ECO D31 · Queen's Gambit Declined

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

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 c6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bb4 6. e3 b5 7. Bd2 Qb6

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

8. Ne4+0.49

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Queen's Gambit Declined: Semi-Slav, Junge Variation (D31), reached after 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 c6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bb4 6. e3 b5 7. Bd2 Qb6, Stockfish 18 recommends 8. Ne4 for White. White is slightly better (+0.49).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.498. Ne4 Be7 9. b3 cxb3 10. Qxb3 Nf6 11. Bd3 Nxe4 12. Bxe4 a5
  2. +0.178. axb5 cxb5 9. Ne5 Ne7 10. Qf3 O-O 11. Qxa8 Nec6 12. Nxc6 Nxc6
  3. +0.088. Ne5 Ne7 9. axb5 cxb5 10. Qf3 O-O 11. Qxa8 Nec6 12. Nxc6 Nxc6

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Queen's Gambit Declined: Semi-Slav, Junge Variation?
After 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 c6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bb4 6. e3 b5 7. Bd2 Qb6, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 8. Ne4 for White, continuing Be7 9. b3 cxb3 10. Qxb3 Nf6 11. Bd3 Nxe4 12. Bxe4 a5. White is slightly better (+0.49). The next best moves are 8. axb5 (+0.17) and 8. Ne5 (+0.08).
Is the Queen's Gambit Declined: Semi-Slav, Junge Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.49: 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, Junge 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+).