ECO D17 · Slav Defense

Slav Defense: Czech Variation, Carlsbad Variation

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. Ne5 Nbd7 7. Nxc4 Qc7 8. g3 e5

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

9. dxe5+0.57

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Slav Defense: Czech Variation, Carlsbad Variation (D17), reached after 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. Ne5 Nbd7 7. Nxc4 Qc7 8. g3 e5, Stockfish 18 recommends 9. dxe5 for White. White is slightly better (+0.57).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.579. dxe5 Nxe5 10. Bf4 Rd8 11. Qc1 Bd6 12. Nxd6+ Qxd6 13. Bg2 O-O
  2. −0.069. Bg2 Rd8 10. Bg5 Be6 11. Bxf6 Nxf6 12. Nxe5 Qb6 13. O-O Qxd4
  3. −0.199. a5 Rd8 10. Bg2 Be6 11. Nxe5 Nxe5 12. Bf4 Bd6 13. dxe5 Bxe5

Variations

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Slav Defense: Czech Variation, Carlsbad Variation?
After 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. Ne5 Nbd7 7. Nxc4 Qc7 8. g3 e5, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 9. dxe5 for White, continuing Nxe5 10. Bf4 Rd8 11. Qc1 Bd6 12. Nxd6+ Qxd6 13. Bg2 O-O. White is slightly better (+0.57). The next best moves are 9. Bg2 (−0.06) and 9. a5 (−0.19).
Is the Slav Defense: Czech Variation, Carlsbad Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.57: 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, Carlsbad 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+).