ECO D31 · Queen's Gambit Declined

Queen's Gambit Declined: Semi-Slav, Abrahams Variation

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c6 4. Nf3 dxc4 5. a4 Bb4 6. e3 b5 7. Bd2 a5

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White to move. The arrow shows Stockfish’s best move.
Best move

8. axb5+0.47

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Queen's Gambit Declined: Semi-Slav, Abrahams Variation (D31), reached after 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c6 4. Nf3 dxc4 5. a4 Bb4 6. e3 b5 7. Bd2 a5, Stockfish 18 recommends 8. axb5 for White. White is slightly better (+0.47).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.478. axb5 Bxc3 9. Bxc3 cxb5 10. b3 Bb7 11. bxc4 b4 12. Bb2 Nf6
  2. +0.088. Ne5 Nf6 9. Qf3 Ra6 10. axb5 cxb5 11. Nxb5 Bxd2+ 12. Kxd2 Rb6
  3. −0.368. Be2 Nf6 9. O-O O-O 10. Qc2 Bd7 11. e4 h6 12. e5 Nd5

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Queen's Gambit Declined: Semi-Slav, Abrahams Variation?
After 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c6 4. Nf3 dxc4 5. a4 Bb4 6. e3 b5 7. Bd2 a5, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 8. axb5 for White, continuing Bxc3 9. Bxc3 cxb5 10. b3 Bb7 11. bxc4 b4 12. Bb2 Nf6. White is slightly better (+0.47). The next best moves are 8. Ne5 (+0.08) and 8. Be2 (−0.36).
Is the Queen's Gambit Declined: Semi-Slav, Abrahams Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.47: white is slightly better. Evaluations this early in the game are small, so practical results depend far more on knowing the plans and typical structures than on the engine's number.
What is the ECO code of the Queen's Gambit Declined: Semi-Slav, Abrahams Variation?
D31. ECO codes classify chess openings from A00 to E99; D is the volume for closed and semi-closed games.

Opening names from the Lichess opening book (CC0). Pieces by Colin M.L. Burnett (GPLv2+).