ECO D15 · Slav Defense

Slav Defense: Two Knights Attack

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4

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

5. a4+0.35

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Slav Defense: Two Knights Attack (D15), reached after 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4, Stockfish 18 recommends 5. a4 for White. White is slightly better (+0.35).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.355. a4 Bf5 6. e3 e6 7. Bxc4 Bb4 8. O-O a5 9. Bd3 Bxd3
  2. +0.145. g3 g6 6. a4 Bg7 7. e4 Bg4 8. e5 Nd5 9. Bxc4 O-O
  3. +0.105. e3 b5 6. a4 b4 7. Na2 e6 8. Bxc4 Bb7 9. b3 Nbd7

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Slav Defense: Two Knights Attack?
After 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 5. a4 for White, continuing Bf5 6. e3 e6 7. Bxc4 Bb4 8. O-O a5 9. Bd3 Bxd3. White is slightly better (+0.35). The next best moves are 5. g3 (+0.14) and 5. e3 (+0.10).
Is the Slav Defense: Two Knights Attack a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.35: 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: Two Knights Attack?
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+).