Slav Defense: Czech Variation
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 dxc4 5.a4 Bf5 · ECO D17–D19 · 13 named lines
How do you reach the Czech Variation?
The Slav Defense: Czech Variation arises after 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 dxc4 5.a4 Bf5. Along the way the game passes through Queen's Pawn Game → Queen's Gambit → Slav Defense → Slav Defense: Modern Line → Slav Defense: Three Knights Variation → Slav Defense: Two Knights Attack → Slav Defense: Alapin Variation → Slav Defense: Czech Variation, 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.
How does play continue from here?
| Move | Share | Games | |
|---|---|---|---|
| e3 | 49% | 38 | |
| Bg5 | 22% | 17 | |
| Ne5 | 13% | 10 | |
| Bf4 | 9% | 7 |
From 78 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
- 3. Nf3 — the position is now the Slav Defense: Modern Line
- 3... Nf6
- 4. Nc3 — the position is now the Slav Defense: Three Knights Variation
- 4... dxc4 — the position is now the Slav Defense: Two Knights Attack
- 5. a4 — the position is now the Slav Defense: Alapin Variation
- 5... Bf5 — the position is now the Slav Defense: Czech Variation
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).