Tree path 3 levels Queen's Pawn Game › Queen's Gambit › Slav Defense
- Caissa Codex
- Queen's Pawn Game D00
- Queen's Gambit D06
- Slav Defense D10 you are here
Slav Defense
Overview
Slav Defense is a named branch in the Closed & Semi-Closed Games group of chess theory, classified under ECO D10.
The Closed & Semi-Closed Games group covers closed and semi-closed games — 1.d4 systems characterised by long strategic manoeuvring rather than early tactics.
Play reaches this position via 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6, after 4 plies of opening development.
In the opening tree, this line branches off from Queen's Gambit, part of the broader Queen's Pawn Game system.
4 named variations grow from this line, including Slav Defense, Diemer Gambit, Exchange Variation, and others.
This is a deep theory tree with 106 total sub-variations across all depths — one of the larger branches in chess theory.
Use the board to walk through every move, check how the position has scored on Lichess, or take it head-to-head against Stockfish.
- ECO code
- D10
- Group
- Closed & Semi-Closed Games (D)
- Plies
- 4
- Parent
- Queen's Gambit
- Direct variations
- 4
- Total in subtree
- 106
This overview is generated automatically from the opening's metadata. Know this line well? Write a description — submissions are reviewed before publishing.
Statistics from Lichess
37,678,622 games · White 50.6% / Draw 5.6% / Black 43.8%
| Moves | Games | W / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| Nc3 | 20,434,840 | |
| Nf3 | 7,743,179 | |
| cxd5 | 4,651,387 | |
| e3 | 3,083,140 | |
| c5 | 477,546 | |
| Bf4 | 469,359 | |
| g3 | 343,388 | |
| a4 | 87,798 |
Source: Lichess Opening Explorer · cached 2026-09-26 01:03:30
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Variations (4)
Show all 106 sub-variations (full subtree)
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