ECO D31 · Queen's Gambit Declined

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

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c6 4. Nf3 dxc4 5. e3 b5 6. a4 Bb4 7. Bd2 Qe7

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

8. axb5+0.57

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Queen's Gambit Declined: Semi-Slav, Koomen Variation (D31), reached after 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c6 4. Nf3 dxc4 5. e3 b5 6. a4 Bb4 7. Bd2 Qe7, Stockfish 18 recommends 8. axb5 for White. White is slightly better (+0.57).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.578. axb5 Bxc3 9. Bxc3 cxb5 10. d5 Nf6 11. d6 Qb7 12. b3 cxb3
  2. +0.368. Qc2 Nf6 9. axb5 Bxc3 10. Qxc3 cxb5 11. b3 Ne4 12. Qb2 Nc6
  3. +0.158. Qc1 Bd7 9. b3 Nf6 10. bxc4 bxc4 11. Bxc4 O-O 12. e4 Bxc3

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Queen's Gambit Declined: Semi-Slav, Koomen Variation?
After 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c6 4. Nf3 dxc4 5. e3 b5 6. a4 Bb4 7. Bd2 Qe7, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 8. axb5 for White, continuing Bxc3 9. Bxc3 cxb5 10. d5 Nf6 11. d6 Qb7 12. b3 cxb3. White is slightly better (+0.57). The next best moves are 8. Qc2 (+0.36) and 8. Qc1 (+0.15).
Is the Queen's Gambit Declined: Semi-Slav, Koomen Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.57: 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, Koomen 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+).