Chess Opening Theory/1. d4/1...d5/2. c4/2...c6/3. Nc3/3...dxc4

Slav Defence
a b c d e f g h 8 8 7 7 6 6 5 5 4 4 3 3 2 2 1 1 a b c d e f g h
Position in Forsyth-Edwards Notation (FEN) rnbqkbnr/pp2pppp/2p5/8/2pP4/2N5/PP2PPPP/R1BQKBNR w
Moves: 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 dxc4

3...dxc4

This move captures the gambit pawn. Since White's Knight on c3 is exposed to attacks by Black's b-pawn, black can often safely over-extend with moves like a6 and b5 to keep ahold of the c-pawn in this line. This move is lesser seen than the main line 3. Nf6. From here, white has several replies:

• e4 - The most common reply, White gains a significant space advantage in the center but White's c3 knight loses access to e4 as a retreating square.
• e3 - Slightly less common, White still advances in the center, but keeps the e4 square open for the c3 knight to retreat to.
• a4 - Uncommon, white prevents Black's ...b5, but allows black to fight in the center with e5. Black tends to do well in this variation.
• Nf3 - Uncommon, white focuses on development with their g1 knight.

There is a trap following 4.e3 b5, where the move 5. Nxb5?, trying to exploit the h1-a8 diagonal is a mistake which gives black the advantage after 5...cxb5 6.Qf3 Qc7! 7.Qxa8 Bb7 as white has to sacrifice material in order to avoid black winning the Queen.

Theory table

4	5	6	7	8
e3 b5	a4 b4	Ne4 Qd5	Nd2 c3	Bxc3 Bxc3	+/=
... ...	Nxb5? cxb5	Qf3 Qc7	Qxa8 Bb7	Qxa7 e5	-/+
e4 b5	a4 b4	Nb1 Ba6	Qc2 Qxd4	Nf3 Qb6	=
... ...	... ...	Na2 Nf6	e5 Nd5	Bxc4 e6	=
... ...	... ...	Nce2 e6	Nf3 Ba6	Bf4 Nf6	=
a4 e5	dxe5 Qxd1+	Kxd1 Be6	e4 Na6	f4 Rd8+	=
Nf3 b5	a4 b4	Ne4 Nf6	Nxf6+ exf6	e4 Qe7	=