Chessy
Slav Defense: Winawer Countergambit — play it as Black
The Slav Defense: Winawer Countergambit asks White an immediate question after 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 e5. You are not aiming for a quiet, equal pawn structure; you are choosing a sharp, active game where move choice matters right away. In the drill below, focus on the most natural replies, the engine’s preferred answer, and the moves that lead White to the best practical score in the database. This is a position where accuracy matters from the first turn.
Play the Slav Defense: Winawer Countergambit against the engine
Free, no signup — you play black, the engine adapts to your level.
Play the drill and practise the key responses as Black. Create a free account to start training this opening move by move.
Create a free account →What the numbers say
At this exact position, Stockfish rates the position +0.62, a small edge for White. That means you are slightly worse here, so you should play with care rather than assume the countergambit has solved everything.
The database backs that up: across 71,677 games, White scores 49.8%, draws 3.7%, and Black wins 46.5%. So the opening is playable, but it does not give Black an easy advantage. Your goal in the drill is to meet White’s most natural responses with confidence and avoid drifting into a worse game.
The engine’s main answer
The engine’s best move is cxd5, and the listed continuation is cxd5 cxd5 dxe5 d4. That tells you something important about the character of the position: White’s central tension is the real issue, and Black’s play is tied to resolving it correctly.
When you are training this opening, treat cxd5 as the benchmark move. If you can find the engine’s idea quickly, you are much more likely to stay in the right kind of game and avoid giving White a freer hand.
White’s most common tries
The most-played continuation is dxe5, with 29,711 games and a White score of 50.4%. The other common choices are cxd5, with 15,507 games and White scoring 49.0%; e3, with 13,349 games and White scoring 50.2%; Nf3, with 7,468 games and White scoring 49.4%; e4, with 2,677 games and White scoring 50.2%; and c5, with 651 games and White scoring 48.7%.
That spread is useful for training. You are not facing one forced line only; you are facing several sensible White decisions, and the drill helps you learn which ones belong to the opening’s practical battle and which ones are less accurate.
The moves to punish
There are three known mistakes in this position, and they are worth memorising for the drill. Nf3 is a mistake and loses about 1.1 pawns; the better move was cxd5. e4 is also a mistake and loses about 1.2 pawns; again, the better move was cxd5. The biggest error listed is c5, which loses about 2.1 pawns; the better move was cxd5.
For Black, that means you should stay alert for over-ambitious or offbeat White choices. If White does not choose the most precise continuation, your job is to spot the tactical or strategic edge and make it count.
Results across 71,677 Lichess games
| Most-played continuation | Games | White wins |
|---|---|---|
| dxe5 | 29,711 | 50.4% |
| cxd5 | 15,507 | 49.0% |
| e3 | 13,349 | 50.2% |
| Nf3 | 7,468 | 49.4% |
| e4 | 2,677 | 50.2% |
| c5 | 651 | 48.7% |
Frequently asked questions
Is the Slav Defense: Winawer Countergambit good for Black?
It is playable, but the stats show that White has a small edge. Stockfish gives +0.62, and the database results also lean slightly toward White. So it is not an opening to overhype; it is a sharp line that needs accurate handling.
What is the best move in this position for Black?
The engine’s best move is cxd5. The listed continuation is cxd5 cxd5 dxe5 d4, which shows the central tension Black is trying to resolve. In the drill, try to find that move quickly and consistently.
Which White replies should I expect most often?
The most-played continuation is dxe5, followed by cxd5, e3, Nf3, e4, and c5. That means you should be ready for both mainline central play and a few quieter or offbeat choices. The drill is useful because it makes you face those practical tries one by one.
Which moves are mistakes for White here?
Nf3, e4, and c5 are all marked as mistakes. In each case, cxd5 was better, and c5 is the worst of the three. If White plays one of those moves, you should know that the position has become more favourable for you to exploit.
How many games feature the Slav Defense: Winawer Countergambit?
Over 71K Lichess games have reached the Slav Defense: Winawer Countergambit position. White wins 49.8%, Black wins 46.5%, with 3.7% draws — based on real rated games.