Slav Gambit

The Slav Gambit arises when Black meets the Normal Variation, 3. Nf3, with 3...b5, refusing to give back the c4-pawn. The idea is borrowed from Slav structures, where a pawn on c6 props up ...b5 and lets Black keep the extra pawn. Here ...c6 has not yet been played, so the chain on b5 and c4 has no support. Black's c-pawns are also doubled, and the knight on f3 already covers e5, which takes away the freeing ...e5 break.

White's usual answer is 4. a4, which strikes at the base of the chain at once and is also the engine's first choice. 4. Nc3 adds pressure on b5. 4. e3 prepares to recover the pawn with Bxc4 once the queenside pawns are undermined. The engine also lists 4. e4, which builds a broad center. In each case White aims to win back the material with an advantage and exploit the loosened light squares on the queenside. The engine gives White a slight edge, and White scores well in the database.