diff --git a/src/cmd/compile/internal/gc/bexport.go b/src/cmd/compile/internal/gc/bexport.go
index f0907b4..bf1354c 100644
--- a/src/cmd/compile/internal/gc/bexport.go
+++ b/src/cmd/compile/internal/gc/bexport.go
@@ -1191,12 +1191,15 @@
 	case OSLICE, OSLICESTR, OSLICEARR:
 		p.op(OSLICE)
 		p.expr(n.Left)
-		p.expr(n.Right)
+		low, high, _ := n.SliceBounds()
+		p.exprsOrNil(low, high)
 
 	case OSLICE3, OSLICE3ARR:
 		p.op(OSLICE3)
 		p.expr(n.Left)
-		p.expr(n.Right)
+		low, high, max := n.SliceBounds()
+		p.exprsOrNil(low, high)
+		p.expr(max)
 
 	case OCOPY, OCOMPLEX:
 		p.op(op)
diff --git a/src/cmd/compile/internal/gc/bimport.go b/src/cmd/compile/internal/gc/bimport.go
index 1219d8d..3665bbd 100644
--- a/src/cmd/compile/internal/gc/bimport.go
+++ b/src/cmd/compile/internal/gc/bimport.go
@@ -822,9 +822,19 @@
 	// case OINDEX, OINDEXMAP, OSLICE, OSLICESTR, OSLICEARR, OSLICE3, OSLICE3ARR:
 	// 	unreachable - mapped to cases below by exporter
 
-	case OINDEX, OSLICE, OSLICE3:
+	case OINDEX:
 		return Nod(op, p.expr(), p.expr())
 
+	case OSLICE, OSLICE3:
+		n := Nod(op, p.expr(), nil)
+		low, high := p.exprsOrNil()
+		var max *Node
+		if n.Op.IsSlice3() {
+			max = p.expr()
+		}
+		n.SetSliceBounds(low, high, max)
+		return n
+
 	case OCOPY, OCOMPLEX:
 		n := builtinCall(op)
 		n.List.Set([]*Node{p.expr(), p.expr()})
diff --git a/src/cmd/compile/internal/gc/cgen.go b/src/cmd/compile/internal/gc/cgen.go
index a9393a6..3d3600a 100644
--- a/src/cmd/compile/internal/gc/cgen.go
+++ b/src/cmd/compile/internal/gc/cgen.go
@@ -3106,15 +3106,7 @@
 		x.Xoffset -= 2 * int64(Widthptr)
 	}
 
-	var x1, x2, x3 *Node // unevaluated index arguments
-	x1 = n.Right.Left
-	switch n.Op {
-	default:
-		x2 = n.Right.Right
-	case OSLICE3, OSLICE3ARR:
-		x2 = n.Right.Right.Left
-		x3 = n.Right.Right.Right
-	}
+	x1, x2, x3 := n.SliceBounds() // unevaluated index arguments
 
 	// load computes src into targ, but if src refers to the len or cap of n.Left,
 	// load copies those from xlen, xcap, loading xlen if needed.
diff --git a/src/cmd/compile/internal/gc/fmt.go b/src/cmd/compile/internal/gc/fmt.go
index 12ae915..27ece1d 100644
--- a/src/cmd/compile/internal/gc/fmt.go
+++ b/src/cmd/compile/internal/gc/fmt.go
@@ -1312,17 +1312,29 @@
 		f += fmt.Sprintf(".(%v)", n.Type)
 		return f
 
-	case OINDEX,
-		OINDEXMAP,
-		OSLICE,
-		OSLICESTR,
-		OSLICEARR,
-		OSLICE3,
-		OSLICE3ARR:
-		var f string
-		f += exprfmt(n.Left, nprec)
-		f += fmt.Sprintf("[%v]", n.Right)
-		return f
+	case OINDEX, OINDEXMAP:
+		return fmt.Sprintf("%s[%v]", exprfmt(n.Left, nprec), n.Right)
+
+	case OSLICE, OSLICESTR, OSLICEARR, OSLICE3, OSLICE3ARR:
+		var buf bytes.Buffer
+		buf.WriteString(exprfmt(n.Left, nprec))
+		buf.WriteString("[")
+		low, high, max := n.SliceBounds()
+		if low != nil {
+			buf.WriteString(low.String())
+		}
+		buf.WriteString(":")
+		if high != nil {
+			buf.WriteString(high.String())
+		}
+		if n.Op.IsSlice3() {
+			buf.WriteString(":")
+			if max != nil {
+				buf.WriteString(max.String())
+			}
+		}
+		buf.WriteString("]")
+		return buf.String()
 
 	case OCOPY, OCOMPLEX:
 		return fmt.Sprintf("%v(%v, %v)", Oconv(n.Op, FmtSharp), n.Left, n.Right)
diff --git a/src/cmd/compile/internal/gc/inl.go b/src/cmd/compile/internal/gc/inl.go
index c863b84..10b6137 100644
--- a/src/cmd/compile/internal/gc/inl.go
+++ b/src/cmd/compile/internal/gc/inl.go
@@ -754,7 +754,7 @@
 			vararrtype := typArray(varargtype.Elem(), int64(varargcount))
 			as.Right = Nod(OCOMPLIT, nil, typenod(vararrtype))
 			as.Right.List.Set(varargs)
-			as.Right = Nod(OSLICE, as.Right, Nod(OKEY, nil, nil))
+			as.Right = Nod(OSLICE, as.Right, nil)
 		}
 
 		as = typecheck(as, Etop)
diff --git a/src/cmd/compile/internal/gc/order.go b/src/cmd/compile/internal/gc/order.go
index 00ba430..7373479 100644
--- a/src/cmd/compile/internal/gc/order.go
+++ b/src/cmd/compile/internal/gc/order.go
@@ -1123,24 +1123,16 @@
 			n = ordercopyexpr(n, n.Type, order, 0)
 		}
 
-	case OSLICE, OSLICEARR, OSLICESTR:
+	case OSLICE, OSLICEARR, OSLICESTR, OSLICE3, OSLICE3ARR:
 		n.Left = orderexpr(n.Left, order, nil)
-		n.Right.Left = orderexpr(n.Right.Left, order, nil)
-		n.Right.Left = ordercheapexpr(n.Right.Left, order)
-		n.Right.Right = orderexpr(n.Right.Right, order, nil)
-		n.Right.Right = ordercheapexpr(n.Right.Right, order)
-		if lhs == nil || lhs.Op != ONAME && !samesafeexpr(lhs, n.Left) {
-			n = ordercopyexpr(n, n.Type, order, 0)
-		}
-
-	case OSLICE3, OSLICE3ARR:
-		n.Left = orderexpr(n.Left, order, nil)
-		n.Right.Left = orderexpr(n.Right.Left, order, nil)
-		n.Right.Left = ordercheapexpr(n.Right.Left, order)
-		n.Right.Right.Left = orderexpr(n.Right.Right.Left, order, nil)
-		n.Right.Right.Left = ordercheapexpr(n.Right.Right.Left, order)
-		n.Right.Right.Right = orderexpr(n.Right.Right.Right, order, nil)
-		n.Right.Right.Right = ordercheapexpr(n.Right.Right.Right, order)
+		low, high, max := n.SliceBounds()
+		low = orderexpr(low, order, nil)
+		low = ordercheapexpr(low, order)
+		high = orderexpr(high, order, nil)
+		high = ordercheapexpr(high, order)
+		max = orderexpr(max, order, nil)
+		max = ordercheapexpr(max, order)
+		n.SetSliceBounds(low, high, max)
 		if lhs == nil || lhs.Op != ONAME && !samesafeexpr(lhs, n.Left) {
 			n = ordercopyexpr(n, n.Type, order, 0)
 		}
diff --git a/src/cmd/compile/internal/gc/parser.go b/src/cmd/compile/internal/gc/parser.go
index 766f352..97a1849 100644
--- a/src/cmd/compile/internal/gc/parser.go
+++ b/src/cmd/compile/internal/gc/parser.go
@@ -1408,20 +1408,17 @@
 				}
 				x = Nod(OINDEX, x, i)
 			case 1:
-				i := index[0]
-				j := index[1]
-				x = Nod(OSLICE, x, Nod(OKEY, i, j))
+				x = Nod(OSLICE, x, nil)
+				x.SetSliceBounds(index[0], index[1], nil)
 			case 2:
-				i := index[0]
-				j := index[1]
-				k := index[2]
-				if j == nil {
+				if index[1] == nil {
 					Yyerror("middle index required in 3-index slice")
 				}
-				if k == nil {
+				if index[2] == nil {
 					Yyerror("final index required in 3-index slice")
 				}
-				x = Nod(OSLICE3, x, Nod(OKEY, i, Nod(OKEY, j, k)))
+				x = Nod(OSLICE3, x, nil)
+				x.SetSliceBounds(index[0], index[1], index[2])
 
 			default:
 				panic("unreachable")
diff --git a/src/cmd/compile/internal/gc/racewalk.go b/src/cmd/compile/internal/gc/racewalk.go
index a8a5e92..620bcb3 100644
--- a/src/cmd/compile/internal/gc/racewalk.go
+++ b/src/cmd/compile/internal/gc/racewalk.go
@@ -307,7 +307,11 @@
 
 	case OSLICE, OSLICEARR, OSLICE3, OSLICE3ARR, OSLICESTR:
 		instrumentnode(&n.Left, init, 0, 0)
-		instrumentnode(&n.Right, init, 0, 0)
+		low, high, max := n.SliceBounds()
+		instrumentnode(&low, init, 0, 0)
+		instrumentnode(&high, init, 0, 0)
+		instrumentnode(&max, init, 0, 0)
+		n.SetSliceBounds(low, high, max)
 		goto ret
 
 	case OKEY:
diff --git a/src/cmd/compile/internal/gc/sinit.go b/src/cmd/compile/internal/gc/sinit.go
index cb43855..c6f2acf 100644
--- a/src/cmd/compile/internal/gc/sinit.go
+++ b/src/cmd/compile/internal/gc/sinit.go
@@ -727,7 +727,7 @@
 		arraylit(ctxt, 2, n, vstat, init)
 
 		// copy static to slice
-		a := Nod(OSLICE, vstat, Nod(OKEY, nil, nil))
+		a := Nod(OSLICE, vstat, nil)
 
 		a = Nod(OAS, var_, a)
 		a = typecheck(a, Etop)
@@ -851,7 +851,7 @@
 	}
 
 	// make slice out of heap (6)
-	a = Nod(OAS, var_, Nod(OSLICE, vauto, Nod(OKEY, nil, nil)))
+	a = Nod(OAS, var_, Nod(OSLICE, vauto, nil))
 
 	a = typecheck(a, Etop)
 	a = orderstmtinplace(a)
@@ -1391,7 +1391,8 @@
 		fallthrough
 
 	case OSLICEARR:
-		if nr.Right.Op != OKEY || nr.Right.Left != nil || nr.Right.Right != nil {
+		low, high, _ := nr.SliceBounds()
+		if low != nil || high != nil {
 			return false
 		}
 		nr = nr.Left
diff --git a/src/cmd/compile/internal/gc/ssa.go b/src/cmd/compile/internal/gc/ssa.go
index e177ced..5c367c7 100644
--- a/src/cmd/compile/internal/gc/ssa.go
+++ b/src/cmd/compile/internal/gc/ssa.go
@@ -736,14 +736,7 @@
 		if rhs != nil && (rhs.Op == OSLICE || rhs.Op == OSLICE3 || rhs.Op == OSLICESTR) && samesafeexpr(rhs.Left, n.Left) {
 			// We're assigning a slicing operation back to its source.
 			// Don't write back fields we aren't changing. See issue #14855.
-			i := rhs.Right.Left
-			var j, k *Node
-			if rhs.Op == OSLICE3 {
-				j = rhs.Right.Right.Left
-				k = rhs.Right.Right.Right
-			} else {
-				j = rhs.Right.Right
-			}
+			i, j, k := rhs.SliceBounds()
 			if i != nil && (i.Op == OLITERAL && i.Val().Ctype() == CTINT && i.Int64() == 0) {
 				// [0:...] is the same as [:...]
 				i = nil
@@ -2038,38 +2031,34 @@
 		}
 		return s.newValue2(ssa.OpIMake, n.Type, tab, data)
 
-	case OSLICE, OSLICEARR:
+	case OSLICE, OSLICEARR, OSLICE3, OSLICE3ARR:
 		v := s.expr(n.Left)
-		var i, j *ssa.Value
-		if n.Right.Left != nil {
-			i = s.extendIndex(s.expr(n.Right.Left))
+		var i, j, k *ssa.Value
+		low, high, max := n.SliceBounds()
+		if low != nil {
+			i = s.extendIndex(s.expr(low))
 		}
-		if n.Right.Right != nil {
-			j = s.extendIndex(s.expr(n.Right.Right))
+		if high != nil {
+			j = s.extendIndex(s.expr(high))
 		}
-		p, l, c := s.slice(n.Left.Type, v, i, j, nil)
+		if max != nil {
+			k = s.extendIndex(s.expr(max))
+		}
+		p, l, c := s.slice(n.Left.Type, v, i, j, k)
 		return s.newValue3(ssa.OpSliceMake, n.Type, p, l, c)
+
 	case OSLICESTR:
 		v := s.expr(n.Left)
 		var i, j *ssa.Value
-		if n.Right.Left != nil {
-			i = s.extendIndex(s.expr(n.Right.Left))
+		low, high, _ := n.SliceBounds()
+		if low != nil {
+			i = s.extendIndex(s.expr(low))
 		}
-		if n.Right.Right != nil {
-			j = s.extendIndex(s.expr(n.Right.Right))
+		if high != nil {
+			j = s.extendIndex(s.expr(high))
 		}
 		p, l, _ := s.slice(n.Left.Type, v, i, j, nil)
 		return s.newValue2(ssa.OpStringMake, n.Type, p, l)
-	case OSLICE3, OSLICE3ARR:
-		v := s.expr(n.Left)
-		var i *ssa.Value
-		if n.Right.Left != nil {
-			i = s.extendIndex(s.expr(n.Right.Left))
-		}
-		j := s.extendIndex(s.expr(n.Right.Right.Left))
-		k := s.extendIndex(s.expr(n.Right.Right.Right))
-		p, l, c := s.slice(n.Left.Type, v, i, j, k)
-		return s.newValue3(ssa.OpSliceMake, n.Type, p, l, c)
 
 	case OCALLFUNC:
 		if isIntrinsicCall1(n) {
diff --git a/src/cmd/compile/internal/gc/subr.go b/src/cmd/compile/internal/gc/subr.go
index 5fc1685..38f21eb 100644
--- a/src/cmd/compile/internal/gc/subr.go
+++ b/src/cmd/compile/internal/gc/subr.go
@@ -1024,6 +1024,68 @@
 	return false
 }
 
+// SliceBounds returns n's slice bounds: low, high, and max in expr[low:high:max].
+// n must be a slice expression. max is nil if n is a simple slice expression.
+func (n *Node) SliceBounds() (low, high, max *Node) {
+	switch n.Op {
+	case OSLICE, OSLICEARR, OSLICESTR:
+		if n.Right == nil {
+			return nil, nil, nil
+		}
+		if n.Right.Op != OKEY {
+			Fatalf("SliceBounds right %s", opnames[n.Right.Op])
+		}
+		return n.Right.Left, n.Right.Right, nil
+	case OSLICE3, OSLICE3ARR:
+		if n.Right.Op != OKEY || n.Right.Right.Op != OKEY {
+			Fatalf("SliceBounds right %s %s", opnames[n.Right.Op], opnames[n.Right.Right.Op])
+		}
+		return n.Right.Left, n.Right.Right.Left, n.Right.Right.Right
+	}
+	Fatalf("SliceBounds op %s: %v", n.Op, n)
+	return nil, nil, nil
+}
+
+// SetSliceBounds sets n's slice bounds, where n is a slice expression.
+// n must be a slice expression. If max is non-nil, n must be a full slice expression.
+func (n *Node) SetSliceBounds(low, high, max *Node) {
+	switch n.Op {
+	case OSLICE, OSLICEARR, OSLICESTR:
+		if max != nil {
+			Fatalf("SetSliceBounds %s given three bounds", n.Op)
+		}
+		if n.Right == nil {
+			n.Right = Nod(OKEY, low, high)
+			return
+		}
+		n.Right.Left = low
+		n.Right.Right = high
+		return
+	case OSLICE3, OSLICE3ARR:
+		if n.Right == nil {
+			n.Right = Nod(OKEY, low, Nod(OKEY, high, max))
+		}
+		n.Right.Left = low
+		n.Right.Right.Left = high
+		n.Right.Right.Right = max
+		return
+	}
+	Fatalf("SetSliceBounds op %s: %v", n.Op, n)
+}
+
+// IsSlice3 reports whether o is a slice3 op (OSLICE3, OSLICE3ARR).
+// o must be a slicing op.
+func (o Op) IsSlice3() bool {
+	switch o {
+	case OSLICE, OSLICEARR, OSLICESTR:
+		return false
+	case OSLICE3, OSLICE3ARR:
+		return true
+	}
+	Fatalf("IsSlice3 op %v", o)
+	return false
+}
+
 // Is a conversion between t1 and t2 a no-op?
 func Noconv(t1 *Type, t2 *Type) bool {
 	e1 := Simtype[t1.Etype]
diff --git a/src/cmd/compile/internal/gc/typecheck.go b/src/cmd/compile/internal/gc/typecheck.go
index 49b991c..8860c5d 100644
--- a/src/cmd/compile/internal/gc/typecheck.go
+++ b/src/cmd/compile/internal/gc/typecheck.go
@@ -1105,14 +1105,19 @@
 		n.Type = nil
 		break OpSwitch
 
-	case OSLICE:
+	case OSLICE, OSLICE3:
 		ok |= Erv
 		n.Left = typecheck(n.Left, top)
-		n.Right.Left = typecheck(n.Right.Left, Erv)
-		n.Right.Right = typecheck(n.Right.Right, Erv)
+		low, high, max := n.SliceBounds()
+		hasmax := n.Op.IsSlice3()
+		low = typecheck(low, Erv)
+		high = typecheck(high, Erv)
+		max = typecheck(max, Erv)
 		n.Left = defaultlit(n.Left, nil)
-		n.Right.Left = indexlit(n.Right.Left)
-		n.Right.Right = indexlit(n.Right.Right)
+		low = indexlit(low)
+		high = indexlit(high)
+		max = indexlit(max)
+		n.SetSliceBounds(low, high, max)
 		l := n.Left
 		if l.Type.IsArray() {
 			if !islvalue(n.Left) {
@@ -1134,78 +1139,22 @@
 		}
 		var tp *Type
 		if t.IsString() {
+			if hasmax {
+				Yyerror("invalid operation %v (3-index slice of string)", n)
+				n.Type = nil
+				return n
+			}
 			n.Type = t
 			n.Op = OSLICESTR
 		} else if t.IsPtr() && t.Elem().IsArray() {
 			tp = t.Elem()
 			n.Type = typSlice(tp.Elem())
 			dowidth(n.Type)
-			n.Op = OSLICEARR
-		} else if t.IsSlice() {
-			n.Type = t
-		} else {
-			Yyerror("cannot slice %v (type %v)", l, t)
-			n.Type = nil
-			return n
-		}
-
-		lo := n.Right.Left
-		if lo != nil && !checksliceindex(l, lo, tp) {
-			n.Type = nil
-			return n
-		}
-		hi := n.Right.Right
-		if hi != nil && !checksliceindex(l, hi, tp) {
-			n.Type = nil
-			return n
-		}
-		if !checksliceconst(lo, hi) {
-			n.Type = nil
-			return n
-		}
-		break OpSwitch
-
-	case OSLICE3:
-		ok |= Erv
-		n.Left = typecheck(n.Left, top)
-		n.Right.Left = typecheck(n.Right.Left, Erv)
-		n.Right.Right.Left = typecheck(n.Right.Right.Left, Erv)
-		n.Right.Right.Right = typecheck(n.Right.Right.Right, Erv)
-		n.Left = defaultlit(n.Left, nil)
-		n.Right.Left = indexlit(n.Right.Left)
-		n.Right.Right.Left = indexlit(n.Right.Right.Left)
-		n.Right.Right.Right = indexlit(n.Right.Right.Right)
-		l := n.Left
-		if l.Type.IsArray() {
-			if !islvalue(n.Left) {
-				Yyerror("invalid operation %v (slice of unaddressable value)", n)
-				n.Type = nil
-				return n
+			if hasmax {
+				n.Op = OSLICE3ARR
+			} else {
+				n.Op = OSLICEARR
 			}
-
-			n.Left = Nod(OADDR, n.Left, nil)
-			n.Left.Implicit = true
-			n.Left = typecheck(n.Left, Erv)
-			l = n.Left
-		}
-
-		t := l.Type
-		if t == nil {
-			n.Type = nil
-			return n
-		}
-		if t.IsString() {
-			Yyerror("invalid operation %v (3-index slice of string)", n)
-			n.Type = nil
-			return n
-		}
-
-		var tp *Type
-		if t.IsPtr() && t.Elem().IsArray() {
-			tp = t.Elem()
-			n.Type = typSlice(tp.Elem())
-			dowidth(n.Type)
-			n.Op = OSLICE3ARR
 		} else if t.IsSlice() {
 			n.Type = t
 		} else {
@@ -1214,22 +1163,19 @@
 			return n
 		}
 
-		lo := n.Right.Left
-		if lo != nil && !checksliceindex(l, lo, tp) {
+		if low != nil && !checksliceindex(l, low, tp) {
 			n.Type = nil
 			return n
 		}
-		mid := n.Right.Right.Left
-		if mid != nil && !checksliceindex(l, mid, tp) {
+		if high != nil && !checksliceindex(l, high, tp) {
 			n.Type = nil
 			return n
 		}
-		hi := n.Right.Right.Right
-		if hi != nil && !checksliceindex(l, hi, tp) {
+		if max != nil && !checksliceindex(l, max, tp) {
 			n.Type = nil
 			return n
 		}
-		if !checksliceconst(lo, hi) || !checksliceconst(lo, mid) || !checksliceconst(mid, hi) {
+		if !checksliceconst(low, high) || !checksliceconst(low, max) || !checksliceconst(high, max) {
 			n.Type = nil
 			return n
 		}
diff --git a/src/cmd/compile/internal/gc/walk.go b/src/cmd/compile/internal/gc/walk.go
index 04ccfad..e8fee67 100644
--- a/src/cmd/compile/internal/gc/walk.go
+++ b/src/cmd/compile/internal/gc/walk.go
@@ -1241,35 +1241,28 @@
 	case ORECV:
 		Fatalf("walkexpr ORECV") // should see inside OAS only
 
-	case OSLICE, OSLICEARR, OSLICESTR:
+	case OSLICE, OSLICEARR, OSLICESTR, OSLICE3, OSLICE3ARR:
 		n.Left = walkexpr(n.Left, init)
-		n.Right.Left = walkexpr(n.Right.Left, init)
-		if n.Right.Left != nil && iszero(n.Right.Left) {
-			// Reduce x[0:j] to x[:j].
-			n.Right.Left = nil
+		low, high, max := n.SliceBounds()
+		low = walkexpr(low, init)
+		if low != nil && iszero(low) {
+			// Reduce x[0:j] to x[:j] and x[0:j:k] to x[:j:k].
+			low = nil
 		}
-		n.Right.Right = walkexpr(n.Right.Right, init)
-		n = reduceSlice(n)
-
-	case OSLICE3, OSLICE3ARR:
-		n.Left = walkexpr(n.Left, init)
-		n.Right.Left = walkexpr(n.Right.Left, init)
-		if n.Right.Left != nil && iszero(n.Right.Left) {
-			// Reduce x[0:j:k] to x[:j:k].
-			n.Right.Left = nil
-		}
-		n.Right.Right.Left = walkexpr(n.Right.Right.Left, init)
-		n.Right.Right.Right = walkexpr(n.Right.Right.Right, init)
-
-		r := n.Right.Right.Right
-		if r != nil && r.Op == OCAP && samesafeexpr(n.Left, r.Left) {
-			// Reduce x[i:j:cap(x)] to x[i:j].
-			n.Right.Right = n.Right.Right.Left
-			if n.Op == OSLICE3 {
-				n.Op = OSLICE
-			} else {
-				n.Op = OSLICEARR
+		high = walkexpr(high, init)
+		max = walkexpr(max, init)
+		n.SetSliceBounds(low, high, max)
+		if n.Op.IsSlice3() {
+			if max != nil && max.Op == OCAP && samesafeexpr(n.Left, max.Left) {
+				// Reduce x[i:j:cap(x)] to x[i:j].
+				if n.Op == OSLICE3 {
+					n.Op = OSLICE
+				} else {
+					n.Op = OSLICEARR
+				}
+				n = reduceSlice(n)
 			}
+		} else {
 			n = reduceSlice(n)
 		}
 
@@ -1425,8 +1418,9 @@
 			a := Nod(OAS, var_, nil) // zero temp
 			a = typecheck(a, Etop)
 			init.Append(a)
-			r := Nod(OSLICE, var_, Nod(OKEY, nil, l)) // arr[:l]
-			r = conv(r, n.Type)                       // in case n.Type is named.
+			r := Nod(OSLICE, var_, nil) // arr[:l]
+			r.SetSliceBounds(nil, l, nil)
+			r = conv(r, n.Type) // in case n.Type is named.
 			r = typecheck(r, Erv)
 			r = walkexpr(r, init)
 			n = r
@@ -1596,13 +1590,15 @@
 	return n
 }
 
+// TODO(josharian): combine this with its caller and simplify
 func reduceSlice(n *Node) *Node {
-	r := n.Right.Right
-	if r != nil && r.Op == OLEN && samesafeexpr(n.Left, r.Left) {
+	low, high, max := n.SliceBounds()
+	if high != nil && high.Op == OLEN && samesafeexpr(n.Left, high.Left) {
 		// Reduce x[i:len(x)] to x[i:].
-		n.Right.Right = nil
+		high = nil
 	}
-	if (n.Op == OSLICE || n.Op == OSLICESTR) && n.Right.Left == nil && n.Right.Right == nil {
+	n.SetSliceBounds(low, high, max)
+	if (n.Op == OSLICE || n.Op == OSLICESTR) && low == nil && high == nil {
 		// Reduce x[:] to x.
 		if Debug_slice > 0 {
 			Warn("slice: omit slice operation")
@@ -2816,14 +2812,15 @@
 	l = append(l, nif)
 
 	// s = s[:n]
-	nt := Nod(OSLICE, s, Nod(OKEY, nil, nn))
+	nt := Nod(OSLICE, s, nil)
+	nt.SetSliceBounds(nil, nn, nil)
 	nt.Etype = 1
 	l = append(l, Nod(OAS, s, nt))
 
 	if haspointers(l1.Type.Elem()) {
 		// copy(s[len(l1):], l2)
-		nptr1 := Nod(OSLICE, s, Nod(OKEY, Nod(OLEN, l1, nil), nil))
-
+		nptr1 := Nod(OSLICE, s, nil)
+		nptr1.SetSliceBounds(Nod(OLEN, l1, nil), nil, nil)
 		nptr1.Etype = 1
 		nptr2 := l2
 		fn := syslook("typedslicecopy")
@@ -2835,8 +2832,8 @@
 	} else if instrumenting {
 		// rely on runtime to instrument copy.
 		// copy(s[len(l1):], l2)
-		nptr1 := Nod(OSLICE, s, Nod(OKEY, Nod(OLEN, l1, nil), nil))
-
+		nptr1 := Nod(OSLICE, s, nil)
+		nptr1.SetSliceBounds(Nod(OLEN, l1, nil), nil, nil)
 		nptr1.Etype = 1
 		nptr2 := l2
 		var fn *Node
@@ -2950,7 +2947,8 @@
 	nn := temp(Types[TINT])
 	l = append(l, Nod(OAS, nn, Nod(OLEN, ns, nil))) // n = len(s)
 
-	nx = Nod(OSLICE, ns, Nod(OKEY, nil, Nod(OADD, nn, na))) // ...s[:n+argc]
+	nx = Nod(OSLICE, ns, nil) // ...s[:n+argc]
+	nx.SetSliceBounds(nil, Nod(OADD, nn, na), nil)
 	nx.Etype = 1
 	l = append(l, Nod(OAS, ns, nx)) // s = s[:n+argc]