ECO D17 · Slav Defense

Slav Defense: Czech Variation, Carlsbad Variation, Morozevich 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 9. dxe5 Nxe5 10. Bf4 Nfd7 11. Bg2 g5

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

12. Ne3+0.38

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Slav Defense: Czech Variation, Carlsbad Variation, Morozevich 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 9. dxe5 Nxe5 10. Bf4 Nfd7 11. Bg2 g5, Stockfish 18 recommends 12. Ne3 for White. White is slightly better (+0.38).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.3812. Ne3 gxf4 13. Nxf5 O-O-O 14. O-O fxg3 15. hxg3 a5 16. Ne4 Nc5
  2. +0.3312. Bxe5 Nxe5 13. Qd4 f6 14. O-O Be7 15. Ne3 Bg6 16. a5 Kf7
  3. +0.1912. Nxe5 gxf4 13. Nxd7 Qxd7 14. Qxd7+ Bxd7 15. gxf4 O-O-O 16. O-O-O Rg8

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Slav Defense: Czech Variation, Carlsbad Variation, Morozevich 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 9. dxe5 Nxe5 10. Bf4 Nfd7 11. Bg2 g5, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 12. Ne3 for White, continuing gxf4 13. Nxf5 O-O-O 14. O-O fxg3 15. hxg3 a5 16. Ne4 Nc5. White is slightly better (+0.38). The next best moves are 12. Bxe5 (+0.33) and 12. Nxe5 (+0.19).
Is the Slav Defense: Czech Variation, Carlsbad Variation, Morozevich Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.38: 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, Morozevich 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+).