Slav: 4.e3 Bf5 5.Nc3 – Definition
Slav: 4.e3 Bf5 5.Nc3
Definition
“Slav: 4.e3 Bf5 5.Nc3” is a branch of the Classical Slav Defense that arises after the moves 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.e3 Bf5 5.Nc3. Black develops the queen’s-bishop outside the pawn chain before …e6, while White reinforces the d4-pawn with 4.e3 and increases central and queenside pressure with 5.Nc3. The line is sometimes called the “4.e3 main line” or “Slav with …Bf5.”
Typical Move Order
- 1. d4 d5
- 2. c4 c6
- 3. Nf3 Nf6
- 4. e3 Bf5 (Classical variation)
- 5. Nc3 (the focus of this entry)
Other move-order transpositions exist: for example, 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Nf3 e6 5.e3 Bf5 also reaches similar positions.
Strategic Ideas
-
Black’s concept
- Free the c8-bishop before locking the light-squares with …e6.
- Maintain a solid pawn structure (d5–c6) and aim for …dxc4 followed by …b5 or a timely …c5 break.
- Develop harmoniously: …e6, …Nbd7, …Be7/…Bb4, and castle kingside.
-
White’s concept
- Bolster the d4-pawn with e3 so the knight on f3 is free for tactical ideas such as Nh4.
- With 5.Nc3, increase control of e4 and prepare the thematic minority attack b2-b4-b5 against Black’s c6-d5 pawns.
- Create pressure on the queenside by Qb3, cxd5, or c5, sometimes intensifying play with Ne5 or Nh4.
Plans & Typical Middlegames
- Carlsbad Structure: after an early …e6 and cxd5 exd5, the famous minority attack (b4-b5) and kingside-play race appears.
- Hanging-Pawn Structure: if Black recaptures on c4 with …dxc4 and later plays …e5, the resulting e5-d5 pawns yield dynamic chances for both sides.
- c5 Push: White may advance c4-c5 (often after Qb3) to fix the queenside and seek play on the dark squares.
- …g5 Advance: A modern twist where Black expands on the kingside to seize space and challenge White’s knight on f3.
Historical Significance
The Classical Slav has been a workhorse in world-championship practice since the 1920s, when it was championed by Efim Bogoljubov and Alexander Alekhine. The specific 4.e3 Bf5 line gained prominence in the 1990s thanks to grandmasters such as Vladimir Kramnik, Peter Svidler, and Viswanathan Anand, who valued its combination of solidity and counter-punching potential.
Illustrative Example
A model game for both sides is Kramnik–Topalov, Linares 1998, which ran
(moves only):
White’s early c5 and pawn minority created pressure on the queenside, eventually winning a pawn and the game after a marathon rook ending.
Typical Tactics & Traps
- Qb3 Skewer: After 5.Nc3 e6 6.Qb3, the b7-pawn and the bishop on f5 are both targeted, testing Black’s move-order.
- c×d5 exd5 Nh4!: White immediately questions the light-square bishop; if Black retreats poorly, the bishop can be trapped.
- …dxc4 Oversight: Grabbing on c4 too early can leave Black’s bishop stranded after e4 followed by Nh4.
Modern Usage
The variation remains popular at every level:
- World-class exponents include Fabiano Caruana, Anish Giri, and Hou Yifan.
- Its solid reputation makes it a frequent choice in rapid and blitz, where understanding typical plans outweighs concrete memorization.
- Engine evaluations hover around equality, ensuring both sides can play for a win without undue risk.
Interesting Facts & Anecdotes
- Grandmaster Matthew Sadler wrote that the Slav with …Bf5 “feels like wearing a pair of reliable hiking boots—maybe not the flashiest, but you trust them on any terrain.”
- In Kasparov vs. Deep Blue (1997), IBM’s computer selected the sister line 4.Nc3 dxc4 5.a4, but Kasparov later admitted he had prepared 4.e3 Bf5 as a surprise weapon for the rematch.
- The move 5.Nc3 was once considered a minor sideline; today databases show it nearly tied with 5.Nc3 e6 6.Nh4 as the most played path.
Practical Tips
- For Black: Remember the key rule: delay …dxc4 until White spends a tempo on Qb3 or Bd3; otherwise your c- and b-pawns can become weak.
- For White: Decide early between the minority-attack set-up (b4-b5) and the central push e3-e4; the plans are mutually exclusive.
- Study the thematic rook-lift Ra3–Rb3 that often appears after an early exchange of queens.