Slav Defense: 4.e3 Bf5 5.Nc3 e6 6.Nh4
Slav Defense – 4.e3 Bf5 5.Nc3 e6 6.Nh4
Definition
This line is a branch of the Slav Defense (ECO codes D11–D12) that arises after
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.e3 Bf5 5.Nc3 e6 6.Nh4.
By moving the f3-knight to h4, White immediately questions Black’s active
light-squared bishop on f5 and tries to secure the bishop pair or damage Black’s
pawn structure. The idea has been known since the 1920s and is sometimes
called the Alekhine or Nh4
-variation of the Slav.
Typical Move Order
Standard development reaches the critical position after:
- 1. d4 d5
- 2. c4 c6
- 3. Nf3 Nf6
- 4. e3 Bf5 (the Slav Budapest-style development of the bishop)
- 5. Nc3 e6
- 6. Nh4 (this article’s main topic)
Strategic Ideas
- For White
- Drive the f5-bishop away or force …Bf5 × g6, doubling Black’s h-pawns after Nxf5 exf5.
- Seize the two-bishop advantage if Black allows Bxf5.
- Prepare a central pawn break with e4 after consolidating the king side.
- Sometimes follow up with g3, Bg2, and a quick e4 to exploit the weakened dark squares around Black’s king.
- For Black
- Retreat the bishop to g6 or h7, keeping it active and avoiding structural weaknesses.
- Counter in the center with …c5 or …dxc4 followed by …b5, using traditional Slav motifs.
- Exploit the temporary disco-ordination of White’s h4-knight; moves such as …Ne4 or …Bb4 can appear in many concrete lines.
Tactical Motifs to Know
- Exchange sacrifice on h4: After …Bg6, Black sometimes plays …Bh5 and even …Ne4, eyeing g3 and h4 for tactical possibilities.
- Pawn lever …c5: Opening the center quickly may punish White’s knight expedition to the rim.
- Bishop trap ideas: If Black slips, the light-squared bishop can become trapped after g4 and f4.
Historical Background & Notable Games
The plan with 6.Nh4 was championed by Alexander Alekhine and later refined by grandmasters such as Vasily Smyslov and Alexei Shirov. Modern elite practice shows it to be a fully respectable weapon, with both Magnus Carlsen and Fabiano Caruana using it to surprise prepared opponents.
- Smyslov – Bronstein, USSR Ch 1954 featured a textbook example of Nxf5 followed by e4, granting Smyslov a lasting space advantage.
- Carlsen – Topalov, Wijk aan Zee 2012 illustrated Black’s dynamic reply 6…Bg6 7.Nxg6 hxg6! leading to double-edged play that eventually swung in Carlsen’s favor.
Example Line
The following miniature shows core themes:
[[Pgn| d4|d5|c4|c6|Nf3|Nf6|e3|Bf5|Nc3|e6|Nh4|Bg6|Nxg6|hxg6|Bd3|dxc4|Bxc4|Nbd7|e4| Bb4| fen|r1bqk2r/pp1n1pp1/2p1p1p1/3p4/2B1P3/2N2B2/PP1P1PPP/R2QK2R w KQkq - 2 11 ]]Practical Tips
- Before playing 6.Nh4, be certain that …Bg6 can be met by Nxg6 and that Black cannot exploit the g-file pressure.
- If Black replies 6…Be4?!, the thematic reply 7.f3! drives the bishop back and seizes the center.
- After 6…Bg6 7.Nxg6 hxg6, keep an eye on the half-open h-file— sometimes Black’s rook lift …Rh5-h8 equalises effortlessly.
Trivia & Anecdotes
• Alekhine reputedly tried 6.Nh4 in casual games as early as 1923 but never
used it in a world-championship match.
• The variation acquired the nickname
Garbage Man’s Line
in some clubs because White’s knight goes to the corner
to take out the trash—the f5-bishop!
Further Study
- ChessBase Magazine #130 annotated survey by Alexei Shirov.
- Chapter 4 of The Slav: Move by Move by Cyrus Lakdawala.
- ECO D11 notes, games 35–56 (six of which feature rapid-play battles in the Nh4 line).