Slav Defense Theory: Main Line

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The Slav Defense is one of the most common defenses to d4, more specifically, to the Queen’s Gambit (1. d4 d5 2. c4). White offers the c4 pawn in exchange for central control if it’s taken, and black has a choice to make. He can take it, accepting the gambit, or he can defend his d5 pawn which has been attacked with c4. Defending it with pawns is the only sensible option since playing Nf6, and allowing cxd5 Nxd5 would be met with e4, expanding in the center with tempo.
For an introduction to the opening, watch this video on the basics: • Introduction to the Sl...
The main line of the Slav Defense starts at the crossroads in the position which happens when white plays Nc3 on move 4. Black can now choose several different variations. The main line Slav is the move dxc4, taking the c4 pawn, and accepting the Queen’s Gambit with delay.
Black does this in order to be able to develop his c8 bishop before he plays e6 and closes it in without allowing white to play cxd5 and Qb3, which would be almost winning if black just went for Bf5 on move 4 (and if Bf5 worked the position would be strategically much better for black and chess theory would crumble).
White can respond to that plan in several different ways. The most common is simply playing a4, the Alapin variation. A4 has an obvious idea of preventing the move b5 from black, thus preventing the defense of the c4 pawn, which can be safely retaken later on.
Instead of a4, white has several quite different approaches to the position. Among them the most interesting ones are e4, the Geller Gambit, which is unsound but could lead to very exciting positions, and e3, the Alekhine Variation. The latter is very good for white because it leads to tactical positions which resemble a Semi-Slav, and in which every tempo counts!
The main line Slav is a very theory heavy opening. It will be hard to learn, and almost impossible to master due to the shear quantity of theory, but if you get good at it, you will have gained an extremely powerful weapon in your repertoire against d4.
#chess

[@nomekop777]

Nothing says chess like a 32 minute video and a 7 part playlist, all about the slav defense. I love this channel, community, and game

[@nicholasbrassard3512]

6:25 5.a4 Alapin variation - 8:08 13:07 5...Bf5 Czech variation (6.Nh5 14:05, 6.Ne5 16:35, 6.e3 20:20) - 10:20 5...e6 Soultanbeieff variation - 9:17 5...Bg4 Steiner variation - 11:30 5...Na6 Smyslov variation 22:00 5.e4 Geller Gambit 24:05 5.e3 Alekhine Variation 27:15 5.g3 29:12 5.Ne5

[@PP-mo8po]

Thanks!

[@joshuawilliamvontee9801]

thanks dude!!

[@joeperry42]

I'm a Slav player and I cannot tell you how often I come back to this video time and again - It is just such a fantastic resource. I just beat a 1945 player on Lichess in a game played in the slav- he was a better in the opening because I didn't know Qc7 in the 6. NxC4 variation of the Czech On my level (1700-1800 lichess) people almost universally either don't play A4, or they play it a move too late - I've not played a game that went more than six moves into the alapin theory. Unbelievable resource. I really love what you do.

[@BuggatiWeryon]

How have you progressed in your rating, have you learnt all the variations of the Slav by now? I just hate QGD, want to learn smth solid and think Slav would be the best against d4

[@ajfirecracker]

5... Ba6 wow Smyslov was quite the player! I can't even play that move

[@aryashetty3924]

lol

[@andreitiberiovicgazdovici]

Yeah, it is Na6

[@andreitiberiovicgazdovici]

Yeah, it is Na6

[@MrSharkpoet]

You think that's cool? Tal's variation is Ra6. Then he sacs it next move!

[@youricortat6176]

7:00 Rxa5 instead :) That's interesting, because I begin to understand why it is sometimes better to calculate moves without looking at the board and this one is a nice example.

[@eduardopereiraconcursos]

Bro, your channel is absolute amazing, please keep going.

[@tastybrain]

This is why I subscribe to HP. I’m only five minutes in, and I already know the key principle about the main line.

[@mauriziomarano1949]

It's an excellent introduction to the main line of Slav defence, thanks!

[@ethan073]

Excellent video, Stjepan! I have been studying this opening for a couple weeks and this is one of the best studies of the mainline I have seen. I think I agree with your Bf5 recommendation. Well done and thank you.

[@robevans3291]

Love the Ramones poster! And your chess knowledge!

[@squalematic]

I love your opening series! I think you're fantastic at breaking down complicated topics and explaining them in a highly understandable way. My favorite channel!

[@tazbod6723]

Great channel Tomic. You break things down clearly and thoroughly. Thank you.

[@kshitijagarwal6741]

Awesome video. Really looking forward to the Slav and Semi-Slavs using your vids.

[@Hybridman7]

Thanks for the superb coverage of this fascinating defense!

[@JosephLachh]

I really appreciate your videos. I'm a caro kann player and I needed a repertoire against the queens gambit. I really didn't want to spend money on a separate course, since I bought the Gothamchess caro course already. This proves helpful!

[@adriangutierrez2670]

Awesome explanation!

[@Ben1cinematographer]

Bro, your channel is absolute amazing, please keep going learning alot

[@henriquea4953]

That was a great explanation! Please, make a training game on the Czech variation

[@jeffic9249]

very thorough, great content!

[@chritty]

really a great resource for someone whose been wanting to learn the slav. thankyou

[@elena590]

What a perfect video and explanation. Thank you very much!!

[@rogt332]

Great videos and very well presented ....Thank you

[@andreitiberiovicgazdovici]

Thanks for this video, you helped me a lot! I Faced a lot the Alapin Variation with 5.a4 but Now i understand it! As you said, If you choose the "pure" slav there is a lot of theory, but i like this variation the most by far.

[@whiteF0x9091]

Great explanation !

[@s.v.2443]

Love this. Subscribed

[@VivekKumar-dk6xf]

Nicely described 👍

[@thomasdehee9626]

thank you so much, very instructive !

[@khaledelalmi2702]

Most underrated chess chanel on youtube... Thank you for all you do

[@Bjorneization]

Superb content. Thank you so much.

[@HangingPawns]

Glad you liked it!

[@ryandineen3344]

Excellent.. Thank you

[@jeremy7589]

genial ! Thanks you so much. I lost yesterday IRL vs 1955. I didn know the trick play in the opening.

[@kevinmurphy4595]

Hey man, keep up the great work here, I also have studied your Alekhines defense series as well and its been extremely helpful.I cant thank you enough for all you have done and are doing ! I will write the above address for a more detailed response. Cheers!

[@thecrazypanda7799]

I was wondering if you could find a way to force the gambit for this opening.. I like playing those positions. Thanks :)

[@jaypeezy2812]

Love how thorough you are with the openings/systems playlist. Just wanted to ask a question about the opening when the knight is on f6 and the pawns are on c4 and c6, would there be any advantage to putting the f6 knight on d5 to trade off the white knight and correct the pawn structure so that you don't have to play around the pawn weakness on c4? Or is it a ploy to move white pieces onto the queen side knowing you're going to want to castle king side and therefore making it more difficult for the white pieces to attack your king?

[@AlanTwoRings]

@31:23 you say that theory recommends 14...a5. I only have one game in my database after 13... f6 14. Nd3 and in that game (Faizrakhmanov - Baghdasaryan 2019-02-24) black played 14... Bd6. What are the games that you have in your database that play 14... a5. ? Which database do you use, and where can I download it? Thank you.

[@mohamedderghal9013]

Thank you sir

[@HangingPawns]

No problem:)

[@harshthakur7215]

@Hanging Pawns Can you please explain around 20:52 , why we cannot just go Bg4? Instead we're going Bg6 and then Bh5. Why waste a tempo?

[@lorenzboerger3955]

The best opening channel

[@Nature-of-reality]

Legend. Thanks.

[@WARDA475]

Thank you

[@ellenrevell9567]

There's a typo where it says 5...Ba6 Smyslov variation, where it should be 5...Na6 (see 11:40). Not sure how easy it is to fix this though?

[@nardtria]

thanks sir im gonna study slav defence.

[@calog2k]

Nice video

[@salihkubba4017]

you are the best in this my friend ..... much thanks to you from iraq

[@siddharthpathare2]

Best KZbin channel to learn channel if you are serious about chess.

[@KeepChessSimple]

Will you do the Tarrasch defense or is it too obscure?

[@tyronecunningham9894]

i like the explanation

[@cameronhendricks5967]

I transpose into this in the QGA after 1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. Nf3 c6 4. a4 Nf6 5. Nc3, but after watching this video and seeing how theoretical it is, I don't want to play 4... Nf6 anymore! Thanks for the content, even if I won't end up using it now lol

[@SamuelSmithJ]

this channel's like a non-cringy version of gothamchess.

[@smrtfasizmu6161]

13:00 Czech variation of the Alapin 22:00 Geller gambit (5. e4) 24:10 Alekhine variation (5. e3) 29:30 5. Ne5

[@jackson32]

With a4, white get a center pawn for a flank pawn in one move, and then gets a big center. Black gets his bishop outside the pawn chain in return for this. BUT, in the semi-slave, black takes on c4 at a better time and his white squared bishop later can turn into a monster on b7. A good example how chess is often not as simple as it seems even when you are making some logical decisions.

[@greisthomson]

11:35 [Mistake] 5...Na6 Smyslov Variation.

[@MrJohnnycampini]

thanks again ! merci ! good job as always ! weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

[@GM-AbuBakr]

Can this be accessed from the SLAV INDIAN that starts with d4 Nf6 . C4 C6.

[@areopag4980]

i love it how u aren t too focused on pushing one side and just show the most important things

[@Nick2014B]

How many moves does an average 1600 memorize I'm at 1350 on chess.com but haven't really memorized anything to significent, I mostly play the English because I like the positional approach as white but really gotta work on my black repertoire

[@michaelfortunato1860]

In the Alapin, 5.a4 b4 6.ab cb 7.Nxb5 Qa5+ is also not useful because there is no longer an a-pawn blocking the Rook on a1 ;-)

[@okeziikokeno6536]

Exactly my thought. I wondered why he said that for minutes rewinding and replaying to see if I was missing something. 👍

[@sirkann3810]

Why does white play nf3 first and not c3? Is there a particular reason?

[@barakap6230]

Are you gonna make a video about the semi slav?

[@adriangutierrez2670]

He has already done the semi slave videos

[@rayhoodoo847]

3:30 Why is B6 a weakening move?

[@jMSik]

14:45 after e5, wouldn't white just go for Bxc4 first? exd4 exd4 and white just gets an IQP position.

[@valiantbrian2162]

Nice Ramones poster

[@smrtfasizmu6161]

22:00 Geller gambit (5. e4)

[@smrtfasizmu6161]

13:00 Czech variation of the Alapin

[@kanchansarkar6100]

I am having one problem in main line slav that is 3.Nc3-Nf6 4. Bg5 now if i dont want the doubled pawn playing e6 or Nc6 will block my bishop. How to proceed?

[@kanchansarkar6100]

Can any one help on my question?

[@347Jimmy]

You could just continue with dxc If white takes your bishop, queen takes and you're both down a bishop with white still down a pawn But I'm no expert, so this may not be the best approach

[@tgwnn]

Too bad you didn't show that crazy bishop sac line! But great video anyway! Thanks

[@aadityabedi3140]

hey stjepan sir sir i am mistersinister786 just played with you on lichess you got the draw on time or else would have been a time out thanks for playing wid me

[@arcreehysteria9805]

very interresting, I'm super low elo (1400) but that was still very understandable

[@justpassing5324]

Are you a fan of The Ramones? :D Excellent videos by the way, kind sir.

[@smrtfasizmu6161]

24:10 Alekhine variation 5. e3

[@gg-qz2tb]

What's your opinion on e4 f5 the Duras gambit? can you make video like this about it ? I play durast gambit alot cause it looks aggressive for balck .

[@TheChessViking]

It's complete crap. It weakens the king and develops nothing, it's not aggressive, just bad.

[@gg-qz2tb]

@@TheChessViking lol i didn't expect that , alright gusee i gatta find another unusual opening for black that can make complection for white.

[@ajfirecracker]

-no depression- 1900 Maybe Alekhine's defense 1. Nf6, it can get quite sharp and is playable at a high level. Obviously the Sicilian tends to be the sharpest of major e4 openings but also the most played. You can also consider some French Defense setups that can become very sharp and theoretical

[@HangingPawns]

@@TheChessViking agreed

[@gg-qz2tb]

@@ajfirecracker yah i agree i will try Alekhine's defence

[@smrtfasizmu6161]

29:30 5. Ne5

[@tombruzo1494]

Its the thumbnail for me

[@aadityabedi3140]

what will be covered after slav defence

[@chimoinu]

Just commenting for the algorithm 😊

[@tastybrain]

I love this video, but from about 19:50 to 20:17 it just jumps through the moves so quickly I it is impossible (at least for me) to follow the reasoning. Please understand that my respect for Stiephan (spelling? sorry!) is immense and I just want to be constructive. Thanks!

[@jackson32]

The problem with the slav is that in the mainline, while it is hard for white to get anything, IF black really knows their theory, white has a long term advantage based on their space advantage, and if white plays decently there is a long process for black to just get equality and maybe a slight advantage, but that is about the best that black can hope for. So while appropriate for GM's who really know their stuff, for club players it is not as good as it's reputation as white does not have very many tricks or tactics to fall into, it is like the spanish torture, long term more space in a basically strategic defense. The only good thing about it is when white avoids a4 and plays e3 or e4.

[@AhmedKhaled-ol1rz]

23:15 bb7 not bb5

[@shahidchess1367]

Sir upload a one video opening for daily basis.

[@podunkest]

Sultanbeef.. sounds good to me bro. Lol

[@torrentialrage]

The salt bae variation?

[@bustaeick9663]

i loove your vdeos but you have a bad habbit of over explaning stop taking s much