D17

Slav Defense: Czech Variation, Carlsbad Variation, Morozevich Variation

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Statistics from Lichess

10,967 games: White 46.3% / Draw 8.2% / Black 45.5%

The moves played next. Pick one to see it on the board.
Next move	Games	White / Draw / BlackW / D / B
	6,0736,073
	3,1303,130
	1,7101,710
	4040
	44
	33
	33
	22

Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Oct 30, 2026

Engine evaluation

+0.41 White is slightly better

Best play: 12. Ne3 gxf4 13. Nxf5 O-O-O 14. Qc2 fxg3 15. hxg3 Kb8 16. O-O-O a5

Stockfish 19, depth 30, after the line's last move. Scores are in pawns, from White's side.

Overview

Slav Defense: Czech Variation, Carlsbad Variation, Morozevich Variation (ECO D17, Closed & Semi-Closed Games) is a variation of the Slav Defense: Czech Variation, Carlsbad Variation, reached after 1. 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 g5 (11 moves).

In 10,967 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 46.3%, Black 45.5% and 8.2% were drawn. White's most played move here is 12. Ne3, in 55% of those games.

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Description

How to play against the Slav Defense: Czech Variation, Carlsbad Variation, Morozevich Variation

The most played answer, 12. Ne3, also scores best for White: 51.9%, with White winning 47.9% and Black 44.1% of 6,073 games. Of the main answers, 12. Nxe5 scores lowest: 48.2%. Stockfish's first choice is also 12. Ne3.

Main answers: those played in at least 5% of these games. Score: White's wins plus half the draws, in rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500. How to play against other popular openings

Cite this page

Caissa Codex. “Slav Defense: Czech Variation, Carlsbad Variation, Morozevich Variation (D17)”. Lichess data as of 30 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/slav-defense-czech-variation-carlsbad-variation-morozevich-variation