1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6
The Slav Defense meets the Queen's Gambit, 1.d4 d5 2.c4, with 2...c6. The c-pawn supports d5, so Black does not need ...e6 and the c8 bishop is not locked in. Black usually develops it to f5 or g4 before playing ...e6.
In the main line Black uses the c6 pawn in a second way. After ...dxc4, the pawn on c6 supports ...b5, so White spends a move on a4 to win the pawn back comfortably. That a4 move weakens the b4 square, which Black uses with ...Bb4.
If Black plays ...e6 before developing the bishop, the game becomes a Semi-Slav, which leads to some of the sharpest positions in 1.d4 chess.
Step through the main line with Next and Prev, or click any move. Flip the board to see it from Black's side.
Black holds the centre with a pawn and keeps the light-squared bishop free to develop to f5 or g4. That solves the main problem of the Queen's Gambit Declined.
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 9.Qe2
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In the main line Black has a compact pawn structure with pawns on c6 and e6. It is hard to attack and almost free of weaknesses. White's plan is central expansion with e4, which gains space but can leave d4 and e4 exposed.
The Exchange Slav (3.cxd5 cxd5) creates a symmetrical structure with an open c-file. It is often drawish, but the side with the more active rooks on the c-file can press for a long time.
Semi-Slav positions, with ...c6 and ...e6 before the bishop comes out, are different. Black often plays ...dxc4 and ...b5 for queenside expansion, followed by ...c5. Those lines are sharp and very theoretical.
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.cxd5 cxd5 4.Nc3 Nf6 5.Bf4 Nc6 6.e3 Bf5
White exchanges early and gets a symmetrical position with a small, safe initiative. Black copies with ...Nc6 and ...Bf5. It is a common choice for White players who want a low-risk game.
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 e6 5.e3 Nbd7 6.Bd3 dxc4 7.Bxc4 b5 8.Bd3
Black plays ...e6 first. After 5.e3 Nbd7 6.Bd3 dxc4 7.Bxc4 b5, Black gains queenside space with tempo. The Meran and the Botvinnik Variation (5.Bg5 dxc4) are among the sharpest lines in all of 1.d4.
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.e3 Bf5 5.Nc3 e6 6.Nh4
White develops calmly and defends c4 before Black can take. After 4...Bf5 5.Nc3 e6, 6.Nh4 hits the bishop at once, aiming to win the bishop pair.
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 a6
A flexible waiting move that prepares ...b5. Black keeps the option of ...dxc4, ...Bf5 or ...Bg4 depending on White's setup.
The Slav takes its name from the Slavic players who developed it in the early 20th century. It was a central battleground in the Alekhine–Euwe world championship matches of 1935 and 1937.
Later champions relied on it too. Viswanathan Anand won two key games of his 2008 world championship match against Vladimir Kramnik with the Meran Semi-Slav.
Copy the position at the end of the main line, open the chess move calculator, paste it into the “Paste FEN” box under the board and press the FEN button next to it. Stockfish 19 then suggests a move for the side to play, at the strength set on the calculator's slider, and you can play on from there to test your own ideas.
rn1q1rk1/pp3ppp/2p1pn2/5b2/PbBP4/2N1PN2/1P2QPPP/R1B2RK1 b - - 4 91. 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. Qe2For a move-by-move review of a whole game you played with this opening, use the chess analysis board.
Knowing the moves is not the same as playing them under pressure. Play chess against the computer with the black pieces and answer 1.d4 with the Slav Defense, then sharpen the tactics that come out of it with chess puzzles.
Go deeper: Chess endgame strategy · How to improve your chess rating
In the Slav, Black plays ...c6 and develops the c8 bishop before playing ...e6. In the Semi-Slav, Black plays both ...c6 and ...e6 early, keeping the bishop at home for a while and preparing ...dxc4 and ...b5.
Yes. It is solid, the c8 bishop gets out naturally, and the plans are clear. The main line needs some theory, but simpler positions such as the Exchange Slav are easy to handle.
Both are sound. The Slav keeps the c8 bishop active but gives White some pressure against b7 and on the queenside. The Queen's Gambit Declined is even more solid, but the bishop needs time to come out.
It stops Black from defending the extra c4 pawn with ...b5. The cost is the b4 square, which Black uses with ...Bb4 or ...Na6-b4.
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