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Chess Opening Theory/1. d4/1...d5/2. c4/2...c6/3. Nc3/3...dxc4

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Slav Defence
a b c d e f g h
8a8 black rookb8 black knightc8 black bishopd8 black queene8 black kingf8 black bishopg8 black knighth8 black rook8
7a7 black pawnb7 black pawnc7 black kingd7 black kinge7 black pawnf7 black pawng7 black pawnh7 black pawn7
6a6 black kingb6 black kingc6 black pawnd6 black kinge6 black kingf6 black kingg6 black kingh6 black king6
5a5 black kingb5 black kingc5 black kingd5 black kinge5 black kingf5 black kingg5 black kingh5 black king5
4a4 black kingb4 black kingc4 black pawnd4 white pawne4 black kingf4 black kingg4 black kingh4 black king4
3a3 black kingb3 black kingc3 white knightd3 black kinge3 black kingf3 black kingg3 black kingh3 black king3
2a2 white pawnb2 white pawnc2 black kingd2 black kinge2 white pawnf2 white pawng2 white pawnh2 white pawn2
1a1 white rookb1 black kingc1 white bishopd1 white queene1 white kingf1 white bishopg1 white knighth1 white rook1
a b c d e f g h
Position in Forsyth-Edwards Notation (FEN)
Moves: 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 dxc4

3...dxc4

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This move captures the gambit pawn. Since White's Knight on c3 is exposed to attacks by Black's b-pawn, black can often safely over-extend with moves like a6 and b5 to keep ahold of the c-pawn in this line. This move is lesser seen than the main line 3. Nf6. From here, white has several replies:

  • e4 - The most common reply, White gains a significant space advantage in the center but White's c3 knight loses access to e4 as a retreating square.
  • e3 - Slightly less common, White still advances in the center, but keeps the e4 square open for the c3 knight to retreat to.
  • a4 - Uncommon, white prevents Black's ...b5, but allows black to fight in the center with e5. Black tends to do well in this variation.
  • Nf3 - Uncommon, white focuses on development with their g1 knight.

There is a trap following 4.e3 b5, where the move 5. Nxb5?, trying to exploit the h1-a8 diagonal is a mistake which gives black the advantage after 5...cxb5 6.Qf3 Qc7! 7.Qxa8 Bb7 as white has to sacrifice material in order to avoid black winning the Queen.

Theory table

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1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3.Nc3 dxc4

4 5 6 7 8 Eval
e3

b5

a4

b4

Ne4

Qd5

Nd2

c3

Bxc3

Bxc3

+/=
...

...

Nxb5?

cxb5

Qf3

Qc7

Qxa8

Bb7

Qxa7

e5

-/+
e4

b5

a4

b4

Nb1

Ba6

Qc2

Qxd4

Nf3

Qb6

=
...

...

...

...

Na2

Nf6

e5

Nd5

Bxc4

e6

=
...

...

...

...

Nce2

e6

Nf3

Ba6

Bf4

Nf6

=
a4

e5

dxe5

Qxd1+

Kxd1

Be6

e4

Na6

f4

Rd8+

=
Nf3

b5

a4

b4

Ne4

Nf6

Nxf6+

exf6

e4

Qe7

=