Slav Defense

The Slav Defense (1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6) is one of the primary defences to the Queen's Gambit. Black supports d5 with the c-pawn rather than the e-pawn, so the light-squared bishop can still come out to f5 or g4. This addresses one of the two major problems of the orthodox Queen's Gambit Declined.

Origins

The move 2...c6 was analysed as early as 1590, and Wilhelm Steinitz played it in a world championship match in 1886. The name comes from the many masters of Slavic descent who developed its theory, including Semyon Alapin, Alexander Alekhine, Efim Bogoljubov and Milan Vidmar. It received an exhaustive test in the two Alekhine–Euwe world championship matches of 1935 and 1937. In 2006 Vladimir Kramnik used it in six of his eight games as Black in his world championship match, and it has also been a weapon of Viswanathan Anand, Vassily Ivanchuk and Nigel Short.

The idea

With 2...c6 Black keeps the option of ...dxc4 while supporting d5. In many lines Black takes on c4 and tries to hold the pawn with ...b5, or develops the bishop to f5 and then plays ...e6. White's main plans are to win back c4 quickly (often with a4 to stop ...b5), build a centre with e4, or play the Exchange Variation for a small, symmetrical edge.

Main lines

• Main Line (Czech Variation) 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 dxc4 5.a4 Bf5: the classical main line, including the Dutch Variation with ...Bb4 and O-O.
• Quiet Variation 4.e3: White protects c4 first, and Black answers with ...Bf5 (Schallopp) or ...Bg4.
• Exchange Variation 3.cxd5 cxd5: symmetrical and drawish, but with small pressure for White.
• Chebanenko Variation 4...a6: a flexible modern system preparing ...b5.
• The Semi-Slav 4...e6, with lines such as the Meran, is a very complex opening in its own right.

Strengths and weaknesses

Strengths

• Very solid pawn structure, and the light-squared bishop gets out.
• Sound at the highest level: few defences to 1.d4 have a better reputation.
• Flexible: Black can choose quiet setups or dive into the Semi-Slav.

Weaknesses

• The Exchange Variation gives White a safe, symmetrical game with few chances for Black to win.
• The main lines contain a fair amount of concrete theory.
• Black sometimes struggles with a lack of active counterplay if the centre stays closed.

Who should play it

The Slav suits solid positional players who want a reliable defence to 1.d4 without a passive bishop, and who are happy with long, balanced games. It is good against aggressive White players who want to attack, because Black's structure has few weaknesses. It is less satisfying against opponents content with the Exchange Variation, where a draw is the most likely result.

The numbers

On Lichess White wins 50–51% and Black 44–45% at every band below 2200, and 50% against 42% above it. In master games over the board, 52% of games are drawn, White wins 31% and Black 17%.