Theoria
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Slav Defense

Soultanbeieff Variation

D16solidoffbeat

  1. 1.d4d5
  2. 2.c4c6
  3. 3.Nf3Nf6
  4. 4.Nc3dxc4
  5. 5.a4e6
1,153 games51%44%

A Slav Defense line where Black meets 5. a4 with 5...e6, adopting a Semi-Slav setup and shutting in the queen's bishop for the time being.

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About the Soultanbeieff Variation

The Soultanbeieff Variation (also spelled Soultanbéieff) arises when Black answers 5. a4 in the pure Slav with 5...e6 rather than the Czech Variation's 5...Bf5. Black steers toward a Semi-Slav structure, accepting that the c8-bishop stays hemmed in by the e6-pawn for a while. With ...b5 ruled out, the extra pawn on c4 usually falls. White's main tries are 6. e3, 6. e4 and 6. Bg5; engines give White a slight edge.

Popular continuations