Slav Defense: Exchange Variation

Slav Defense: Exchange Variation is a chess opening with the ECO code D10, part of the Slav Defense family. It goes 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. cxd5. White opens with 1. d4 (the queen's pawn) and Black answers 1... d5. After 5 moves it is Black to move. After the last move White is a pawn ahead in material. The lesson on the board explains every move of the line and lets you play it yourself; it is free.

The moves

• 1. d4 – White plays the pawn to d4
• 1... d5 – Black plays the pawn to d5
• 2. c4 – White plays the pawn to c4
• 2... c6 – Black plays the pawn to c6
• 3. cxd5 – White captures on d5 with the c-pawn

In chessGM's opening book this position continues with 3... cxd5.

About the Slav Defense

After 1.d4 d5 2.c4, Black defends d5 with 2...c6. Unlike the QGD, the light-squared bishop can come out to f5 or g4.

• Black often takes on c4 with ...dxc4 and later plays ...Bf5 and ...e6.
• White often stops ...b5 with a4 and wins the c4 pawn back.
• The pawn structure is very solid; Black later frees with ...c5 or ...e5.

chessGM has a full course for this line: open the Slav Defense: Exchange Variation course lesson.

Related openings

• It extends: Slav Defense (1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6)
• Continues with: Slav Defense: Exchange Variation, Boor Attack – adds 3... cxd5 4. Nc3 Nf6 5. f3
• Continues with: Slav Defense: Exchange Variation, Symmetrical Line – adds 3... cxd5 4. Nc3 Nf6 5. Nf3
• Related line: Slav Defense: Diemer Gambit (1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. e4)
• Related line: Slav Defense: Exchange Variation, Boor Attack (1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. cxd5 cxd5 4. Nc3 Nf6 5. f3)
• Related line: Slav Defense (1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 dxc4)
• Related line: Slav Defense: Slav Gambit, Alekhine Attack (1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 dxc4 4. e4)
• Related line: Slav Defense (1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3)
• Related line: Slav Defense: Winawer Countergambit (1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 e5)

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