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Questions tagged [slav-defense]

The Slav Defense is the opening characterized by the moves 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6.

The Slav Defense is the opening characterized by the moves 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6. In this opening, Black attempts to hold onto the c4-pawn after accepting with b7-b5. White may prevent this with a2-a4, but this leads to a hole on b4, which is a key theme in the Slav. White aims to create a big center, while Black expands on the queenside and captures the b4-square.

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Why is Leela so good at beating Stockfish in the French/Slav?

I notice Lc0 is especially good against Stockfish in French / Slav pawn structures. However, I don't understand why. Here're a couple of games where Leela smoothly outplays Stockfish. Can anyone explain what Stockfish is doing wrong? Link to this…
Allure
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Can black play the London system?

After 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3, Black usually plays Nf6 or e6 (which blocks his light-square bishop) and I wonder if it is possible for him to adopt the ideas from the London System and play Bf5 before e6. This is a rare move but I wonder if it is…
Zuriel
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Semi-Slav name origin

The name Semi-Slav suggests that somehow it's half of a Slav. How did this name come about? Or what does it mean? The two openings seem completely different to me due to the fate of the c8 bishop.
Bogdan Calmac
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Why is 1. d4 2. c4 3. b3 so bad for white?

I recently played a game that opened like this: 1. d4 c6 2. c4 d5 { D10 Slav Defense } 3. b3 [FEN ""] My third move, 3. b3 is apparently so uncommon that Lichess doesn't have it in its top 12 most common moves. Stockfish rates the position after…
Steve Bennett
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What are the main plans for black and white in the main-line Slav after 5...Bf5 6.e3?

I'm thinking about adding the Slav defense to my opening repertoire. I'm looking at the following line, which I believe is the main line: [fen ""] 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. e3 Online, there's a lot of variations and…
Rebecca J. Stones
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In the Slav, after 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6, what are all the differences between 4. Qc2 and 4. Qb3?

In the Slav, after 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 : What are all the differences between 4. Qc2 and 4. Qb3 ? Which one of them is better to reach some Catalan type positions? Which one of them tends to lead (on average) to the most solid, quiet,…
Fate
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Why is ...a6 played in the Exchange Slav?

[fen ""] 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. cxd5 cxd5 5. Bf4 Nc6 6. e3 a6 I do not see the point of this move. At first I thought it is aimed to prevent Bb5 and thus maintain the knight on c6, which controls e5, a square where White has a firm grip.…
B.Swan
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If 1. e4 c6 is considered as a sound defense for black, why is 1. c3 so rare?

At 365chess.com, 1.c3 is ranked as the 14th most common first move for white. If the Caro-Kann defense is considered as a sound defense, why is the Saragossa opening so rare for white? After all, white is preparing to play 2. d4 in the next move and…
Zuriel
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How do I respond to 8. g3?! in the 4. e3 Slav?

This is taken from a rapid game where my opponent threw me by playing 8. g3, coming out of book in the 4. e3 Slav: [FEN ""] [StartPly "17"] 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 c6 3. d4 d5 …
user1108
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slav defense, black's bishop early development punishment

After: [FEN "rnbqkbnr/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/RNBQKBNR w KQkq - 0 1"] 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Nf3 Bf5 I want to put a lot of pressure in black's position, I used to follow the game with: 5.cxd5 And here black has two major options: i) 5...…
Marco
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After 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6, should White play 3. cxd5?

I play the Exchange variation as White when Black plays 2...e6 against the Queen's Gambit. Should I play 3. cxd5 to avoid the transpoition to the Slav 3. Nc3 (hoping for 3...Nf6 4. cxd5) c6!? [FEN ""] 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. cxd5!? (3. Nc3 c6!?)
limits
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If I like both the Caro-Kann and the Slav, is it a good idea to answer 1. d4 with 1... c6?

I was just wondering, if as Black I normally play the Caro-Kann and the Slav (but I slightly prefer the Caro-Kann), is it a good idea to answer 1. d4 with 1... c6!? I looked in an opening database, but it looks like 1... c6 is extremely rare and is…
Fate
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Queens Gambit Declined vs Slav: Exchange Variations

I am a keen player of d4 as white. One of the things that I often read is that the exchange variation of the Queens Gambit Declined is generally considered good for white: [fen ""] 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. cxd5 exd5 But the exchange…
firtydank
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Against the Slow Slav, after 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3, is the 4... a6 Chebanenko still good for Black?

Someone told me that: Against the move order 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 or 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3, the move 4...a6 is averagely effective. Against the move order 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3, the move 4...a6 is extremely effective, since White has already committed to…
Fate
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Should I be afraid of the Slav Tolush-Geller Gambit?

As Black, after 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3, I like to play 4... dxc4 5. a4 Bf5, but I am afraid to play 4... dxc4 because of 5. e4, the Tolush-Geller Gambit (always followed by 5... b5 6. e5 Nd5 7. a4 e6) [StartPly "9"] [FEN ""] 1.…
Fate
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