Slav Defense: Czech Variation, Carlsbad Variation position after 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 dxc4 5.a4 Bf5 6.Ne5 Nbd7 7.Nxc4 Qc7 8.g3 e5. White: pawn on a4, knight on c4, pawn on d4, knight on c3, pawn on g3, pawn on b2, pawn on e2, pawn on f2, pawn on h2, rook on a1, bishop on c1, queen on d1, king on e1, bishop on f1, rook on h1. Black: rook on a8, king on e8, bishop on f8, rook on h8, pawn on a7, pawn on b7, queen on c7, knight on d7, pawn on f7, pawn on g7, pawn on h7, pawn on c6, knight on f6, pawn on e5, bishop on f5.
Slav Defense: Czech Variation, Carlsbad Variation is a chess opening that arises after 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 dxc4 5.a4 Bf5 6.Ne5 Nbd7 7.Nxc4 Qc7 8.g3 e5. It is classified D17 in the ECO system, and the position after these moves has white to move. The Slav Defense supports the d5 pawn with c6 rather than e6, which keeps the light-squared bishop free — the central point of the whole system, and the reason many players prefer it to the Queen's Gambit Declined.
Strategic character
Black often follows with dxc4 and b5 to hold the pawn temporarily, gaining time to develop the bishop outside the pawn chain. The resulting positions are solid but less passive than the Declined, with the c8 bishop playing an active role.
Who should play it
Players who want the solidity of the Queen's Gambit Declined without locking in the light-squared bishop.
This line is a variation within the Slav Defense family. The strategic ideas above describe the family as a whole; this particular line reaches them by the move order 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 dxc4 5.a4 Bf5 6.Ne5 Nbd7 7.Nxc4 Qc7 8.g3 e5.
Variations continuing from this position
Each of these is a named opening reached by playing on from 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 dxc4 5.a4 Bf5 6.Ne5 Nbd7 7.Nxc4 Qc7 8.g3 e5. Open any of them to load the position on the board.
What is the Slav Defense: Czech Variation, Carlsbad Variation?
The Slav Defense: Czech Variation, Carlsbad Variation is a chess opening that arises after 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 dxc4 5.a4 Bf5 6.Ne5 Nbd7 7.Nxc4 Qc7 8.g3 e5. It is classified D17 in the ECO system. The Slav Defense supports the d5 pawn with c6 rather than e6, which keeps the light-squared bishop free — the central point of the whole system, and the reason many players prefer it to the Queen's Gambit Declined.
What are the moves of the Slav Defense: Czech Variation, Carlsbad Variation?
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 dxc4 5.a4 Bf5 6.Ne5 Nbd7 7.Nxc4 Qc7 8.g3 e5. After these moves it is white to move.
Is the Slav Defense: Czech Variation, Carlsbad Variation good for beginners?
Players who want the solidity of the Queen's Gambit Declined without locking in the light-squared bishop.
What variations come from the Slav Defense: Czech Variation, Carlsbad Variation?
Named continuations include Slav Defense: Czech Variation, Carlsbad Variation, Morozevich Variation. There are 1 named variations reachable from this position in total.