Chess Opening Theory/1. d4/1...d5/2. c4/2...c6/3. Nf3/3...Nf6/4. e3

Slav Defence, Quiet variation Slav Defence D11-D12 4. e3 · Quiet variation White plays the quiet move 4. e3, introducing more positional play as white is yet to commit the b1-knight to c3. As such, the position remains flexible for both sides and a variety of openings can occur. Black's most common responses are /4...Bf5/ and 4...e6, with the latter frequently transposing back into a mainline Semi-Slav defence. However, White can avoid such a Semi-Slav transposition on move 5 with a variety of options, such as Bd3, b3, Nbd2, and Qc2 rather than Nc3. Other responses from Black include /4...a6/, /4...g6/, and /4...Bg4/, all of which are frequently played. White tends to score similarly in this quiet variation compared to the mainline Slav variations. Theory table Schallopp defence 4...Bf5 + Pin defence 4...Bg4 + 4...e6 + 4...a6 + References See also