Slav Defense

A pawn on c6, a bishop at large

Solid

Black defends the d5 pawn with a pawn on c6 rather than on e6, as in the Queen's Gambit Declined. That keeps the c8 bishop from being locked in, and it gets out beyond the pawn chain before Black closes the diagonal. The price is a temporary surrender of the centre: the d5 pawn often takes on c4 and leaves. People choose the Slav when they want a sturdy position without a passive bishop and without wild risks.

Interactive Opening Board

8…Nbd7

♚

Black

♔

White

8…Nbd7

Speed:

Moves

(16 plies • 8 moves)

8…Nbd7Tabiya

The d7 knight covers e5 and supports the f6 knight, so that …Bg6 and castling become possible.

1–8moves
#WhiteBlack
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1.d4 The queen's pawn takes the centre and opens the road for the c1 bishop.

1…d5 Black answers in kind: the d5 pawn holds e4 and shuts the centre.

2.c4 The c4 pawn presses on d5 and offers a pawn in return. This is the Queen's Gambit.

2…c6 The c6 pawn backs up d5 but does not shut in the c8 bishop, as …e6 would. The bishop stays free and can get out beyond the pawn chain before it closes. The whole defence rests on this move: Black does not bury the light-squared bishop but keeps it for play.

3.Nf3 The knight comes out to f3 and guards d4 and e5.

3…Nf6 The f6 knight covers d5 and keeps an eye on e4.

4.Nc3 The c3 knight adds pressure on d5 and prepares e2-e4. Now a pawn and a knight both aim at d5.

4…dxc4 Black takes the pawn. The centre is given up, but the c8 bishop is free. This begins the main, or open, Slav.

5.a4 White does not let Black keep the extra pawn: a4 takes control of b5, so …b5 is no longer possible.

5…Bf5 The bishop goes out to the b1-h7 diagonal before Black plays …e6. It holds e4 and stops White from taking the centre.

6.e3 The e3 pawn opens the f1 bishop: it is ready to win the pawn back on c4.

6…e6 The bishop is already outside the chain, so …e6 is safe now. The pawn opens the road for the f8 bishop and covers d5.

7.Bxc4 White gets the pawn back, and the bishop eyes e6.

7…Bb4 The bishop pins the c3 knight to the king and gets in the way of e3-e4: while the knight is pinned, a pawn on e4 can be hit.

8.O-O White castles. The pin loses its sting, and e3-e4 is back on the agenda.

8…Nbd7 The d7 knight covers e5 and supports the f6 knight, so that …Bg6 and castling become possible.

Defining move

2…c6 — a pawn instead of …e6

The move that sets the Slav apart from the Queen's Gambit Declined

The c6 pawn holds d5 as firmly as …e6 would, but does not lock in the c8 bishop. The bishop can go to f5 or g4 before Black closes the diagonal. After …dxc4 Black's structure also stays whole: the pawns on c6 and e6 still guard d5. For this Black is ready to let White have some space for a while.

Tabiya

The main line with 5.a4

White has the pawn back: pawns on d4 and e3, a bishop on c4 eyeing e6, and a4 on the queenside. Black has brought the bishop outside, pinned the c3 knight and is about to play …Bg6, …O-O and perhaps …e5. White wants e3-e4 for a big centre; Black wants to step in on time and trade it off. The position is balanced, but full of move-order subtleties.

The centre

White's pressure on the centre against Black's support

White has pawns on d4 and e3, and the c-pawn is gone. Black has c6 and e6, and no d-pawn either. The centre turns on two moves: White wants e4, Black wants …e5 or …c5.

Key squarese4c4e5

Outposts

e4The central square
Black's pieces (the f6 knight, the f5 bishop) control e4, so a white pawn cannot go there without preparation. Whoever wins the fight for this square owns the centre.
c4White's bishop
The bishop on c4 hits e6 and supports e3-e4. While a4 prevents …b5, there is nothing to drive it away.

Thematic breaks

e4White
The e3-e4 advance
Take the centre and chase the f5 bishop off its diagonal.
What follows: If Black has not played …Bg6 in time, he loses time or the bishop. If he has, the e4 pawn becomes a target.
e5Black
The …e6-e5 break
Trade off White's d4 pawn and open the game for the bishops.
What follows: Black equalises and gets easy play, though the open lines may help White too.
c5Black
The …c6-c5 strike
Attack d4 and remove White's pawn from the centre.
What follows: The d4 pawn is weakened, but Black's position opens as well, so it takes accurate calculation.

White’s plan

Play e3-e4 and build a big centre.
Use the c4 bishop and a4 to keep Black from …b5.
Castle, put the queen on e2 and wait for a slip in move order.

Black’s plan

Retreat the bishop to g6 before White gets in e4.
Castle and prepare the …e5 or …c5 strike.
Trade the f8 bishop for the c3 knight or keep the pin if it is awkward for White.

History

The defence is called the Slav because its theory was worked out mostly by masters of Slavic origin; Semyon Alapin was one of the first. It got a serious test in the world championship matches between Alekhine and Euwe in 1935 and 1937, where both players used it many times. Euwe did a lot for the theory of the open lines with 4…dxc4.