Learn the Slav Defense
Black vs 1.d4 · D10–D19
Your goal: play the Slav Defense from memory as Black — keep every move right for two weeks and it's mastered.
Choose a line — start with the main line
Watch the moves · play them from memory · spar: play the opening out against the computer.
You'll play Black — watch each move, I'll explain.
Intro
1. d41… d52. c42… c63. Nf33… Nf64. Nc34… dxc45. a45… Bf5
What you're training
Support d5 with ...c6, develop the light-squared bishop to f5 before ...e6 locks it in, then capture ...dxc4 at the right moment and complete a solid, harmonious setup.
Strengths
- ...c6 props up d5 the way ...e6 does in the QGD — but keeps the c8-bishop's diagonal open, so it never gets buried.
- Getting the light-squared bishop out to f5 (or g4) before playing ...e6 is the whole point — no bad bishop, unlike the Queen's Gambit Declined.
- The ...dxc4 capture isn't about winning a pawn — it's timed so that after White recaptures, Black has a free bishop and easy, comfortable development.
- It's a sound, low-weakness structure: Black accepts a touch less space for a position that's very hard to crack.
Watch out for
- Play ...Bf5 before ...e6 — lock the bishop in first and you've thrown away the Slav's whole advantage over the QGD.
- Don't try to cling to the c4 pawn with ...b5 here: after a4 it usually overextends and White wins it back with a better game.
- Drifting passively lets White's extra central space tell — finish development and castle rather than admiring the solid shell.