Slav Defense: Soultanbeieff Variation
1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 e6
6. e3+0.48
White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.
Analyze this positionIn the Slav Defense: Soultanbeieff Variation (D16), reached after 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 e6, Stockfish 18 recommends 6. e3 for White. White is slightly better (+0.48).
Top engine moves
- +0.486. e3 Bb4 7. Bxc4 c5 8. O-O cxd4 9. Nxd4 Nc6 10. Qb3 Qe7
- +0.136. e4 Bb4 7. Qc2 b5 8. Be2 a6 9. O-O Bb7 10. b3 cxb3
- +0.106. Bd2 Bd7 7. e3 b5 8. Ne5 b4 9. Nb1 c5 10. Bxc4 cxd4
Frequently asked questions
What is the best move in the Slav Defense: Soultanbeieff Variation?
After 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 e6, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 6. e3 for White, continuing Bb4 7. Bxc4 c5 8. O-O cxd4 9. Nxd4 Nc6 10. Qb3 Qe7. White is slightly better (+0.48). The next best moves are 6. e4 (+0.13) and 6. Bd2 (+0.10).
Is the Slav Defense: Soultanbeieff Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.48: 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: Soultanbeieff Variation?
D16. 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+).