VariationD161. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bg45 moves
- Süchting VariationD151. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 Qb64 moves
What is the Slav Defense?
The Slav Defense begins 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6. Black supports the d5 pawn with the c-pawn instead of the e-pawn, so the light-squared bishop on c8 can still come out to f5 or g4 before ...e6. That solves the classic problem piece of the Queen's Gambit Declined. The result is a solid opening that is still full of fight, and one of the main defences to the Queen's Gambit at every level.
Main ideas and plans
In the main line, 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 dxc4, you take the c4 pawn and threaten to hold it with ...b5. White usually stops that with a4, leading to the Czech Variation, 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 dxc4 5.a4 Bf5, where your bishop develops actively and you give the pawn back on good terms. In the Dutch Variation, 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 dxc4 5.a4 Bf5 6.e3 e6 7.Bxc4 Bb4 8.O-O O-O, you have a comfortable classical position and later free your game with ...c5 or ...e5. The Krause Attack with Ne5 is sharper. The Chebanenko Variation, 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 a6, is a flexible alternative: you prepare ...b5 or wait for White to commit before deciding where the bishop goes.
White can also sidestep the sharp theory. The Exchange Variation, 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.cxd5 cxd5, gives a symmetrical structure in which White hopes for a small, lasting edge with Bf4, Rc1 and pressure on the c-file; you equalise by developing quickly and contesting that file, not by copying moves blindly. In the Quiet Variation, 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.e3, White protects c4 in advance but shuts in his dark-squared bishop. You can answer with ...Bf5 or ...Bg4 before playing ...e6, but keep an eye on the queen sortie to b3 that hits b7.
Who is it for?
The Slav suits players who want a reliable answer to 1.d4 with a clear pawn structure and active pieces. Its downside is that the Exchange Variation can lead to dry, drawish positions, and the main lines with ...dxc4 need precise knowledge: a careless move can leave your bishop on f5 exposed to knight attacks or let White build a big centre with e4. First learn the Czech Variation with the bishop on f5 and the typical ...e6 and ...Bb4 set-up, and have a clear plan against the Exchange Variation.