ChessThe Slav Defense is 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6. White's c-pawn hits d5, but Black does not take. Black supports d5 with the c-pawn instead. The center stays solid, and the c8 bishop can still come out freely later. Want to practice it? You can try it right away against the computer when you play chess free.
Moves and position
The first two moves are just the Queen's Gambit. The difference is Black's second move:
1. d4 d5Both sides' pawns meet in the center.2. c4White's c-pawn attacks d5.2... c6Black guards d5 with the c-pawn so White can't trade it off.
Why not guard it with e6? You can, but a pawn on e6 blocks the c8 bishop and keeps it locked in for a long time. With c6, the bishop can come out to f5 or g4 first, and then the e-pawn moves up.
What White wants
- Bring knights out against d5: Knights on c3 and f3 both watch the center.
- Stop Black from grabbing c4: Black may take the c4 pawn at any moment and hold it with b5, so White often plays a4 to stop b5.
- Push e4 to take the center: As soon as Black's pawn leaves d5, White wants to bring the e-pawn up too.
What Black wants
- Get the c8 bishop out first: When the time is right, the bishop goes to f5 or g4, then e6 follows and the pawn structure is complete.
- Look for a chance to take c4: Black doesn't rush to hold the pawn. Black makes White spend time winning it back and develops in the meantime.
- Don't bring the bishop out too early: A white queen on b3 hits b7. This is the thing to watch most in the Slav, as the trap below shows.
Main lines
Main line: 4... dxc4, then the bishop
Black waits until both sides have two knights out before taking on c4. White plays a4 so Black can't push b5 to hold the pawn. Black doesn't mind, puts the bishop on f5 and plays e6 next. White usually wins the pawn back later with e3 and the bishop.
Semi-Slav: 4... e6
This is the "Semi-Slav," a mix of the Slav and the Queen's Gambit Declined. The center is very hard, but now the c8 bishop is blocked by e6 again. Black often follows up by taking c4 and pushing b5, or by pushing e5. The game can get very sharp, and many professionals love it.
Exchange Variation: 3. cxd5 cxd5
White doesn't want Black to take c4 comfortably, so White just trades first. The pawns are symmetrical and the game is calm, and it often ends in a draw. But White moves first and keeps a little initiative, so Black still has to play carefully.
A common trap: the bishop leaves too early and b7 falls
Bringing the Slav bishop out to f5 is a good idea, but at the wrong moment it goes wrong:
On c8, the bishop protected b7. Once it leaves, b7 is on its own. If Black ignores the threat:
Black is a pawn down and has to spend a move looking after the rook and knight. Black is on the back foot.
What Black should do: play 3... Nf6 first, and bring the bishop out once the c4 pawn has been traded or White has finished developing the knights. Even if Qb3 does hit b7, defend it right away with the queen (for example Qb6), and don't pretend you didn't see it. Remember: when a piece leaves its square, think about what it was guarding.
Who it suits
- Black players who want a steady game against 1. d4: The center is very hard and difficult to break.
- Players who hate a locked-in bishop: The biggest plus of the Slav is that the c8 bishop gets out.
- Players who like complicated positions: Give the Semi-Slav a try.
It is a sibling of the Caro-Kann Defense. The Caro-Kann answers 1. e4, also plays c6 first and then d5, and the ideas are almost the same.
FAQ
What is the difference between the Slav and the Queen's Gambit Declined?
Both guard d5 with a pawn. The Queen's Gambit Declined uses e6, which shuts in the c8 bishop. The Slav uses c6, so the bishop can come out first, then e6 follows. The price is that the c6 square is taken by a pawn, so the b8 knight can't go to c6.
What is the Semi-Slav?
It's the setup with both c6 and e6, holding d5 as firmly as possible. The center is very hard, but the bishop is blocked again, so Black later opens the game by taking c4 or pushing e5.
Is the Slav a good choice for beginners with Black?
Yes. The ideas are clear: hold the center with c6, find the right time to bring out the bishop, and castle early. As long as you check b7 before the bishop leaves, you are unlikely to lose much.
Try it yourself
Use the button below to start a game against the computer from the Slav Defense, and practice bringing the bishop to f5 at the right moment. For other openings, go back to the openings guide. To brush up on the rules first, return to the free chess home page.
Play this opening against the computer