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Learn the Slav Defense with our free interactive trainer. Master the Alapin, Geller Gambit, Alekhine and Exchange variations plus the Semi-Slav for Black against the Queen's Gambit. 8 chapters.
1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6
The Slav Defense, 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6, is a defence designed specifically to meet the Queen's Gambit. Together with the Semi-Slav it is probably one of the most solid defences in chess. The chapters that follow cover the pure Slav with 4...dxc4, the Exchange Variation, and the Semi-Slav with 4...e6.
1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. e3 e6 ...
After 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Nf3 Black has two ways to play: 4...dxc4, the pure Slav, or 4...e6, the Semi-Slav. This chapter covers the pure Slav against White's most common fifth move, 5.a4, the Alapin Variation. White stops ...b5 and wins the pawn back, while Black develops the light-squared bishop to f5 before playing ...e6 and castles with a sound position.
1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 dxc4 5. e4 b5 6. e5 Nd5
In the Geller Gambit White ignores the c4 pawn and takes the centre with 5.e4. Because White has not played a4, Black can defend the extra pawn with 5...b5. When 6.e5 attacks the knight, it moves to the central square d5.
4... dxc4 5. e3 b5 6. a4 b4 7. Na2 e6 8. Bxc4 Be7 9. O-O O-O
From the position after 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Nf3, Black plays the pure Slav with 4...dxc4 and White answers 5.e3, the Alekhine Variation. White has not played a4, so Black holds the pawn with 5...b5 and meets 6.a4 with 6...b4, driving the knight to the edge of the board. The three fifth moves 5.a4, 5.e4 and 5.e3 are the ones Black meets most often in the Slav.
1... d5 2. c4 c6 3. cxd5 cxd5 4. Nc3 Nf6 5. Nf3 Nc6 6. Bf4 Bf5 7. e3 ...
With 3.cxd5 White ends the central tension between the pawns on c4 and d5. Black recaptures with the c-pawn and develops naturally: both knights, the light-squared bishop to f5 before ...e6, and the dark-squared bishop to d6. After both pairs of bishops are traded the position is symmetrical, and the author judges that the symmetry favours Black.
1... d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bg5 dxc4 6. e4 b5 7. e5 ...
The Semi-Slav arises when Black plays 4...e6 instead of 4...dxc4. Black's pawns are more solid than in the Slav, but the bishop on c8 is shut in, so the choice between the two is a matter of style. Against White's most common move, 5.Bg5, the recommendation is 5...dxc4 followed by ...b5. When 7.e5 attacks the pinned knight, Black chases the bishop with ...h6 and ...g5 and reaches a sharp position with the bishop on b7.
1... d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 e6 5. Bf4 dxc4 6. a4 Bb4 7. e3 ...
A rule of thumb for the Semi-Slav: whenever White's dark-squared bishop comes out in front of its pawn chain, Black takes on c4. Against 5.Bf4 Black plays 5...dxc4, and when 6.a4 prevents ...b5, the bishop goes to b4 and the knight to d5. Black comes out with the advantage.
4... e6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 b5 8. Bd3
From the position after 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Nf3, Black plays 4...e6 and White answers 5.e3, shutting in the dark-squared bishop on c1. Black no longer takes on c4 at once and develops with 5...Nbd7 instead. Only when White's bishop has gone to d3 does Black capture, and ...b5 then makes the bishop move a third time.