for Black · intermediate

Slav Defense

4/4
1.d4d52.c4c6

Black supports d5 with ...c6 instead of ...e6 and keeps the light-squared bishop free to develop outside the pawn chain. It is extremely solid and remains a top-level mainstay against the Queen's Gambit.

Key ideas
  • Defend d5 with ...c6 while keeping the c8-bishop's diagonal open
  • Develop the bishop to f5 or g4 before playing ...e6
  • Grab and hold c4 with ...dxc4 and ...b5 in some lines
  • Aim for a rock-solid structure with good piece coordination
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
Slav Defense33.5M games · White to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
Slav Defense56%18.6M53%
Modern Line19%6.3M54%
Exchange Variation12%4.0M54%
8.6%2.9M51%
1.4%464k48%
1.3%452k52%
0.9%312k53%
0.3%85k51%
Diemer Gambit0.2%69k49%
0.2%58k51%
Famous games in this line105k master games
Aronian, L. (2805) – Carlsen, M. (2877)2014½–½Carlsen, M. (2876) – Topalov, V. (2798)20150–1Ding Liren (2806) – Carlsen, M. (2864)20221–0Carlsen, M. (2881) – Anand, V. (2785)20140–1Carlsen, M. (2877) – Nakamura, Hi (2787)20141–0Ding, Liren (2791) – Carlsen, Magnus (2863)20200–1Carlsen, M. (2881) – Nakamura, Hi (2772)20141–0So, W. (2808) – Carlsen, M. (2840)2017½–½
Heroes of this opening Carlsen, Magnus · Topalov, V. · Ding Liren · Anand, V.
Keep exploring
Go deeper — named lines from here
Slav Defense: Modern Line3.Nf3 · 56 deeper linesSlav Defense: Diemer Gambit3.e4Slav Defense: Exchange Variation3.cxd5 · 2 deeper linesSlav Defense: Winawer Countergambit3.Nc3 e5 · 1 deeper line
Study this opening
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