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Slav Defense

40 variations · 22M games from Lichess · Updated January 2026

Key Finding

Slav Defense leaves Black at 47.0% — consider alternatives.

The minimum advantage of -6.0% suggests this opening underperforms statistically at your level.

You play
Tough Sell
Rating
Time
Black Expected Score0.0%Range (90% confident): 47.0% – 47.0%Aggregated from 40 variations
0%47.0%100%
Range (90% confident): 47.0% – 47.0%
ContextOverall · n=22M
Outcome Distribution
44.7%4.6%50.7%
Win
Draw
Loss
3...dxc4
Slav Defense
Variations40
Games (Context)22M
Avg Length35 moves
Draw Rate4.6%

What Should I Play?

Player-controlled continuations for Black · Overall

#1Slav Defense: Czech Variation, Lasker VariationTop Pick
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 dxc4 5.a4 Bf5 6.e3 Na6
Min adv +4.4% · n=1.6K
54.3%
#2Slav Defense: Smyslov Variation
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 dxc4 5.a4 Na6
Min adv +1.8% · n=4.4K
52.1%
#3Slav Defense: Winawer Countergambit
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 e5
Min adv +0.2% · n=100K
50.4%
#4Slav Defense: Czech Variation
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 dxc4 5.a4 Bf5
Min adv -1.5% · n=42K
49.7%
#5Slav Defense: Steiner Variation
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 dxc4 5.a4 Bg4
Min adv -1.9% · n=47K
49.5%
#6Slav Defense: Quiet Variation, Schallopp Defense
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.e3 Bf5
Min adv -2.2% · n=451K
49.0%
#7Slav Defense: Czech Variation, Carlsbad Variation, Morozevich 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 9.dxe5 Nxe5 10.Bf4 Nfd7 11.Bg2 g5
Min adv -2.8% · n=4.9K
49.8%
#8Slav 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
Min adv -3.4% · n=5.2K
49.4%
#9Slav Defense: Chebanenko Variation
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 a6
Min adv -4.1% · n=296K
48.1%
#10Slav Defense: Quiet Variation, Pin Defense
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.e3 Bg4
Min adv -4.2% · n=717K
48.0%

Continuations show the most common variations from this opening. Higher expected scores indicate better statistical outcomes, but familiarity and playstyle matter too.

What is the Slav Defense expected score for Black?

Snapshot

Overall, the Slav Defense family has a 47.0% expected score for Black (we're 90% confident it's between 47.0% and 47.0%), aggregated from 40 variations and 22M Lichess games.

Black Win% by Rating

Declines with rating: 47% → 39%

0
1000
1200
1400
1600
1800
2000
2200
2500+

  • 0-999: 47.0% win rate (283,600 games)
  • 1000-1199: 45.8% win rate (789,695 games)
  • 1200-1399: 45.8% win rate (1,642,942 games)
  • 1400-1599: 45.8% win rate (2,866,615 games)
  • 1600-1799: 45.6% win rate (4,328,724 games)
  • 1800-1999: 44.9% win rate (5,134,026 games)
  • 2000-2199: 43.9% win rate (3,842,595 games)
  • 2200-2499: 42.6% win rate (2,390,129 games)
  • 2500+: 38.9% win rate (467,665 games)

Black Win% by Time Control

Best in UltraBullet (47%), worst in Classical (43%)

UltraBullet
Bullet
Blitz
Rapid
Classical

  • UltraBullet: 46.9% win rate (45,739 games)
  • Bullet: 45.4% win rate (8,736,364 games)
  • Blitz: 44.3% win rate (10,432,702 games)
  • Rapid: 43.9% win rate (2,429,199 games)
  • Classical: 42.6% win rate (101,987 games)

Rating vs Time Control Matrix

Click cells to filter · Black expected scores

Black% by Rating × Time Control

Click any cell to filter. Green = above 50%, Red = below 50%.

RatingUBBulleBlitzRapidClass
0-999
1000-1199
1200-1399
1400-1599
1600-1799
1800-1999
2000-2199
2200-2499
2500+

Expected score matrix by rating bracket and time control

  • 0-999 rating, UltraBullet: 54.6% expected score (418 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Bullet: 48.7% expected score (95,036 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Blitz: 48.3% expected score (144,903 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Rapid: 48.6% expected score (43,018 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Classical: 50.9% expected score (225 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, UltraBullet: 50.3% expected score (1,303 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Bullet: 47.5% expected score (276,280 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Blitz: 47.3% expected score (388,622 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Rapid: 46.7% expected score (121,948 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Classical: 47.7% expected score (1,542 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, UltraBullet: 48.6% expected score (3,506 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Bullet: 47.5% expected score (571,575 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Blitz: 47.5% expected score (806,871 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Rapid: 47.0% expected score (253,605 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Classical: 45.6% expected score (7,385 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, UltraBullet: 49.3% expected score (10,075 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Bullet: 47.7% expected score (963,603 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Blitz: 47.5% expected score (1,437,735 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Rapid: 47.3% expected score (435,168 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Classical: 47.3% expected score (20,034 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, UltraBullet: 48.5% expected score (14,101 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Bullet: 47.8% expected score (1,465,441 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Blitz: 47.6% expected score (2,236,576 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Rapid: 47.4% expected score (580,457 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Classical: 47.4% expected score (32,149 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, UltraBullet: 46.1% expected score (9,003 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Bullet: 47.6% expected score (1,850,846 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Blitz: 47.1% expected score (2,641,967 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Rapid: 46.8% expected score (602,581 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Classical: 45.9% expected score (29,629 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, UltraBullet: 48.2% expected score (4,798 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Bullet: 47.2% expected score (1,716,686 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Blitz: 46.2% expected score (1,806,663 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Rapid: 45.5% expected score (305,426 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Classical: 42.9% expected score (9,022 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, UltraBullet: 43.6% expected score (2,372 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Bullet: 46.3% expected score (1,431,556 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Blitz: 45.0% expected score (871,972 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Rapid: 42.8% expected score (82,535 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Classical: 39.7% expected score (1,694 games)
  • 2500+ rating, UltraBullet: 33.0% expected score (163 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Bullet: 43.6% expected score (365,341 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Blitz: 41.7% expected score (97,393 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Rapid: 39.6% expected score (4,461 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Classical: 39.0% expected score (307 games)

Matrix view reveals how performance varies across rating brackets and time controls. Green indicates favorable, red indicates challenging contexts.

Variations (40)

1
Slav Defense: Czech Variation, Lasker Variation1.6K games
54.3%
2
Slav Defense: Smyslov Variation4.4K games
52.1%
3
Slav Defense: Czech Variation, Classical System, Main Line18K games
51.5%
Slav Defense: Czech Variation, Wiesbaden Variation, Sharp Line4.3K games
52.0%
Slav Defense: Czech Variation, Krause Attack25K games
51.0%
Slav Defense: Czech Variation, Dutch Variation50K games
50.7%
Slav Defense: Winawer Countergambit100K games
50.4%
Slav Defense: Diemer Gambit267K games
50.1%
Slav Defense: Exchange Variation, Schallopp Variation151K games
49.8%
Slav Defense: Czech Variation42K games
49.7%
Slav Defense: Steiner Variation47K games
49.5%
Slav Defense: Quiet Variation, Schallopp Defense451K games
49.0%
Slav Defense: Czech Variation, Carlsbad Variation, Morozevich Variation4.9K games
49.8%
Slav Defense: Czech Variation, Carlsbad Variation5.2K games
49.4%
Slav Defense: Chebanenko Variation296K games
48.1%
Slav Defense: Quiet Variation, Pin Defense717K games
48.0%
Slav Defense: Bonet Gambit192K games
48.1%
Slav Defense: Czech Variation, Classical System39K games
48.2%
Slav Defense: Geller Gambit253K games
47.5%
Slav Defense: Quiet Variation, Amsterdam Variation201 games
53.0%
Slav Defense: Exchange Variation3.2M games
47.1%
Slav Defense8.3M games
47.1%
Slav Defense: Exchange Variation, Symmetrical Line151K games
47.2%
Slav Defense: Schlechter Variation487K games
47.1%
Slav Defense: Süchting Variation17K games
47.6%
Slav Defense: Quiet Variation472K games
47.0%
Slav Defense: Czech Variation, Wiesbaden Variation17K games
47.3%
Slav Defense: Chebanenko Variation, Advance System37K games
47.1%
Slav Defense: Three Knights Variation2.6M games
46.7%
Slav Defense: Two Knights Attack168K games
46.8%
Slav Defense: Breyer Variation66K games
46.6%
Slav Defense: Alekhine Variation130K games
46.3%
Slav Defense: Modern Line2.6M games
45.8%
Slav Defense: Slav Gambit, Alekhine Attack552K games
45.6%
Slav Defense: Czech Variation, Bled Attack7.3K games
46.3%
Slav Defense: Winawer Countergambit, Anti-Winawer Gambit2.8K games
46.1%
Slav Defense: Alapin Variation67K games
44.7%
Slav Defense: Soultanbeieff Variation52K games
44.5%
Slav Defense: Exchange Variation, Trifunovic Variation7.8K games
44.9%
Slav Defense: Exchange Variation, Boor Attack93K games
44.2%
Analyze Slav Defense PositionsGet move-by-move win rates with the TrueElo analyzer

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Slav Defense win rate?

The Slav Defense family has a 50.7% (90% CI: 50.7%-50.7%) win rate for white, aggregated from 40 variations and 22M rated games from Lichess.

How many Slav Defense variations are there?

This analysis covers 40 Slav Defense variations with sufficient game data. Each variation has its own statistics page with detailed win rates by rating and time control.

At what rating does the Slav Defense perform best?

The Slav Defense family performs best at 2500+ Elo with a 52.6% win rate for white (468K games). Performance may vary by specific variation.

Is the Slav Defense better in blitz or rapid?

Bullet (51.1%) outperforms Classical (50.1%) by 1.0% across all Slav Defense variations.

How sharp is the Slav Defense?

Slav Defense games are 95.4% decisive (non-draws), with an average length of 35 moves. Sharpness varies by specific variation.

Is the Slav Defense a good opening family?

The Slav Defense family is statistically favors white overall with a 50.7% (90% CI: 50.7%-50.7%) aggregated win rate. However, win rates vary significantly between the 40 variations—explore individual lines to find the best fit for your style.