Slav Defense · D11

Modern Line, after 2. Nf3, through 6. c4

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. g3 c6 4. Bg2 Bg4 5. O-O Nbd7 6. c4

White's kingside bishop takes the long diagonal. ...c6 defends d5 WITHOUT locking in the c8-bishop - the point of the whole system; Black develops it to f5 or g4 before playing ...e6.

The first 4 moves, explained

• 1. d4 Stakes a claim in the centre, controlling e5, and frees the bishop and queen.
• 1... d5 Stakes a claim in the centre, controlling e4, and frees the bishop and queen.
• 2. Nf3 Develops the knight to f3, eyeing d4 and e5. It also props up the d4 pawn. Theory calls this the Zukertort Variation.
• 2... Nf6 Develops the knight to f6, eyeing d5 and e4. It also props up the d5 pawn. Theory calls this the Symmetrical Variation.

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