ECO D17 · Slav Defense

Slav Defense: Czech Variation

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5

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

6. e3+0.35

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Slav Defense: Czech Variation (D17), reached after 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5, Stockfish 18 recommends 6. e3 for White. White is slightly better (+0.35).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.356. e3 e6 7. Bxc4 Bb4 8. O-O Nbd7 9. Bd3 Bxd3 10. Qxd3 h6
  2. +0.326. Ne5 Na6 7. e3 e6 8. Bxc4 Nb4 9. O-O Bd6 10. Qe2 Nc2
  3. +0.016. Nh4 Bd7 7. e4 e6 8. g3 Bb4 9. Bg2 c5 10. O-O cxd4

Variations

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Slav Defense: Czech Variation?
After 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 6. e3 for White, continuing e6 7. Bxc4 Bb4 8. O-O Nbd7 9. Bd3 Bxd3 10. Qxd3 h6. White is slightly better (+0.35). The next best moves are 6. Ne5 (+0.32) and 6. Nh4 (+0.01).
Is the Slav Defense: Czech 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: Czech Variation?
D17. 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+).