Slav Defense: Smyslov Variation

Before the first move

The Slav Defense is one of Black's most reliable responses to the Queen's Gambit. In the Smyslov Variation, you temporarily accept the pawn on c4 to disrupt White's center, then use your knight on a6 to challenge White's spatial advantage on the queenside while preparing to develop your light-squared bishop.

1. d4White

White starts with d4, the Queen's Pawn Game. This is the most popular alternative to the King's Pawn Opening, leading to more positional and strategic struggles. Black has many ways to respond, including the King's Indian or the Nimzo-Indian.

1... d5Black · your move

Push your pawn to d5. By matching White's central presence, you prevent White from playing e4 and establish a solid foothold in the heart of the board.

Other paths here: Na6 (Australian Defense) · g5 (Borg Defense: Borg Gambit) · b6 (English Defense) · e5 (Englund Gambit)

2. c4White

White plays c4, the signature move of the Queen's Gambit. White is already putting pressure on your central d5-pawn. You could ignore it with e6 or even try the Chigorin Defense with Nc6, but today we are looking at the Slav.

Other paths here: Qd3 (Amazon Attack) · e4 (Blackmar-Diemer Gambit) · e3 (Queen's Pawn Game) · Bf4 (Queen's Pawn Game: Accelerated London System)

2... c6Black · your move

Slide your pawn to c6. This move defines the Slav Defense. Unlike the Queen's Gambit Declined, you support your center without blocking in your light-squared bishop on c8.

Other paths here: c5 (Queen's Gambit Declined: Austrian Defense) · Bf5 (Queen's Gambit Declined: Baltic Defense) · Nf6 (Queen's Gambit Declined: Marshall Defense) · b5 (Queen's Gambit Declined: Zilbermints Gambit)

3. Nf3White

White plays Nf3, which is the most common and flexible development. This avoids some of the sharper lines of the Exchange Variation or the Diemer Gambit, focusing instead on long-term pressure and piece coordination.

Other paths here: Nc3 (Slav Defense) · e4 (Slav Defense: Diemer Gambit) · cxd5 (Slav Defense: Exchange Variation) · Bf4 (Slav: 3.Bf4)

3... Nf6Black · your move

Bring your knight to f6. You develop a piece toward the center, prepare for castling, and add a second defender to your vital d5-pawn.

Other paths here: Bf5 (Slav: 3.Nf3 Bf5) · Bg4 (Slav: 3.Nf3 Bg4) · dxc4 (Slav: 3.Nf3 dxc4) · e6 (Semi-Slav Defense: Chigorin Defense)

4. Nc3White

White plays Nc3, putting maximum pressure on the center. White has many alternatives here, such as the Breyer Variation with Nbd2 or the Quiet Variation with e3, but the text move is the most testing.

Other paths here: Bg5 (Slav Defense: Bonet Gambit) · Nbd2 (Slav Defense: Breyer Variation) · e3 (Slav Defense: Quiet Variation) · Qb3 (Slav: 4.Qb3)

4... dxc4Black · your move

Capture the pawn on c4. By taking now, you force White to spend time regaining the pawn, which allows you to develop your pieces more freely in the coming moves.

Other paths here: a6 (Slav Defense: Chebanenko Variation) · g6 (Slav Defense: Schlechter Variation) · Qb6 (Slav Defense: Süchting Variation) · Bf5 (Slav: 4.Nc3 Bf5)

5. a4White

White plays a4 to stop you from defending the c4-pawn with b5. This is the main line, though White sometimes tries the Geller Gambit with e4 or the Alekhine Variation with e3 to regain the pawn faster.

Other paths here: e3 (Slav Defense: Alekhine Variation) · e4 (Slav Defense: Geller Gambit) · Ne5 (Slav: Accepted, 5.Ne5)

5... Na6Black · your move

Develop your knight to a6. This is the Smyslov Variation. Your knight is headed to b4 where it will harass White's position and support your own queenside counterplay.

Other paths here: e6 (Slav Defense: Soultanbeieff Variation) · Bg4 (Slav Defense: Steiner Variation) · Nd5 (Slav: 5.a4 Nd5) · a5 (Slav: Murey Variation)

Where you stand

The position is strategically rich. Black's knight on a6 is heading to b4 to pressure d3 and c2, while White will likely play e4 to seize the center. Both sides have clear targets: White wants to use their space to launch an attack, while Black aims to use the c4-pawn and active pieces to create counterplay on the queenside.

• a6-b4 Knight maneuvers to b4 to pressure c2
• e2-e4 White seizes the full center with e4
• c8-g4 Develop the bishop to pin the knight
• f1-c4 Bishop recaptures the pawn on c4