This move develops a piece and bears more pressure on d5. Due to this, it also makes 3...Bf5 a grave mistake due to 4. cxd5 cxd5 5. Qb3, winning a pawn. If then 5...Qb6, 6. Nxd5! Qxb3 7. axb3! wins the d pawn. If instead 5...Nf6 to protect the d-pawn, 6. Qxb7 Nbd7 7. Nf3 Rb8 8. Qxa7 wins two. In general, if black can safely play Bf5 and e6 in the Slav, black equalizes. The c3-knight also bears pressure on e4, allowing for a potential e4 pawn-push in the future.

3...Nf6 is Black's by far Black's most common reply, and play from white typically transposes into a semi-slav with 4. Nf3, although some unique lines exist where Nf3 is delayed or not played at all.

3...dxc4 followed by 4...b5 is also frequently played, as the c3 knight is vulnerable to a b7-b5-b4 advance allowing Black good queenside counter-play after the White's gambit c-pawn is captured.

3... e5, the Winawer Countergambit, is rarely seen from Black in high-level games. Black gambits their e-pawn for faster development, but usually falls behind in development after recapturing the pawn back.

For explanation of theory tables, see theory table and for notation, see algebraic notation..

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3.Nc3

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Wikipedia has related information at Slav Defence

• Kasparov, Garry, & Keene, Raymond 1989 Batsford chess openings 2. ISBN 0-8050-3409-9.