ECO D15 · Slav Defense

Slav Defense: Schlechter Variation

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 g6

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

5. e3+0.41

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Slav Defense: Schlechter Variation (D15), reached after 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 g6, Stockfish 18 recommends 5. e3 for White. White is slightly better (+0.41).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.415. e3 Bg7 6. Be2 O-O 7. O-O Re8 8. h3 e6 9. b3 Ne4
  2. +0.345. Qa4 Bd7 6. e3 Bg7 7. Qb3 Qb6 8. Bd2 O-O 9. Na4 Qc7
  3. +0.325. Qb3 Qb6 6. g3 Bg7 7. Bg2 O-O 8. O-O Rd8 9. Rd1 Na6

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Slav Defense: Schlechter Variation?
After 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 g6, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 5. e3 for White, continuing Bg7 6. Be2 O-O 7. O-O Re8 8. h3 e6 9. b3 Ne4. White is slightly better (+0.41). The next best moves are 5. Qa4 (+0.34) and 5. Qb3 (+0.32).
Is the Slav Defense: Schlechter Variation 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: Schlechter Variation?
D15. 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+).