Slav Defense

Play as BlackDefence

Support d5 while keeping the light-squared bishop free to develop outside the pawn chain.

The main line, move by move

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. e3 e6 7. Bxc4 Bb4 8. O-O Nbd7 9. Qe2 Bg6 10. e4 O-O 11. Bd3 Bh5

1. d4 — Claim the center with the queen pawn and open lines for the queen and bishop.
1... d5 — Black stakes a claim in the center.
2. c4 — White offers a flank pawn.
2... c6 — Support d5 while keeping the light-squared bishop free.
3. Nf3 — Develop the knight toward the center.
3... Nf6 — Develop the knight and defend d5.
4. Nc3 — Develop the knight and add pressure on d5.
4... dxc4 — Take the pawn, planning to hold it with ...b5.
5. a4 — Stop ...b5 so the pawn on c4 can be won back.
5... Bf5 — Develop the bishop before playing ...e6.
6. e3 — Prepare to win the c4 pawn back with the bishop.
6... e6 — Solid support for d5 and opens the king bishop.
7. Bxc4 — Win the pawn back with a developing move.
7... Bb4 — Pin the knight on c3.
8. O-O — Castle: your king gets safe and a rook joins the game.
8... Nbd7 — Develop the last knight.
9. Qe2 — Develop the queen and prepare e4.
9... Bg6 — Keep the bishop safe on the diagonal.
10. e4 — Build a big center.
10... O-O — Castle: your king gets safe and a rook joins the game.
11. Bd3 — Develop the bishop toward the kingside.
11... Bh5 — Keep the bishop active.

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 b5 8. Bd3 Bb7 9. O-O a6