Slav Defense for Newbies: Beginner's Guide to Solid Opening Play!

[@fredgandolfi2356]

The clearest and most understandable explanation for the slav. I have played it for yrs but never before came across such lucidity. Impressive

[@Dr.CansClinic]

So motivating, thank you so much! 🙏

[@SteveJ-kz1ee]

You're a class act, these videos help me improve my game. Going into every end game I'm thinking of knight check shadow!

[@Rikusan12345]

i don't usually comment on YT Videos, but you deserve this one for the algorithm. Great Video!

[@Dr.CansClinic]

I am so happy to hear your kind feedback, thank you! For some reason, the algorithm does not show my videos to too many new people, so please do not hesitate sharing the channel with your chess friends. 🙏

[@roytwinberrow7956]

Experts always say understand your openings don''t just memorize them.(But don't explain them!). Your lectures are soo clear and logical and also easier to remember. Thanks alot. Your viewership will just keep increasing. Regards

[@Dr.CansClinic]

So humbled to hear your feedback, thank you so much for your good wishes 🙏☺️

[@eschiedler]

A few things I like to do when learning opening strategy. One is to see what happens when an opponent makes a reckless move. It helps to understand how to punish such moves and therefore what the strengths are of your opponent's position and how they might refute your opening. Another is to learn one or two traps against your opening so to avoid subtle blunders.

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Thank you for your kind feedback! Sounds reasonable to me. That was why I showed when ...Bf5 gets punished. It is important to learn when our logical opening moves are punished.

[@reachinggoal0112]

I have watched many youtube chess contents, but yours is really shining and outstanding from others because you put your heart into your videos. We can all see that. DO NOT let low views discourage you. Thanks for being consistent.

[@Dr.CansClinic]

❤️ These are such motivating words. It means a lot to me. Thank you so much! It is passion speaking in my videos, indeed. Please share the channel so I can continue producing on the same rate in the future. 🙏

[@josephwilliams4574]

Thank you so much for the video! I am currently learning the Slav and made a blunder last night in the opening. Now I know "whyyyy" it was a chess crime! I really enjoy the simple, yet solid, foundational principles which I can use to build on.

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Super happy to hear it! Hope you will be cleared from your chess crimes after going through the "Whhhhyyy?" questions!

[@diegogiordana819]

I find it interesting to discuss openings... but I also find that it is a topic that is covered too much everywhere... I think that the strength of your channel is precisely that of dealing with the rest which I consider much more instructive.

[@Dr.CansClinic]

@@diegogiordana819 Thanks for your feedback 🙏

[@criseberle6304]

Outstanding. I like to play the Caro-Kann for e4. I have thought that the Slav would provide a complementary form for d4. I'm excited to try this out. Thank you so much!!

[@Dr.CansClinic]

I think they indeed complement each other. Just started working on the Slav course! :)

[@Vinterfader]

I have played the Slav since 2020, and I still learned a few things in this video. I have run into the Qb3 move like 50 times, it is annoying but I think that your rule of thumb might be legit. I was also always afraid to sack the b-pawn, but I think that you did a great job of showing the compensation.

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Thank you so much! Qb3 can be annoying to face indeed, I was also searching for such logical rule of thumb.

[@gulabrathod4484]

Wonderful vedeo explaing the various aspects of slav defence. This will certainly enrich the amateur players. Thank you very much. ❤

[@Dr.CansClinic]

So motivating to hear your kind thoughts. Thank you ❤️

[@chimbiepaladin4629]

I've been looking for an opening for 1.d4. You have inspired me to pick up the slav in earnest. Your opening video are as good as the rest of your vids

[@Dr.CansClinic]

That is amazing to hear, thank you so much! Good luck with the Slav!

[@educatorul]

+1 I really enjoy it. Sounds like an incredible idea this series of openings explained

[@Dr.CansClinic]

So happy hearing it! 🙏

[@reneepaz8077]

The best ever on teaching about an opening, concentrating on the "WHYs" instead of the "WHAT". I learned a lot, even implemented some of the ideas shown on the video in my game. By telling the reason why certain moves are played, why they are good or bad, helps a lot in UNDERSTANDING the ideas/principles of an openings instead of just memorizing it. Dr. Can you are the Awesomest Maximus of chess coaches, please continue your great work, if I have you as my teacher during my younger years, I could have been at least an IM, as always thank you.

[@Dr.CansClinic]

I am so honored to hear your humbling feedback ❤️ It is really beautiful that my efforts for good instruction are well received. Thank you!

[@monkeyman15387]

Thank you Dr. Can! Your videos have helped me improve my middle game drastically. I am super excited to improve my opening knowledge as well!

[@Dr.CansClinic]

So motivating to hear that, thank you! I will do my best ☺️

[@robwilliams3592]

Enjoyable learning video... Been interested in the Slav for awhile Finally got a chance via your instructive video... Thx

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Glad you enjoyed it! Thank you so much 🙏

[@MYCHESSIMPROVEMENT]

I LOVE THIS CAN'T WAIT FOR THE NEXT VIDEOS ON SLAV DEFENSE. I DECIDED TO SWITCH TO MY QGD FOR SLAV RECENTLY.

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Nice to hear that I converted you :) I am considering to create a course on it.

[@amp2amp800]

Love this! I usually play d4 as white hoping for a queen's gambit accepted, and have encountered the slav many times (without associating the name). So the patterns and play here are familiar and its very helpful to see black's ideas (and traps for white, I've also walked into a few!) being so clearly explained.

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Beautiful feedback, thank you!

[@dalente]

I loved this video! Very nice to understand the basic ideas of the opening. So many of this videos and courses are based on memorization solely, when I find much easier to memorize anything once you understand the principles behind it. Please make this a series!

[@dalente]

Btw, I usually go for the QGD, but now I’m thinking about giving Slav a chance

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Lovely feedback, thank you so much ❤️

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Please do! :)

[@pakasokoste]

I'm creating a study of this awesome new opening video, and noticed (well, stockfish told me) that at 26:21 - black actually has rook takes bishop followed by queen takes knight and black is on -4.9 eval. Wow!

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Thanks for mentioning it! I only gave the general ideas but concretely g4 does not seem to work at that particular moment! Good to know those tactical patterns! :) Good luck with the Slav!

[@kaalad3666]

This is excellent! The slav is the first opening I'm trying to actually learn and I love your explanation of the reason and strategy behind both specific moves and the overall strategy of the opening. Hoping you can do a video on the queen's gambit next!

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Amazing to hear it, thank you! I will consider the QGD :)

[@anthonymicle7559]

24:29 i saw this as this is the position most often get in french

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Great that you manage to trade off the terrible French bishop on c8 then :)

[@vincentsoo1634]

Love this series please make more on different principled logical openings for both white and black!!

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Thank you for your kind feedback. 🙏

[@salemtv5808]

Thank you so much i was just thinking about ditching the slav and go for the Budapest…this amazing video specially with the new idea of dxe4 cemented this opening for me…

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Lovely to hear it! Good luck with taking the Slav!

[@par72g]

Amazing, totally loved this why's of the Slav, you make it so easy to understand. Looking forward to more followup videos and how about a Chessable course ?? I know there are few on the Slav already but this could be aimed more at the beginner level, call it the Whys of the Slav , thank you so much .🙏

[@Dr.CansClinic]

So glad to hear your thoughts! Thank you. I will consider your opening course idea ☺️

[@nimzo2000]

Excellent video! This is one of my favorite chess channels. Super instructive.

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Amazing to hear it, thank you so much 🙏 For some reason the algorithm is not showing my videos to new people, so please do not hesitate sharing the channel with your chess friends and other chess platforms.

[@MarpleExpress]

Really well explained video. Looking forward to the follow up! Thanks

[@Dr.CansClinic]

I am very happy hearing your feedback, thanks!

[@PepJuice]

Thank you Doc. Your advices will be useful to me.

[@Dr.CansClinic]

So nice to hear that, thanks!

[@houssamnaji-o7m]

Your are smart honestly ,Thank you for those great explications ,keep going

[@Dr.CansClinic]

So nice of you, will go on!

[@coubre]

I love this video. Truly great work. A must watch

[@Dr.CansClinic]

:) Amazing to hear it. For some reason, the algorithm does not show my videos to new people, so please do not hesitate sharing the channel with your chess friends 🙏

[@newstatejim]

This is so good..now i know the whhhhhyyyyy! Much more fun than memorising moves! Thanks Can 👍

[@Dr.CansClinic]

My pleasure!!

[@prabeeswergandhivivekanand8911]

Great video, like your other videos, slav opening video also provides a lot of insights and great learning experience. Please request you to do 1.e4 openings video as well for beginners.

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Thank you for your kind feedback 🙏 1. e4 is a jungle, but I will keep that in mind (perhaps a more specific variation).

[@rogernilsson2254]

I like this video very much. Have watched it several times. Keep up the good work.

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Glad you liked it! You can revisit it again later, trying to find the moves yourself before I show them on the board.

[@basilisperis4651]

Dr Can , thanks for all !!! Next carro kan please !!

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Thank you so much! Have you checked my video on whether Caro Kann is a good opening for you? :)

[@stevesidare2493]

Very understandable!

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Happy to hear it 🙏

[@briandwi2504]

Superb Slav lesson.

[@Dr.CansClinic]

🙏

[@feliou]

Great video

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Thank you so much 🙏

[@davidstrachan8912]

Great video. Have you done any others on Slav? Thanks

[@Dr.CansClinic]

My pleasure! You may like this one too: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gWeygYR3j79pa6s

[@anthonyjaglal]

Excellenc video 💯👏🎉am a slav player myself because of the understandable logic, but i still learnt something new 🎉the knight trap 💥i usually accept a double pawn on f5 and ues. It as an outpost square,but i like the bishop to e4 an trapping the dim knight😅 great idea 👏👏👏

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Excellent! Thank you so much for your feedback! The art of burying pieces!

[@wrathofpunjabi]

Opening courses sell a lot more on chessable. I would purchase if u made one. Incredible explanations delivered with passion!!!

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Such motivating words! I will seriously consider making a Slav course after your kind words.

[@docforest4851]

Ive been thinking of adding the Slav because I like the stability of the London. I think the Slav would give me a solid opening for black, and I love your opening salvo into it.

[@Vinterfader]

That is a great idea, I play the slav and used to play London before (now the Catalan, but it is much more complex). You get used to the structures and pawn breaks. Also the Caro Kann gives you similar pawn structures (against 1.e4).

[@Dr.CansClinic]

They are surely compatible with the London. Good luck!

[@vivekdahiya9297]

You are a great teacher Dr. Can, want to meet you someday my friend.🤝🏻

[@Dr.CansClinic]

❤️ Thank you so much dear friend. Hope we can meet one day. The world is small, chess world is even smaller.

[@tigerspaw]

Terrific video. Please do a follow up.

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Great to hear that, will seriously consider it!

[@SachinKumar-rd3zd]

Very nice sir carry on

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Many many thanks 🙏

[@PeterBoelen-c3t]

Nice one Doc, clear explanation on Slav defence, usually play Sicilian, need to learn Slav after d4 play, still around 1500, getting there. Any videos on white opening ? 😉

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Thanks a lot! Slav is good, solid and principled. We like the underdog, thus the emphasis on Black openings so far :)

[@GaryWalters-tk2lp]

Really enjoyed this episode, especially as a beginner, as I still haven't choosen an opening repitoir for black, or white to be honest (would love to see a follow up video from whites perspective on the Catalan, as this was an opening I really liked the look of as it seems to have so many options for either side, making for such diversity and interesting positional play for both sides, I seem to favour those type of positions, however, after watching your episode when you played against this opening as black I've never dared play it!) A very nice introduction to the slav defence, not an opening I'd even considered but may well give this a go, thank you for your insight 👍

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Fantastic to hear your thoughts, thank you! Please give it a go and keep me updated on your future progress!

[@GaryWalters-tk2lp]

​@@Dr.CansCliniccan I ask in the position where white has the threat of Ng5 and you showed our response prior which makes sense, so either h6 or Be7 to cover the g5 square why we shouldn't in this case play f6 to cover that square and use the pawn break rather than defending?

[@Dr.CansClinic]

@@GaryWalters-tk2lp Thanks! I belive we don't yet want to weaken the e6-pawn. White can go Re1 and fxe5 Nxe5 Nxe5 Rxe5 will put pressure on e6.

[@GaryWalters-tk2lp]

@@Dr.CansClinic Thank you for this, I can see why it's not as safe now you've kindly explained, I think with all the great lessons you've been producing I'm trying to look for multi purpose moves or forcing replays and I'm sometimes forgetting that a simple defensive move is all that's required at times, thanks again for taking the time to explain 👍

[@Dr.CansClinic]

@@GaryWalters-tk2lp My pleasure! Please keep on asking!

[@MrGrandChess]

🎉Nice. Please make a video on the bishops oppening.

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Thank you! I will consider your idea :)

[@anderson4922]

Amazing video

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Thank you :)

[@dragosantrach6283]

Great oppenings start. Please continue with other oppenings to this level. Then, series 2 can be for the intermediate level players, some of them graduates of newbie level.❤

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Thanks for the feedback ❤️ Will surely consider it.

[@Henry_Martin]

I am confused and don't know what to do when my opponents play 3. Bf4 or 3. Bg5 or 3. Be3 or 3. Bd2 Basically when they develop their dark squared bishop on move 3...

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Then there is nothing wrong with following principled moves such as ...Bf5 + ...e6 and achieve a very solid and sound position.

[@georgechernev3435]

best video on the slav. So underrated

[@Dr.CansClinic]

So humbled to read your comment. I would really appreciate if you share this video so it can reach more people 🙏

[@Raskolnikov-g7h]

Can bey çok iyi olmuş gerçekten Slav incelemeniz, lütfen biraz daha çok ele alınız açılış ve buna bağlı yapılanmaları , teşekkürler :)

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Cok tesekkur ederim. Acilis videolari cok fazla yapiliyor, ama yine de devam edecegim bu seriye.

[@Raskolnikov-g7h]

@@Dr.CansClinic , evet açılış videoları fazla yapılıyor, ama sizin ele alış biçiminiz gibi değil, İngilizcem kısıtlı olmasına rağmen daha çok yararlanıyorum sizin videolarınızdan, sahi hiç Türkçe yayın yapmayı düşündünüz mü ? Keşke olabilseydi, tekrar teşekkürler, iyilikler...

[@edwardagarwala]

I play the Caro Kann against e5, and I find the Slav often leads to similar pawn structures and queenside play. I used to suffer under 1. d5 until I got into the Slav.

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Absolutely, there are structural similarities.

[@hossainmahi3559]

Please more on Slav!

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Perhaps even a course? :)

[@hossainmahi3559]

@@Dr.CansClinic Yes please!

[@andrejennings1577]

Good Afternoon...just invested in your Art of Exchanging Pieces...I enjoy your courses ❤...WHY!? 😂

[@Dr.CansClinic]

That is amazing to hear sir! So motivating. Please ask me anything while you get better at piece trades ❤️ And don't forget to ask the "WHYY?" question!

[@kumagoro]

you get even better❤

[@Dr.CansClinic]

❤️ Always striving to improve!

[@athelover]

You are a phantastic teacher! Thank you so much. Which is your best course to buy for a player with about 1500 elo (blitz only 1000)?

[@Dr.CansClinic]

That is so nice to hear, thank you! I would suggest The Art of Exchanging Pieces for 1500 ELO (otb). Fundamental Chess Calculation Skills would also be good.

[@athelover]

@@Dr.CansClinic Just bought "The Art of Exchanging Pieces". I am really courios. Thanks again!

[@Dr.CansClinic]

@@athelover Thank you so very much!! Please leave a review after studying it! :)

[@KikanKikan-wb1wr]

Few years a go I learn slav defense,I already forgot the line ,Now I learn hindu The line I get is 1.d4 ,d5 2.c4 , c6 3.Nf3, dxc4 4.e3 , Nd7 also solid avoid white Qb3

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Interesting! Thanks for sharing.

[@KikanKikan-wb1wr]

In minute 27.21 if white move Ne5 follow by f4 and rook lift maybe what would you do Sir

[@Dr.CansClinic]

...Bb4 followed by dominating the e4-outpost look good.

[@KikanKikan-wb1wr]

Thanks Sir

[@Kenjitsuka]

Will you have a Slav Chessable course soon?

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Started working on it yesterday :)

[@sonat2008]

Is this not the same as caro kann but you are basically rescting different because there is no e4

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Structural similarity indeed exists between Slav and Caro. But they are not the same.

[@anthonyjaglal]

I own 4 books on slav never came across the Knight trap😅🎉

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Glad to have helped you learn a pattern!

[@Sepehrc79]

i just find a good online chess coach 😎👍

[@Dr.CansClinic]

I am glad to hear that 😎 Please also check my Chessable courses for more intense training and consolidating these lessons 🙏

[@greatdanelegend7001]

At what level do you think one should start memorizing some theory? And what would be the best way to go about it?

[@Dr.CansClinic]

It will probably differ from coach to coach, and some players really love studying openings, so we should not stop them. But generally I would say 1200-1400 is the good time. It is because basic processes have already developed at this level, such as tactical awareness and not hanging pieces frequently. Then they can benefit from memorizing moves to get comfortable middlegames. Spaced repetition is good for memorizing pretty much everything.

[@greatdanelegend7001]

@Dr.CansClinic yeah that makes sense. I'm 1300 OTB now but probably slightly underrated. So it might be a good time to start learning openings