Chess Openings Lab
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1

Slav Defense: Schlechter Variation

The Schlechter Variation is 4.Nc3 g6, mixing the Slav pawn chain with a kingside fianchetto. White wants to use the extra tempo for space or simplify with cxd5, while Black aims for ...Bg7, ...O-O and pressure along the long diagonal.

Moves
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 g6
ECO
D15
Engine
+0.49 · a slight edge for White (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
Played
873 games in our lichess sample
White scores
53.3%

Key ideas for both sides

White

  • 5.h3 is the engine's first choice: it stops ...Bg4 and prepares e3 and Bd3 without being pinned.
  • 5.cxd5 cxd5 6.Bf4 gives a symmetrical center where the bishop watches c7 and b8.
  • e3, Be2 and O-O form a solid setup that blunts the g7 bishop with pawns on d4 and e3.
  • After ...Ne4, recapture with bxc3 if needed; the extra center pawn supports c4 and d4.

Black

  • ...Bg7 and ...O-O put the bishop on the long diagonal and tuck the king away.
  • ...Ne4 trades a pair of knights and frees Black's game, as in 5.h3 Ne4 6.e3.
  • ...Bg4 pins the f3 knight and adds pressure on d4, unless White has played h3.
  • ...Nh5 can chase a bishop that lands on f4, gaining the bishop pair if allowed.

Plans and pawn structure

Black's fianchetto aims at d4 and the long diagonal. White plays for space with e3, Bd3 and O-O, or simplifies with cxd5 and Bf4. Black wants ...Bg7, ...O-O and ...Bg4 or ...Bf5, then ...dxc4 or ...c5 to open the bishop's line. The middlegame is quiet but tricky, and the side that controls the e5 and e4 squares usually decides the game.

What the engine plays from here

Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position +0.49: a slight edge for White. Its three top choices for White:

  1. +0.49 5.h3 Ne4 6.e3 Bg7 7.Bd3 Nxc3
  2. +0.44 5.cxd5 cxd5 6.Bf4 Nc6 7.e3 Nh5
  3. +0.43 5.e3 Bg7 6.Be2 O-O 7.O-O Bg4

Pawns, from White's side.

How it scores on lichess

873 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 53.3%.

1200–159945.4%
1600–199955.5%
2000 and up53.6%

Light: White wins. Grey: draws. Dark: Black wins. About the sample.

How to play against it

As White, play h3 or cxd5 to limit Black's active options. Do not let the g7 bishop rule the long diagonal; keep d4 supported and consider an early c5 or e3. Avoid putting your bishop on f4 when ...Nh5 can hit it.

Questions

What are the moves of the Slav Defense: Schlechter Variation?

The Slav Defense: Schlechter Variation starts 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 g6. Its ECO code is D15.

Is the Slav Defense: Schlechter Variation good for Black?

Stockfish 17.1 rates the position +0.49 at depth 20, which is a slight edge for White. In 873 lichess games from our sample, White scored 53.3%. Suits Black players who already know fianchetto structures; White gets a small, safe edge with simple play.

What is the main idea of the Slav Defense: Schlechter Variation?

Black combines the Slav with a kingside fianchetto, putting the bishop on g7 to pressure d4. White uses the extra tempo to gain space or simplifies with an exchange on d5.

What should White play next?

The engine's first choice is h3, with cxd5 and e3 close behind. 5.h3 limits Black's bishop and knight options before White develops the kingside.

Updated October 2026. Sources and method.