- ECO code
- D12
- Moves
- 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.e3 Bf5
- Family
- Slav Defense
- To move
- White
- Master games
- 321
- Average game length
- 44 moves
- Years covered
- 1928–2026
Slav Defense: Quiet Variation, Schallopp Defense is the opening filed under ECO code D12, reached after 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.e3 Bf5. It belongs to the Slav Defense family and is known as the Quiet Variation, Schallopp Defense; in the resulting position it is White to move.
Katuranga's collection of 138,070 master games contains 321 games on this line — the 290th most played opening in the collection. The oldest game on this line is from 1928 and the most recent from 2026. The busiest decade in this collection is the 2020s, with 121 games. An average game here lasts 44 moves.
White wins 31% of those games, 44% end in a draw, and Black wins 25%. Compared with the collection average (White 37%, draws 35%, Black 28%), Black scores worse here by 3 percentage points. Draws are more common here than usual, by 9 points.
From this position the most popular move is 5.Nc3, played in 274 games, followed by 5.Bd3 (24) and 5.cxd5 (15). After 5.Nc3 White scores 33% and Black 26%.
The name that appears most often on the White side of this line is Karpov,Ana (14 games); on the Black side, Shirov,A (54).
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Results in master games
- White 31% (101)
- Draws 44% (141)
- Black 25% (79)
Most played continuations
| Move | Games | White / draws / Black | Leads into |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5.Nc3 | 274 | 33/41/26 | — |
| 5.Bd3 | 24 | 13/70/17 | — |
| 5.cxd5 | 15 | 33/47/20 | — |
| 5.Nh4 | 5 | 40/40/20 | — |
| 5.Qb3 | 3 | 34/33/33 | — |
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: Quiet Variation · 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.e3 · 737 games
Played most often by
As White
- Karpov,Ana 14
- Ding Liren 12
- So,W 12
As Black
- Shirov,A 54
- Giri,A 16
- Kramnik,V 14
Games per decade
- 1920s 2
- 1930s 9
- 1940s 5
- 1950s 3
- 1960s 1
- 1970s 1
- 1990s 14
- 2000s 95
- 2010s 70
- 2020s 121
Master games on this line
| White | Black | Result | Year | Events |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shirov,A | Van den Doel,E | 1-0 | 2026 | Bundesliga 2025-26 |
| Erigaisi,Arjun | Lazavik,Denis | 0-1 | 2026 | Titled Tue 17th Feb 2026 |
| Ibrahimli,Murad | Shirov,A | 1-0 | 2025 | Titled Tue 25th Feb Late |
| Santos Ruiz,Miguel | Giri,A | 1/2-1/2 | 2025 | Chess.com Classic Play-In |
| Aradhya,Garg | Shirov,A | 0-1 | 2025 | Titled Tue 11th Mar Early |
| Nepomniachtchi,I | Gurel,Ediz | 1-0 | 2025 | FIDE Grand Swiss 2025 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the Slav Defense: Quiet Variation, Schallopp Defense?
It is the opening with ECO code D12, reached after 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.e3 Bf5. It belongs to the Slav Defense family.
Is the Slav Defense: Quiet Variation, Schallopp Defense good for White or for Black?
In 321 master games on this line White wins 31%, 44% are drawn and Black wins 25%. 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: Quiet Variation, Schallopp Defense?
5.Nc3 — played in 274 of the master games on this line.
Which grandmasters play the Slav Defense: Quiet Variation, Schallopp Defense?
On the White side Karpov,Ana (14), Ding Liren (12), So,W (12); on the Black side Shirov,A (54), Giri,A (16), Kramnik,V (14).
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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