'/%3e%3cdefs%3e%3clinearGradient%20id='paint0_linear_4129_14251'%20x1='-1946.01'%20y1='-1020.38'%20x2='-1885.54'%20y2='1277.69'%20gradientUnits='userSpaceOnUse'%3e%3cstop%20stop-color='%23DDD1F3'/%3e%3cstop%20offset='1'%20stop-color='%23DDD1F3'%20stop-opacity='0'/%3e%3c/linearGradient%3e%3c/defs%3e%3c/svg%3e)
Slav Defence
The Slav Defence begins after the moves 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6. It is a sound but demanding answer to the Queen's Gambit, and a favourite of players who want to fight for the centre without shutting in the light-squared bishop.
- For black
- Classical
- Dynamic
Written by:
The Essentials
- Early moves:
- 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6
- Colour:
- Played by Black
- Style:
- Classical and dynamic
- Difficulty to learn:
- Moderate to high
- Named after:
- The Polish, Russian, Czech and Yugoslav players who did most to develop 2... c6.
- Trivia:
- Eleven of the first thirteen world champions played the Slav, and Max Euwe used it on the way to his world title in 1935.
- Variations:
- Czech Variation. Geller Gambit. Exchange Variation. Quiet Variation. Chebanenko Variation. Schlechter Variation. Winawer Countergambit.
- Good for:
- BlitzRapidClassical
Best suited for rating
1000-2800
Why play the Slav Defence?
The light-squared bishop gets out before the pawns can shut it in.
After 1. d4 d5 2. c4, 2... c6 guards the d5-pawn with a pawn. The e-pawn stays at home, so the c8-bishop can still come out to f5 or g4.
The Open Slav goes a step further. Black takes on c4 with ...dxc4, and the bishop comes out before ...e6 closes its diagonal.
The price is the centre. Black gives up the d5-square to activate the bishop, so White can win back the pawn on c4 and aim for e3-e4.
Masters more often keep the pawn on d5 with ...e6, the Semi-Slav, at the cost of a bishop behind the pawns. White can sidestep the main line with the Exchange Slav or the quiet 4. e3.
Black has to play accurately, since the main lines leave little room for error. Once the bishop leaves c8, b7 loses a defender, so Black needs an answer to Qb3 ready before developing it.
The reward is an active bishop from the first moves. It suits players who are happy to give up some of the centre for natural development.
Try the Slav Defence yourself!
Why the Slav Defence is good with the:
Central pawns - White keeps two centre pawns against one, and can push them to claim the space Black gave up.
Choice of systems - White can steer the game into a sharp main line or a quiet sideline.
Queenside pressure - Once Black's light-squared bishop leaves, the queenside loses a defender, and White's queen can attack it at once.
Suited for - Players who like a central pawn majority and a long manoeuvring game.
Why the Slav Defence is good with the white pieces
Central pawns - White keeps two centre pawns against one, and can push them to claim the space Black gave up.
Choice of systems - White can steer the game into a sharp main line or a quiet sideline.
Queenside pressure - Once Black's light-squared bishop leaves, the queenside loses a defender, and White's queen can attack it at once.
Suited for - Players who like a central pawn majority and a long manoeuvring game.
Why the Slav Defence is good with the black pieces
Active bishop - The light-squared bishop takes part in the game from the start instead of waiting behind the pawns.
Central counterplay - Black keeps two pawn breaks in reserve, ready to hit White's centre once the pieces are developed.
Pawn grab - Black takes a pawn early, and White has to spend time winning it back.
Suited for - Players who want a dynamic setup against 1. d4.
Strategy
Typical plans, pawn breaks, and key squares.
Key squares
The centre squares c4, c5, d4, d5, e4 and e5 matter most, with the c6- and b7-pawns behind them.
White's pawn breaks
White's main break is e3-e4, followed by e5 or d5, while a5-a6 and d5 hit Black's b7- and c6-pawns.
Black's pawn breaks
Black's breaks are ...e5 and ...c5, both aimed at the d4-pawn.
Pressure on e4
Black's knight and bishop aim at e4, and the bishop on b4 can take the c3-knight that guards it.
Traps and tactics
Three traps every Slav Defence player should know.
Themes
Patience
Black can delay both central breaks, and White's extra space does not have to turn into anything.
The bishop question
Where the light-squared bishop goes, and whether it survives White's hunt for it, shapes Black's whole setup.
Space against structure
White's extra space meets Black's sound structure, and the game turns on whether White can use the space before it becomes overextension.
Mind the b7-pawn
Once the bishop leaves c8, b7 has lost a defender, so Black has to check Qb3 before developing it.
History
The history of the Slav Defence, from its origins to modern play.
1590
Early notes
Analysts look at 2... c6 as early as 1590, but more than three centuries pass before masters explore it seriously.
1886
Steinitz tries it
Wilhelm Steinitz plays the Slav in his world championship match of 1886, long before the opening has a name.
1920s
The Slavic school
Alapin, Alekhine, Bogoljubov and Vidmar build the theory, and the opening takes its name from the Slavic players behind it.
1935-1937
Title on the line
The Slav is tested in both Alekhine-Euwe world championship matches, and Euwe's win with Black in game 21 helps him take the title.
2006
Kramnik's choice
Vladimir Kramnik plays the Slav in six of his eight games as Black against Veselin Topalov and wins the reunified world title.
2020s
Still at the top
Engines rate the main lines as equal, and the Czech Variation still appears at the highest level, including the 2020 Candidates Tournament.
Model Games
Games that show the Czech Variation at work.
FAQ
The Slav Defence begins after the moves 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6. Black supports the d5-pawn with the c-pawn and keeps the light-squared bishop's diagonal open.
Yes, as long as you keep an eye on the b7-pawn. The ideas are easy to grasp and the pieces find natural squares. The main lines leave little room for error, though.
Yes. Engines rate the main lines as equal, and it has served world champions from Euwe to Kramnik. The price is precision, since Black has to know the lines well.
Black holds d5 with a pawn without blocking the light-squared bishop. In the Open Slav, Black then takes on c4 and develops the bishop before ...e6, giving up some of the centre for active pieces.
It is the main line of the Open Slav, 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5. White stops ...b5 with a4, and Black develops the bishop before playing ...e6.
Both begin with 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 and support d5 with the c-pawn. In the Slav, Black often takes on c4 and develops the light-squared bishop before ...e6. In the Semi-Slav, Black plays ...e6 first and keeps the pawn on d5, with the bishop behind the pawns.
There is no single best line. 3. Nf3 and 4. Nc3 lead to the main lines and the Czech Variation, while the Exchange Variation and 4. e3 suit players who want a quieter game.
Max Euwe, Mikhail Botvinnik, Vasily Smyslov, Vladimir Kramnik, Viswanathan Anand, Vassily Ivanchuk, Nigel Short and Fabiano Caruana have all used it.
Choose the Queen's Gambit Declined if you want a sturdy centre and are happy to solve the problem of the light-squared bishop later. Choose the Slav if you want that bishop active from the start and accept giving up some of the centre for it.