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How to play the Slav Defense

How to play the Slav Defense

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ZanderVanHornRdrgz
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The Slav Defense begins after 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6

This is one of the best ways to decline the Queen's Gambit(1. d4 d5 2. c4), as you're not giving the opportunity to your opponent to trade a wing pawn for a central pawn, like in the standard Queen's Gambit Declined.

The main setup is where they bring their knight to f3 after c6, and we play Nf6. After they play Nc3 we have a choice, the Semi-Slav or the Open Slav. We can play the Semi-Slav with e6, or play the Open Slav with dxc4. 

The Semi-Slav is the best choice(according to computers), with e6, so I will go over that.. If they take your pawn now, of all times, recapture with the c-pawn to make room for the knight. If they play best move, Bg5 pinning the knight, play h6. If the bishop takes recapture with the queen. If Bh4, we play Be7 to stop the pin. After they move, for example playing e3, we castle.

From here we play natural moves, like the knight to d7, and a fianchetto of the light-squared bishop. If they move their light-squared bishop, we can take their c-pawn to make it move again if they haven't already traded. If they trade, take with your c-pawn if your b1-knight has not been developed. If your b1-knight has developed, take with the e-pawn so your bishop can try getting out.

After we get to this position there are a few more options for white:

If they play g3, play g6, this should transpose into the Schlechter Variation. Their best move is Nc3(Bg2 hangs the c-pawn), where we will take their c-pawn and play Bf5.

If they play Bf4 we take their c-pawn. If they try winning it back with e3, play b5. 

Same thing if Bg5. We take the c-pawn and if hey take our knight, recapture with the e-pawn. If they play e3/e4 play b5. This works even if they don't take the knight.

If e3 is played, Bf5 is best. If Nc3, play e6 to open the other bishop. If they play Nh4 to attack your bishop take their knight on b1, and then play e6.

Last one, Nbd2. This defends the c-pawn. We play Bf5, standard development, and if they attack it with Nh4, move it to e3(Be3).

Okay, this one is truly the last one. Plus, it's really simple. The Exchange Variation. You just develop normally in this one.

That's truly the Slav Defense. Those last few ones are somewhat irrelevant, but it doesn't hurt to know them. Good luck with this opening!openings