Openings Guide / 1.d4 — Closed and Semi-Closed Games
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6
The Slav Defense is one of the most solid responses to the Queen's Gambit. By playing 2...c6, Black supports the d5-pawn without blocking the c8-bishop — a key improvement over the Queen's Gambit Declined. It's been a weapon for Anand, Kramnik, Aronian, and many other elite players.
The Slav leads to a wide variety of positions. The Semi-Slav (3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Nf3 e6) leads to the famous Meran and Moscow Variations. The Chebanenko Slav (with ...a6) is a modern approach creating queenside counterplay.
| Variation | Moves |
|---|---|
| Semi-Slav | 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Nf3 e6 5.Bg5 |
| Meran Variation | 5.e3 Nbd7 6.Bd3 dxc4 7.Bxc4 |
| Chebanenko Slav | ...a6 |
| Botvinnik Variation | 5.Bg5 dxc4 6.e4 b5 7.e5 |