- ECO code
- D17
- Moves
- 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 dxc4 5.a4 Bf5
- Family
- Slav Defense
- To move
- White
- Master games
- 368
- Average game length
- 42 moves
- Years covered
- 1922–2026
Slav Defense: Czech Variation is the opening filed under ECO code D17, reached after 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 dxc4 5.a4 Bf5. It belongs to the Slav Defense family and is known as the Czech Variation; in the resulting position it is White to move.
Katuranga's collection of 138,070 master games contains 368 games on this line — the 265th most played opening in the collection. The oldest game on this line is from 1922 and the most recent from 2026. The busiest decade in this collection is the 2000s, with 107 games. An average game here lasts 42 moves.
White wins 35% of those games, 48% end in a draw, and Black wins 17%. Compared with the collection average (White 37%, draws 35%, Black 28%), Black scores worse here by 11 percentage points. Draws are more common here than usual, by 13 points.
From this position the most popular move is 6.Ne5, played in 189 games, followed by 6.e3 (156) and 6.Nh4 (23). After 6.Ne5 White scores 41% and Black 12%.
The name that appears most often on the White side of this line is Grischuk,A (19 games); on the Black side, Smyslov, Vassily (33).
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Results in master games
- White 35% (128)
- Draws 48% (176)
- Black 17% (64)
Most played continuations
| Move | Games | White / draws / Black | Leads into |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6.Ne5 | 189 | 41/47/12 | — |
| 6.e3 | 156 | 27/50/23 | — |
| 6.Nh4 | 23 | 39/39/22 | — |
How the position is reached
- Queen's Pawn Game · 1.d4 · 45,810 games
- Queen's Pawn Game · 1.d4 d5 · 11,560 games
- Queen's Gambit · 1.d4 d5 2.c4 · 8,858 games
- Slav Defense · 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 · 4,073 games
- Slav Defense: Modern Line · 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 · 2,574 games
- Slav Defense: Three Knights Variation · 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 · 1,399 games
- Slav Defense: Two Knights Attack · 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 dxc4 · 522 games
- Slav Defense: Alapin Variation · 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 dxc4 5.a4 · 466 games
Played most often by
As White
- Grischuk,A 19
- Ding Liren 17
- Ivanchuk,V 15
As Black
- Smyslov, Vassily 33
- Euwe, Max 15
- Anand,V 13
Games per decade
- 1920s 6
- 1930s 35
- 1940s 8
- 1950s 22
- 1960s 7
- 1970s 3
- 1980s 14
- 1990s 41
- 2000s 107
- 2010s 70
- 2020s 55
Master games on this line
| White | Black | Result | Year | Events |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Erigaisi,Arjun | Ohanyan,Emin | 1/2-1/2 | 2026 | Titled Tue 10th Mar 2026 |
| Wojtaszek,R | Caruana,F | 0-1 | 2026 | GCT Super Rapid Poland |
| Praggnanandhaa,R | Caruana,F | 1/2-1/2 | 2026 | FIDE Candidates 2026 |
| Ivanchuk,V | Martinez Rubi,A | 1-0 | 2026 | 10th Semana Santa Open |
| Erigaisi,Arjun | Nakamura,Hi | 1/2-1/2 | 2025 | 13th Norway Chess 2025 |
| Mamedyarov,S | Mamedov,Rau | 1/2-1/2 | 2025 | 79th ch-AZE 2025 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the Slav Defense: Czech Variation?
It is the opening with ECO code D17, reached after 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 dxc4 5.a4 Bf5. It belongs to the Slav Defense family.
Is the Slav Defense: Czech Variation good for White or for Black?
In 368 master games on this line White wins 35%, 48% are drawn and Black wins 17%. The collection average is White 37%, draws 35%, Black 28% — so this line is no worse than usual for White than the field as a whole.
What is the main continuation of the Slav Defense: Czech Variation?
6.Ne5 — played in 189 of the master games on this line.
Which grandmasters play the Slav Defense: Czech Variation?
On the White side Grischuk,A (19), Ding Liren (17), Ivanchuk,V (15); on the Black side Smyslov, Vassily (33), Euwe, Max (15), Anand,V (13).
Every number on this page is computed from Katuranga's master game collection; names and ECO codes follow the lichess opening book (CC0).
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