ECO D18 · Slav Defense

Slav Defense: Czech Variation, Lasker Variation

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. e3 Na6

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

7. Bxc4+0.72

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Slav Defense: Czech Variation, Lasker Variation (D18), reached after 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. e3 Na6, Stockfish 18 recommends 7. Bxc4 for White. White is slightly better (+0.72).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.727. Bxc4 Nb4 8. O-O e6 9. Qe2 Ne4 10. Ne5 f6 11. g4 fxe5
  2. +0.477. Ne5 e6 8. Bxc4 Nb4 9. O-O Bc2 10. Qe2 Nd7 11. Nxd7 Qxd7
  3. +0.207. Be2 Nb4 8. O-O Bc2 9. Qd2 Bb3 10. Ne5 e6 11. Bxc4 Bxc4

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Slav Defense: Czech Variation, Lasker Variation?
After 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. e3 Na6, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 7. Bxc4 for White, continuing Nb4 8. O-O e6 9. Qe2 Ne4 10. Ne5 f6 11. g4 fxe5. White is slightly better (+0.72). The next best moves are 7. Ne5 (+0.47) and 7. Be2 (+0.20).
Is the Slav Defense: Czech Variation, Lasker Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.72: 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, Lasker Variation?
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+).