Slav Defense
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 · ECO D10–D19 · 52 named lines
How do you reach the Slav Defense?
The Slav Defense arises after 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6. Along the way the game passes through Queen's Pawn Game → Queen's Gambit → Slav Defense, which is why you will see those names on the way into it. Transpositions reaching the same position by a different move order are counted as the same opening on this page.
What do club players choose at the decision point?
One move earlier, 47,010 club games reached the position where the Slav Defense is chosen. This is what players rated 1200–2200 actually played:
| Move | Share | Games | |
|---|---|---|---|
| e6 | 26% | 12,341 | |
| dxc4 | 20% | 9,607 | |
| c6 | 19% | 8,923 | |
| Nf6 | 18% | 8,347 |
How does play continue from here?
| Move | Share | Games | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nc3 | 56% | 7,380 | |
| Nf3 | 17% | 2,221 | |
| cxd5 | 14% | 1,918 | |
| e3 | 8% | 1,099 |
From 13,284 club games at 1200–2200, Lichess, July 2026.
The main line, move by move
- 1. d4 — the position is now the Queen's Pawn Game
- 1... d5 — the position is now the Queen's Pawn Game
- 2. c4 — the position is now the Queen's Gambit
- 2... c6 — the position is now the Slav Defense
The main variations of the Slav Defense
Related openings: Queen's Gambit Declined · Queen's Gambit Accepted
Data updated 9 August 2026. Game sample: Lichess July 2026, rating band 1200–2200. Opening names and lines: lichess-org/chess-openings (CC0).