ECO D16 · Slav Defense

Slav Defense: Alapin Variation

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4

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Black to move. The arrow shows Stockfish’s best move.
Best move

5… Bf5+0.35

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Slav Defense: Alapin Variation (D16), reached after 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4, Stockfish 18 recommends 5… Bf5 for Black. White is slightly better (+0.35).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.355… Bf5 6. e3 e6 7. Bxc4 Nbd7 8. O-O Bb4 9. Nh4 Bg6 10. Nxg6
  2. +0.455… a5 6. e4 Bg4 7. Bxc4 e6 8. Be3 Bb4 9. h3 Bh5 10. Bd3
  3. +0.515… e6 6. e3 c5 7. Bxc4 cxd4 8. exd4 Be7 9. O-O Nc6 10. Qe2

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Slav Defense: Alapin Variation?
After 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 5… Bf5 for Black, continuing 6. e3 e6 7. Bxc4 Nbd7 8. O-O Bb4 9. Nh4 Bg6 10. Nxg6. White is slightly better (+0.35). The next best moves are 5… a5 (+0.45) and 5… e6 (+0.51).
Is the Slav Defense: Alapin Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.35: white is slightly better. Evaluations this early in the game are small, so practical results depend far more on knowing the plans and typical structures than on the engine's number.
What is the ECO code of the Slav Defense: Alapin Variation?
D16. ECO codes classify chess openings from A00 to E99; D is the volume for closed and semi-closed games.

Opening names from the Lichess opening book (CC0). Pieces by Colin M.L. Burnett (GPLv2+).