Caissa Codex
D18

Slav Defense: Czech Variation, Lasker Variation

Chess diagram: Slav Defense: Czech Variation, Lasker Variation after 6…Na6

Type a move and press Enter: e4, Nf3, O-O, or from and to squares like g1f3 (e7e8q to promote). The board is also played with the mouse.

Play any move on the board to explore from there, or step through the line with ‹ › and the arrow keys.

Statistics from Lichess

4,596 games: White 42.9% / Draw 6.6% / Black 50.5%

The moves played next. Pick one to see it on the board.
Next moveGamesWhite / Draw / BlackW / D / B
4,4594,459
9292
2424
66
55
55
22
22

Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Oct 31, 2026

Engine evaluation

+0.83 White is better

Best play: 7. Bxc4 e6 8. Qe2 Nb4 9. O-O Be7 10. e4 Bg4 11. Rd1 O-O

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

Overview

Slav Defense: Czech Variation, Lasker Variation (ECO D18, Closed & Semi-Closed Games) is a variation of the Slav Defense: Czech Variation, Classical System, reached after 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. e3 Na6 (6 moves).

In 4,596 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 42.9%, Black 50.5% and 6.6% were drawn. White's most played move here is 7. Bxc4, in 97% of those games.

Written from the Lichess opening list and explorer. Know this line well? Write about it.

Write a description or report a mistake
What would you like to send?

Markdown supported (headings ###, bold, lists, links). Submissions are reviewed before publishing.

Other lines from the same position

Instead of 6…Na6, the position after Slav Defense: Czech Variation, Classical System also goes on to:

Cite this page

Caissa Codex. “Slav Defense: Czech Variation, Lasker Variation (D18)”. Lichess data as of 31 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/slav-defense-czech-variation-lasker-variation

https://chesscodex.org/openings/slav-defense-czech-variation-lasker-variation