ECO D11 · Slav Defense

Slav Defense: Modern Line

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3

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

3… Nf6+0.33

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Slav Defense: Modern Line (D11), reached after 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3, Stockfish 18 recommends 3… Nf6 for Black. White is slightly better (+0.33).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.333… Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. e3 e6 7. Bxc4 Bb4 8. O-O
  2. +0.383… dxc4 4. e3 b5 5. a4 e6 6. axb5 cxb5 7. b3 Nf6 8. bxc4
  3. +0.423… e6 4. e3 Nf6 5. Bd3 dxc4 6. Bxc4 a6 7. O-O c5 8. Bb3

Other move orders

  • 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. g3 dxc4 5. Bg2 g6
  • 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. g3 Bg4 5. Bg2 e6 6. O-O
  • 1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. g3 c6 4. Bg2 Bg4 5. O-O Nbd7 6. c4

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Slav Defense: Modern Line?
After 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 3… Nf6 for Black, continuing 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. e3 e6 7. Bxc4 Bb4 8. O-O. White is slightly better (+0.33). The next best moves are 3… dxc4 (+0.38) and 3… e6 (+0.42).
Is the Slav Defense: Modern Line a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.33: 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: Modern Line?
D11. 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+).