ECO D15 · Slav Defense

Slav Defense: Chebanenko Variation

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 a6

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

5. e3+0.44

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Slav Defense: Chebanenko Variation (D15), reached after 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 a6, Stockfish 18 recommends 5. e3 for White. White is slightly better (+0.44).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.445. e3 b5 6. b3 Bf5 7. Bd3 Bxd3 8. Qxd3 e6 9. O-O b4
  2. +0.405. c5 Nbd7 6. Bf4 Nh5 7. Bd2 Nhf6 8. e4 dxe4 9. Ng5 e6
  3. +0.315. g3 dxc4 6. e4 Bg4 7. e5 Nd5 8. h3 Bh5 9. g4 Bg6

Other move orders

  • 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 a6 5. e3 Bf5

Variations

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Slav Defense: Chebanenko Variation?
After 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 a6, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 5. e3 for White, continuing b5 6. b3 Bf5 7. Bd3 Bxd3 8. Qxd3 e6 9. O-O b4. White is slightly better (+0.44). The next best moves are 5. c5 (+0.40) and 5. g3 (+0.31).
Is the Slav Defense: Chebanenko Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.44: 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: Chebanenko Variation?
D15. 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+).