Slav Defense
Overview
The Slav Defense is a chess opening which many players choose to employ as their main weapon against the Queen’s Gambit.
The idea behind the Slav Defense is that Black tries to develop his pieces together while supporting the center by playing c7-c6.
While in the main lines of the Queen’s Gambit Black’s light-squared Bishop stays locked in by Black’s pawn on e6, in the main lines of the Slav this Bishop can be freely developed to f5 or g4.
The Slav Defense can be divided into three major variations, depending on how Black defines the pawn structure.
One option is to play with e7-e6, creating a triangle of pawns in the middle of the board. It is the most solid option, but also the least ambitious one. It is called the Semi-Slav.
A more daring option is to play the Slav with a7-a6, which is called the Chebanenko Variation. The idea is to break through with b7-b5 and play for activity.
Finally, the main line of the Slav consists in taking the pawn on c4, and then bringing out the Bishop to f5.
Thus, the three major variations are:
- Semi-Slav
- Chebanenko Slav
- Main line of the Slav Defense
The Semi-Slav is a solid variation for Black, whose main focus is to keep a strong and stabilized center with a “triangle” of pawns on e6, c6 and d5.
It is not the most ambitious variation for Black but it is one of the most commonly played variations.
You play safely in order to gain winning chances during the end game.
The Chebanenko Slav is the most aggressive variation for Black.
The idea is to quickly breakthrough on the Queenside with b7-b5 giving Black many chances of playing for a win by disrupting White’s solid center.
In the main line of the Slav Defense, Black takes White’s pawn on c4.
Since this pawn cannot be taken back immediately, this move forces White to waste a couple of moves before being able to take the pawn.
In the meantime, Black’s idea is simply: he wants to bring the Bishop out of the pawn chain (namely to f5) before playing e7-e6 and castling.
What is Slav Defense?
The Slav Defense is a chess opening that is played against the Queen’s Gambit (1.d4 and 2.c4).
In this variation, Black supports the central pawn with the move c7-c6 instead of the more common e7-e6.
You can see the moves below.
How to reach the Slav Defense
- First, White must move the Queen’s pawn two squares (1.d4).
- Then, Black’s reply is to move the Queen’s pawn two squares (1...d5).
- Now, White goes for the Queen’s Gambit by moving his c-pawn two squares (2.c4).
- Black replies by moving his own c-pawn one square (2...c6).
Take a look at the moves below.
Why Play Slav Defense
The Slav Defense is a solid defense against the Queen’s Gambit. It gives Black a chance to develop his pieces freely and achieve a supported center.
The difference between the Slav Defense and other lines of the Queen’s Gambit for Black (namely the Queen’s Gambit Declined with 2...e6) is that the light-squared Bishop will not be locked in by its own pawns and can be freely developed, usually to f5 and sometimes to g4.
Every move explained
Semi-Slav
How To Reach It
The Semi-Slav appears on the board after the following moves:
- d4 d5
- c4 c6
- Nf3 Nf6
- Nc3 e6
You can see the moves here.
Why play the Semi-Slav
The Semi-Slav is a very solid variation.
Black’s idea: build a “triangle” of central pawns on e6, d5 and c6.
This gives Black a very stable central structure because the pawn on d5 cannot be easily attacked.
This may give Black a long-term advantage and the possibility of playing for a win in the endgame.
White's Moves
Pin the Knight with Bg5
Before stabilizing his own center with e2-e3, Black should bring out the Bishop first (to avoid blocking it in).
The best square for the Bishop is g5, from where it pins Black’s Knight on f6.
If Black attacks the Bishop with h7-h6, the best idea for White is to take the Knight on f6.
This has pros and cons: Black gets the Bishop pair, but, in turn, White gets rid of his “bad Bishop”, since it would be limited by the pawns in dark squares.
Attack on the Kingside with Qc2-Bd3
White’s main plan is to slowly build an attack on Black’s Kingside.
A good way of doing this is to move the Queen to c2 and then the light-squared Bishop to d3.
From those squares, these pieces will be looking straight at Black’s pawn on h7.
Black's moves
Take on c4 to play b5
One of the main plans for Black in the Slav is to take on c4 and then play b5.
The best way of doing this is to wait until White develops his Bishop to d3 and then take the pawn on c4, forcing the Bishop to move once again - and then attack it with b5.
Counterplay in the center with e5
Although the Semi-Slav is known for its center solidity with the trio of pawns on c6, d5 and e6, Black will often have to counterplay in the center if he wants to play for an advantage.
This can be done by advancing the e-pawn from e7 to e5.
First, this push must be supported, namely by bringing the Knight to d7, Queen to c7 and Bishop to d6.
Chebanenko Slav
How To Reach It
The Chebanenko Slav appears on the board after the following moves.
- d4 d5
- c4 c6
- Nf3 Nf6
- Nc3 a6
You can see the moves here.
Why play the Chebanenko Slav
This is the most aggressive variation in the Slav Defense and is good for attacking players who prefer to play for a win right out of the opening.
Black idea is to go for a Queenside breakthrough with b5 before even developing his pieces.
This approach puts immediate pressure on White, forcing White to know complicated opening lines.
White's Moves
Gain space on the Queenside with c5
An immediate way of getting in the way of Black’s b5 plan is to advance the c-pawn and gain space on the Queenside.
Black has weakened his dark squares after playing both a6 and c6 - and the move c5 exploits this by controlling the fragile b6 square.
Support the c4 pawn with b3
If White opts for a more conservative approach and refrains from playing c5, Black will break through on the Queenside with b5.
White, however, can solve most of his problems by giving the c4 pawn some extra stability. The best way of doing this is by playing b2-b3, which also frees the b2 square for the dark-squared Bishop.
Black's moves
Develop the light-squared Bishop to g4
One of the main ideas behind the Slav Defense, in general, is to bring out the light-squared Bishop before settling the center with e6. In the Chebanenko Slav, the best square for the Bishop is g4, from where it pins White’s Knight on f3.
Developing the dark-squared Bishop to g7
When White closes the center with c5, Black will try to find a different way of developing his dark-squared Bishop.
The answer is to fianchetto it on the Kingside by playing g6 and Bg7. From there, the Bishop will also put pressure on the weakened d4 pawn.
Main line of the Slav Defense
How To Reach It
The Main Line of the Slav Defense appears on the board after the following moves:
- d4 d5
- c4 c6
- Nf3 Nf6
- Nc3 dxc4
You can see the moves here.
Why play the Main line of the Slav Defense
The main line of the Slav Defense is, as its name indicates, the most widely played variation in this opening.
This variation is suitable for all kinds of players, as there are many different plans. Roughly, the main idea for Black is to develop pieces quickly and harmoniously, while White sets up to take back the pawn on c4.
White's Moves
Play a4 to prevent Black from holding the pawn with b5
After Black takes on c4, there is no way for White to take back this pawn immediately.
White has to open up the way for the Bishop to take it.
But, before doing this, White has to prevent pawn from b7 to b5, since this will allow Black to keep the extra pawn.
Play e3 in order to take back the pawn
In order to take back the pawn on c4, White can play e3 in order to free the way for the light-squared Bishop to take it.
This move also allows White to develop his Bishop and castle on the next move.
Take the pawn with the Knight by playing Ne5
A different idea for Black is to take the pawn on c4 with the Knight instead of the Bishop on f1.
For this, White has to play the Knight to e5 and then proceed to take the pawn on c4.
Doing this gives White the option to fianchetto the light-squared Bishop on g2.
Black's moves
Develop the light-squared Bishop to f5
Black should develop his light-squared Bishop before playing e6 in order to avoid having it “stuck” inside the pawn chain.
The best square for the Bishop is f5, since it controls important central squares and can become a very active piece.
Exploiting the weak dark squares with Bb4
White was forced to play a4 in order to prevent Black from supporting the c4 pawn with b5.
In doing so, dark squares on the Queenside were left weakened, namely the b4 square.
Having this in mind, Black can exploit this weakened square by bringing out the dark-squared Bishop and playing Bb4, pinning the Knight on c3.
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