Slav Defense: Steiner Variation
1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bg4
6. Ne5+0.75
White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.
Analyze this positionIn the Slav Defense: Steiner Variation (D16), reached after 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bg4, Stockfish 18 recommends 6. Ne5 for White. White is slightly better (+0.75).
Top engine moves
- +0.756. Ne5 Nbd7 7. Nxc4 a5 8. f3 Be6 9. e4 Bxc4 10. Bxc4 e6
- +0.436. e4 e6 7. Bxc4 Bb4 8. O-O O-O 9. Qd3 Nbd7 10. Rd1 Bh5
- +0.346. e3 Nbd7 7. Bxc4 e6 8. O-O Bb4 9. h3 Bh5 10. Qe2 O-O
Frequently asked questions
What is the best move in the Slav Defense: Steiner Variation?
After 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bg4, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 6. Ne5 for White, continuing Nbd7 7. Nxc4 a5 8. f3 Be6 9. e4 Bxc4 10. Bxc4 e6. White is slightly better (+0.75). The next best moves are 6. e4 (+0.43) and 6. e3 (+0.34).
Is the Slav Defense: Steiner Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.75: 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: Steiner 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+).