The Slav Defense is a chess opening that begins with the moves (in algebraic notation)
- 1.d4 d5
- 2.c4 c6
The Slav is one of the primary defenses to the Queen's Gambit.
Although it was analyzed as early as 1590, it wasn't until the 1920s that it started to be explored extensively.
Many masters of Slavic descent helped develop the theory of this opening, including Alapin , Alekhine, Bogoljubov, and Vidmar.
The Slav received an extensive test during the two Alekhine–Euwe World Championship matches in 1935 and 1937.
Today the theory of the Slav is very extensive and well developed, with some lines being analyzed 20 moves deep or more.
Black faces three major problems in most variations of the Queen's Gambit Declined.
- Development of the Black queen bishop is difficult, as it is often blocked by ...e6.
- The pawn structure offers White targets, especially the possibility of a minority attack on the queenside in the Exchange variation of the QGD.
- The Black king knight is often pinned by Bg5, and unpinning it is awkward for Black.
The Slav leaves Black's queen bishop unblocked and keeps the pawn structure balanced.
The move Bb5 is not yet threatening as the unmoved pawn at e7 prevents the pin.
White also has to be careful because Black may later threaten to take the gambit pawn and keep it with ...dxc4 and ...b5.
On the other side, Black usually won't be able to develop the queen bishop without first giving up the center with ...dxc4, and moving this bishop may leave the Black queenside weak.
White will try to dominate the center with e2-e4.
Main variations
Main variations of the Slav Defense
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| Slav Exchange Variation
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| Slav Gambit
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| Main Line after 5.a4
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| Smyslov Variation
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| Czech Variation
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| Steiner Variation
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The Slav can be entered by many different move orders.
The possibilities include 1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.c4 c6, 1.Nf3 d5 2.c4 c6 3.d4 Nf6, and so on.
From the standard Slav position (1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6), the most important continuations are
- 3.Nc3 e6 (Semi-Slav Defense )
- 3.cxd5 cxd5 (Slav Exchange Variation)
- 3.Nf3 e6 (Semi-Slav Defense )
- 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3
- 4...dxc4 (Slav Accepted)
- 5.a4 (main line)
- 5...a6
- 5...Na6 (Smyslov Variation)
- 5...Bf5 (Czech Variation)
- 5...Bg4 (Steiner Variation)
- 5.e3 (Dutch Variation)
- 5.e4 (Slav Gambit)
- 4...e6 (Semi-Slav Defense )
- 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.e3 (Slav Declined)
The Slav Exchange Variation takes most of the fun out of the Slav for Black.
After 3.cxd5 cxd5, the symmetrical position offers White only the advantage of the extra move,
but the drawish position offers Black little chance to win unless White is overly ambitious.
To avoid this possibility Black often chooses the move order 2...e6 followed by 3...c6 to enter the Semi-Slav.
After 3.Nc3, the pressure on Black's center prevents 3...Bf5?, since after 4.cxd5 cxd5 5.Qb3 White wins a pawn.
Another Black try that doesn't work is 3...Nf6 4.e3 Bf5 5.cxd5 cxd5 6.Qb3 Bc8 and now f4 and Nf3 followed by Ne5 gives White a big advantage.
Instead, either 3...e6 or 3...Nf6 4.Nf3 e6 transposes into the Semi-Slav.
White's other knight move is more popular than Nc3.
The Slav Declined begins 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.e6.
A common continuation is 4...Bf5 5.cxd5 cxd5. White will try to take advantage of the absence of Black's queen bishop on the queenside, but this isn't enough to gain an advantage.
The main line continues 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3.
Black shouldn't play 4...Bf5 because White will gain the advantage with either 5.Qb3 or 5.cxd5 followed by 6.Qb3, so Black has a choice between 4...e6 and 4...dxc4 before developing the queen bishop.
If Black plays 3...e6, the game enters the Semi-Slav Defense , a kind of a combination Orthodox Defense and Slav Defense.
The Semi-Slav is a very complex opening in its own right, see Semi-Slav Defense for details.
The Slav Accepted continues with 4...dxc4.
White's sharpest try is the Slav Gambit, 5.e4 b5.
White will usually continue with Geller's variation 5.e5 Nd5 6.a4 e6, but it is unclear if the attack is strong enough for the sacrificed pawn.
White's other choices in the Slav Accepted are 5.e3 and 5.a4.
Both moves are popular, with 5.e3 being the more solid choice.
With 5.a4 White acts against ...b5 and prepares 6.e4 and 7.Bxc4.
Black has many possible responses.
The 5...a6 lines can be tricky. Black prepares to hold on to the gambit pawn with ...b5, and the game may transpose into the Meran Variation of the Semi-Slav.
With the Smyslov Variation, 5...Na6, Black intends to gain counterplay by bringing the knight to b4 with 6.e4 Bg5 7.Bxc4 e6 8.0-0 Nb4.
The Czech Variation can be considered the main line.
With 5...Bf5, Black prevents 6.e4.
If White plays 6.e3 (Dutch Variation), play can continue 6...e6 7.Bxc4 Bb4 8.0-0 0-0 with a fairly quiet game.
A more energetic line begins 6.Ne4 where White intends f2-f3 and e3-e4 or Nxc4 and followed by a fianchetto of the king bishop with g2-g3 and Bg2.
Black can try either 6...Nbd7 7.Nxc4 Qc7 which may leave White a bit better,
or 6...e6 7.f3 Bb4 when 8.e4 Bxe4 9.fxe4 Nxe4 is a complex piece sacrifice with the possible continuation 10.Bd2 Qxd4 11.Nxe4 Qxe4+ 12.Qe2 Bxd2+ 13.Kxd2 Qd5+ 14.Kc2 Na6.
In the Steiner Variation, 5...Bg4, White may be discouraged from e4 by the possibility 6.e4 e5. More often the game continues 6.Ne5 Bh5.
References
