ECO D18 · Slav Defense

Slav Defense: Czech Variation, Classical System

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. e3

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

6… e6+0.32

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Slav Defense: Czech Variation, Classical System (D18), reached after 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. e3, Stockfish 18 recommends 6… e6 for Black. White is slightly better (+0.32).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.326… e6 7. Bxc4 Bb4 8. O-O h6 9. Qb3 Qe7 10. Re1 O-O 11. a5
  2. +0.436… h6 7. Bxc4 e6 8. Qe2 Bb4 9. O-O O-O 10. Rd1 Ne4 11. Na2
  3. +0.486… a5 7. Bxc4 e6 8. O-O Bb4 9. Qe2 Ne4 10. Ne5 Nd7 11. Nxd7

Variations

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Slav Defense: Czech Variation, Classical System?
After 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. e3, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 6… e6 for Black, continuing 7. Bxc4 Bb4 8. O-O h6 9. Qb3 Qe7 10. Re1 O-O 11. a5. White is slightly better (+0.32). The next best moves are 6… h6 (+0.43) and 6… a5 (+0.48).
Is the Slav Defense: Czech Variation, Classical System a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.32: 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, Classical System?
D18. 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+).