Slav Defense (2. c4 c6)
1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6
The Slav Defense is a chess opening classified as ECO D10, reached after 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6. White is to move. 4 named lines continue from this position.
In 12.6 million rated Lichess games (blitz and slower), this position was reached 96,030 times by this move order. White won 51%, 5% were drawn and Black won 44%. The most popular continuation is 3. Nc3 (54% of games).
Engine evaluation: +0.21 (Stockfish, depth 61; best line 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. e3 a6)
- ECO
- D10
- Moves
- 4 plies
- FEN
rnbqkbnr/pp2pppp/2p5/3p4/2PP4/8/PP2PPPP/RNBQKBNR w KQkq - 0 3- PGN
1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6
Analyse with Stockfish · Board image (SVG) · Open on Lichess
Results by rating
| Average rating | Games | White / draw / Black |
|---|---|---|
| 0-1499 | 21,165 | |
| 1500-1999 | 55,028 | |
| 2000+ | 19,837 | |
| All | 96,030 |
Most played moves
| Move | Games | White / draw / Black |
|---|---|---|
| 3. Nc3 Slav Defense (2… c6 3. Nc3) | 51,706 (54%) | |
| 3. Nf3 Modern Line (2… c6 3. Nf3) | 19,447 (20%) | |
| 3. cxd5 Exchange Variation (2… c6 3. cxd5) | 11,040 (11%) | |
| 3. e3 | 8,167 (9%) | |
| 3. Bf4 | 1,567 (2%) | |
| 3. c5 | 1,482 (2%) | |
| 3. g3 | 974 (1%) | |
| 3. e4 Diemer Gambit | 274 (0%) |
Master games
2,914 over-the-board games are classified under this line (White 42%, draw 27%, Black 31%). The strongest:
- GM Magnus Carlsen (2863) – GM Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (2778) 1-0 · Carlsen Inv Prelim · 2020-04-24
- GM Magnus Carlsen (2863) – GM Jan-Krzysztof Duda (2757) 1-0 · 8th Norway Chess 2020 · 2020-10-11
- GM Magnus Carlsen (2830) – GM Alireza Firouzja (2763) 0-1 · CCT Final Playoff 2023 · 2023-12-12
- GM Magnus Carlsen (2830) – GM Alireza Firouzja (2763) 1-0 · CCT Final Playoff 2023 · 2023-12-12
- GM Yuriy Kuzubov (2639) – GM Magnus Carlsen (2864) 1-0 · Solidarity NOR-UKR Match · 2022-04-23
Highest-rated Lichess games
- NM Andrey11976 (2808) – GM sillyMASTER (2855) 1-0 · 2026-09-03 · 180 + 0s
- GM gmbrewchess (3001) – ChessStudyZone (2612) 1-0 · 2026-09-03 · 180 + 0s
- GM AtalikS (2642) – GM xiaochess (2934) 0-1 · 2026-09-03 · 180 + 0s
Comes from
Queen's Gambit 1. d4 d5 2. c4
Continuations
- Slav Defense (2… c6 3. Nc3) D10 · 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3
- Slav Defense: Diemer Gambit D10 · 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. e4
- Slav Defense: Exchange Variation (2… c6 3. cxd5) D10 · 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. cxd5
- Slav Defense: Modern Line (2… c6 3. Nf3) D11 · 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3
More Slav Defense lines (all)
- Slav Defense (3. Nc3 dxc4) D10
- Slav Defense: Exchange Variation, Boor Attack D10
- Slav Defense: Slav Gambit, Alekhine Attack D10
- Slav Defense: Winawer Countergambit D10
- Slav Defense: Winawer Countergambit, Anti-Winawer Gambit D10
- Slav Defense: Bonet Gambit D11
- Slav Defense: Breyer Variation D11
- Slav Defense: Modern Line (5. Bg2 g6) D11
- Slav Defense: Modern Line (5… e6 6. O-O) D11
- Slav Defense: Modern Line (5… Nbd7 6. c4) D11
- Slav Defense: Quiet Variation D11
- Slav Defense: Quiet Variation, Pin Defense D11
Opening names and moves from the Lichess openings dataset; statistics from the Lichess open database, 2026-09 (CC0), sample of 12.6 million games, bots excluded; evaluations from Lichess cloud analysis (all CC0). Master games from The Week in Chess #920–#1664 by Mark Crowther, used with permission.