ECO D11 · Slav Defense

Slav Defense: Quiet Variation

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3

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

4… Bg4+0.27

The position is roughly equal. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Slav Defense: Quiet Variation (D11), reached after 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3, Stockfish 18 recommends 4… Bg4 for Black. The position is roughly equal (+0.27).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.274… Bg4 5. Qb3 Qb6 6. Ne5 Bf5 7. cxd5 Qxb3 8. axb3 Nxd5 9. Nc3
  2. +0.294… Bf5 5. Nc3 e6 6. Nh4 Bg6 7. Nxg6 hxg6 8. Bd2 Nbd7 9. h4
  3. +0.354… g6 5. Nc3 Bg7 6. Be2 O-O 7. O-O Re8 8. h3 e6 9. b4

Variations

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Slav Defense: Quiet Variation?
After 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 4… Bg4 for Black, continuing 5. Qb3 Qb6 6. Ne5 Bf5 7. cxd5 Qxb3 8. axb3 Nxd5 9. Nc3. The position is roughly equal (+0.27). The next best moves are 4… Bf5 (+0.29) and 4… g6 (+0.35).
Is the Slav Defense: Quiet Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.27: the position is roughly equal. 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: Quiet Variation?
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+).