Slav Defense
ECO: D10–D19For blacksolidd4classical
Overview
A reliable defense to the Queen's Gambit. Black plays ...c6 instead of ...e6, avoiding the bad bishop and aiming for ...dxc4 with a flexible structure.
Key Ideas
- Support ...d5 with ...c6 — keeps the light-squared bishop active.
- Look for ...dxc4 and ...b5 to grab the queenside pawn majority.
- Develop the light-squared bishop to f5 before playing ...e6.
- Aim for a balanced, healthy structure with no weaknesses.
Main Lines
Line 1
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
h8
g
f
e
d
c
b
a
1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5
Line 2
1
2
3
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5
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h8
g
f
e
d
c
b
a
1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 e6 5. e3 Nbd7
Line 3
1
2
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h8
g
f
e
d
c
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a
1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. cxd5 cxd5 4. Nc3 Nf6 5. Nf3 Nc6
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Solid and reliable
- Active bishop development
- Less drawish than the QGD
Cons
- Theory-heavy in main lines
- Closed structures can be drawish
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