Chess Opening Theory/1. d4/1...d5/2. c4/2...c6/3. Nc3/3...dxc4

Slav Defence
a b c d e f g h 8 8 7 7 6 6 5 5 4 4 3 3 2 2 1 1 a b c d e f g h
Position in Forsyth-Edwards Notation (FEN) rnbqkbnr/pp2pppp/2p5/8/2pP4/2N5/PP2PPPP/R1BQKBNR w
Moves: 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 dxc4

3...dxc4

This move captures the gambit pawn. Since the Nc3 is exposed to attacks by the b-pawn, black can often safely overextend with moves like a6 and b5 to hold to the c-pawn in this line. Also, there is a hidden trap on move 5 that many white players have fallen into. It will be explained later.

Theory table

4	5	6
e3 b5	a4 b4	Ne4	+/=