1h2g3f4e5d6c7b8a

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6

Shown from Black's side. ECO D10.

Opening guide · an opening for Black

Slav Defense

The Slav Defense starts 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6. Black supports the d5 pawn with the c pawn, so the bishop on c8 is not shut in as it is after 2...e6. Black often takes on c4 later and tries to hold the pawn with ...b5. It is one of the most solid defences to the Queen's Gambit.

Games in our sample
32,920
White wins
50.9%
Draws
5.0%
Black wins
44.1%
Open this position on the analysis boardResults by rating

How the Slav Defense scores at each rating

Each row is one rating band. The share is how much of all the games in that band started with this opening.

RatingGamesShareWhite winsDrawsBlack wins
under 10006080.3%50.0%2.6%47.4%
1000 to 11991,6150.5%49.2%3.8%47.0%
1200 to 13992,9070.6%52.3%3.5%44.2%
1400 to 15995,1460.8%51.9%3.8%44.3%
1600 to 17997,5361.2%50.8%4.1%45.1%
1800 to 19998,1081.6%50.6%5.4%44.0%
2000 to 21994,7831.8%51.5%6.3%42.1%
2200 and over2,2172.0%48.2%9.6%42.3%
All ratings32,9201.0%50.9%5.0%44.1%

Counted from 3,156,949 rated blitz, rapid and classical games played on Lichess from 2026-10-01 to 2026-10-02 (the first 5,000,000 games of the month's public file; bullet and unrated games left out). The rating is the average of the two players' Lichess ratings. Source: the Lichess open database (public domain).

Main lines

The named lines of the Slav Defense that were played most in our sample, each with the position it reaches.

  • 1h2g3f4e5d6c7b8a

    Exchange Variation

    1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. cxd5

    4,844 games · White 50.4% · draws 5.5% · Black 44.0%

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  • 1h2g3f4e5d6c7b8a

    Modern Line

    1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3

    3,898 games · White 53.3% · draws 4.8% · Black 41.9%

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  • 1h2g3f4e5d6c7b8a

    Three Knights Variation

    1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3

    3,561 games · White 54.5% · draws 5.1% · Black 40.4%

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  • 1h2g3f4e5d6c7b8a

    Quiet Variation, Schallopp Defense

    1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 Bf5

    1,783 games · White 48.6% · draws 5.2% · Black 46.2%

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  • 1h2g3f4e5d6c7b8a

    Quiet Variation, Pin Defense

    1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 Bg4

    1,062 games · White 50.2% · draws 5.9% · Black 43.9%

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  • 1h2g3f4e5d6c7b8a

    Slav Gambit, Alekhine Attack

    1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 dxc4 4. e4

    895 games · White 53.1% · draws 4.0% · Black 42.9%

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Ideas for White

  • Develop with Nf3 and Nc3. If Black takes on c4, a4 stops ...b5 and the pawn is won back.

Ideas for Black

  • Bring the bishop to f5 or g4 before ...e6.

Questions

What are the moves of the Slav Defense?
1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6. In the ECO classification it is filed under D10.
How does the Slav Defense score?
In 32,920 games with it in our sample, White won 50.9%, 5.0% were drawn and Black won 44.1%.
At which ratings is the Slav Defense played most?
Among players rated 2200 and over it is 2.0% of all games in our sample, its highest share. Its lowest share, 0.3%, is among players rated under 1000.
Which line of the Slav Defense is played most?
Slav Defense: Exchange Variation (1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. cxd5), with 4,844 games in our sample.

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