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Slav Defense: 3 quick facts

  • While first appearing in the late 1500s, the Slav Defense is named after a number of Slavic players who popularized this line in the 1900s.
  • It’s one of the most common Black responses to the Queen’s Gambit, leading to slow, positional, strategic gameplay that is chosen even by top grandmasters. 
  • Despite having extensive theory, this opening is relatively straightforward to play—even for beginners.

Slav Defense: The moves

Here are the moves for the Slav Defense:

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1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6

A gif showing the opening moves for the Slav Defense: 1. White’s d-pawn moves to d4 and Black’s d-pawn moves to d5. 2. White’s c-pawn moves to c4 and Black’s c-pawn moves to c6.

A dependable choice for Black

Looking for a first opening to play against White’s 1. d4? Try the Slav today!

If you’re looking for more openings, check out our guide featuring over 30 options for every skill level!