Queen's Gambit Accepted: Slav Gambit

Before the first move

The Slav Gambit is a provocative and sharp way to handle the Queen's Gambit Accepted. By capturing on c4 and immediately defending the pawn with b5, you challenge White to prove their central control is worth the material deficit. It leads to unbalanced, tactical battles where both sides must play with great precision.

1. d4White

White begins with d4, the most common alternative to the king's pawn opening. This move establishes a firm foothold in the center and avoids many of the immediate tactical skirmishes found in e4 openings.

1... d5Black · your move

Move your pawn to d5. By mirroring White's move, you prevent them from occupying the entire center with e4 and set the stage for a classical confrontation in the queen's pawn opening.

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 willing to sacrifice a pawn temporarily to gain central control. White could also choose the London System with Bf4 or the Chigorin Variation with Nc3, but c4 remains the most testing line.

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

2... dxc4Black · your move

Capture the pawn on c4. This is the Queen's Gambit Accepted. You are taking the material and challenging White to find a way to win it back while you focus on your own development.

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, the most common and flexible response. This prevents the immediate e5 break from Black. White could also try e3 to attack c4 immediately, or the more aggressive e4, known as the Saduleto Variation, to seize the full center.

Other paths here: Nc3 (QGA: 3.Nc3) · Qa4+ (Queen's Gambit Accepted: Accelerated Mannheim Variation) · e3 (Queen's Gambit Accepted: Old Variation) · e4 (Queen's Gambit Accepted: Saduleto Variation)

3... b5Black · your move

Push your pawn to b5. This is the Slav Gambit. You are stubbornly defending your extra pawn on c4 and daring White to find a way through your queenside structure. It is a high-stakes commitment.

Other paths here: Bg4 (QGA: 3.Nf3 Bg4) · Nd7 (Queen's Gambit Accepted: Godes Variation) · c5 (Queen's Gambit Accepted: Gunsberg Defense) · e6 (Queen's Gambit Accepted: Rosenthal Variation)

Where you stand

The position is now highly tactical. Black is up a pawn but has created potential weaknesses on the queenside. White will likely strike with a4 to undermine the pawn chain. Black must be prepared to defend c4 and b5 with moves like c6, while White will look to use their superior development to launch a central or kingside attack.

• a2-a4 Undermine the b5 pawn chain immediately
• c7-c6 Solidify the b5 pawn and queenside
• b1-c3 Develop the knight to pressure b5
• c8-b7 Fianchetto the bishop to control the diagonal