Slav Defense

2...c6 defends d5 so a pawn recaptures if White trades. You get clear plans and traps that punish common mistakes.

The Slav lets you hold the center with pawns instead of pieces, and this course covers every major White try after 2...c6, from the Three Knights to the Exchange Variation. You get a plan for each line, three traps that win material against common amateur mistakes, and master games and puzzles to drill the ideas.

What you'll learn

Three Knights Variation (4.Nf3, after 3.Nc3 3...Nf6)

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Nf3

White develops naturally with 4.Nf3, so you grab the pawn with 4...dxc4 and hold it with 5...Bf5 and 6...e6. Watch for amateur tries like 6.Bg5 and 7.Na2, two traps that let you win a piece.

4.Bg5 Lines (after 3.Nc3 3...Nf6)

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5

4.Bg5 invites 4...dxc4, and you defend the pawn with 5...b5. Amateurs often play 6.a4 and 7.Na2, mistakes you punish with 6...b4 and 7...Nxe4, grabbing a second pawn while attacking the bishop on g5. From there you push 8...b3, aiming to trade on c3 and swing your queen to a5 against White's weak pawns.

4.Bf4 Lines (after 3.Nc3 3...Nf6)

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bf4

4.Bf4 lets you take 4...dxc4 and defend it with 5...b5. Amateurs often play 7.axb5, a mistake you meet with 7...cxb5 to keep your extra pawn safe for good. You finish development with 8...e6 and 9...Bb4, planning to castle and later push ...b4 with ...Ba6 against White's isolated b2 pawn.

Other 4th moves after 3.Nc3 3...Nf6 (4.e3)

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.e3

White often offers a trade of bishops with 6.Bd3, and you take with 6...Bxd3, meeting 7.Qxd3 with 7...h6 to deny the g5 square. After White castles you finish with 8...Nbd7, ready to meet a future e4 push with ...dxe4.

Modern Line (3.Nf3)

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3

3.Nf3 delays Nc3, and 3...Nf6 4.Nc3 transposes into the same Slav structures you already know. If White tries 4.cxd5 instead, you recapture with 4...cxd5, and against 4.g3 you develop with ...Bf5, ...e6 and later ...a6, ...Nbd7 and ...Ng4, aiming for a timely ...e5.

Exchange Variation (3.cxd5)

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.cxd5

3.cxd5 opens the Exchange Variation, and you recapture with 3...cxd5 to open the c-file. You develop with ...Nf6, ...Nc6, ...Bf5 and ...e6, trade bishops after 8.Bd3 Bxd3, and finish with ...Be7 and castling. Watch for the trap after 5.Bg5 Ne4 6.Nxe4 dxe4 7.e3, where 7...Qa5+ wins you a piece.

What's inside

• 3 traps featured as priority lines, so you learn the tricks that win games first.
• Amateur mistakes flagged. Moves most amateurs choose but masters avoid are called out when you meet them.
• 8 master games played in these lines, linked from the moves where they leave the course.
• 26 puzzles from real games of this opening.

Why this repertoire?

• Built for amateurs. The traps target mistakes that show up often between 1600 and 2200, like 6.a4 and 7.axb5.
• Little to memorize. A short set of main lines covers each White try, from the Three Knights to the Exchange Variation.
• Recurring plans, not just moves. You develop with ...Bf5 or ...Bg6, meet pins with ...e6, and aim for a queenside pawn majority or a timely ...e5.
• Understanding over memorizing. Every move comes with the idea behind it, so you can adapt when your opponent deviates.
• Backed by real games. Master games and puzzles reinforce the same ideas you study in the lines.