ECO D17 · Slav Defense

Slav Defense: Czech Variation, Wiesbaden Variation, Sharp Line

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. Ne5 e6 7. f3 Bb4 8. e4

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

8… Bxe4+0.41

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Slav Defense: Czech Variation, Wiesbaden Variation, Sharp Line (D17), reached after 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. Ne5 e6 7. f3 Bb4 8. e4, Stockfish 18 recommends 8… Bxe4 for Black. White is slightly better (+0.41).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.418… Bxe4 9. fxe4 Nxe4 10. Bd2 Qxd4 11. Nxe4 Qxe4+ 12. Qe2 Bxd2+ 13. Kxd2
  2. +0.778… Bg6 9. Bxc4 O-O 10. O-O Nbd7 11. Nd3 Bd6 12. Be3 a5 13. Qd2
  3. +1.108… c5 9. dxc5 Nbd7 10. Nxd7 Nxe4 11. Qd4 Nxc5 12. Qxc4 Bxc3+ 13. Qxc3

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Slav Defense: Czech Variation, Wiesbaden Variation, Sharp Line?
After 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. Ne5 e6 7. f3 Bb4 8. e4, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 8… Bxe4 for Black, continuing 9. fxe4 Nxe4 10. Bd2 Qxd4 11. Nxe4 Qxe4+ 12. Qe2 Bxd2+ 13. Kxd2. White is slightly better (+0.41). The next best moves are 8… Bg6 (+0.77) and 8… c5 (+1.10).
Is the Slav Defense: Czech Variation, Wiesbaden Variation, Sharp Line a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.41: 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, Wiesbaden Variation, Sharp Line?
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+).