ECO D05 · Rubinstein Opening

Rubinstein Opening: Semi-Slav Defense

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. e3 e6 4. Bd3 Bd6 5. O-O O-O 6. b3 Nbd7 7. Bb2

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

7… b6+0.11

The position is roughly equal. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Rubinstein Opening: Semi-Slav Defense (D05), reached after 1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. e3 e6 4. Bd3 Bd6 5. O-O O-O 6. b3 Nbd7 7. Bb2, Stockfish 18 recommends 7… b6 for Black. The position is roughly equal (+0.11).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.117… b6 8. c4 Bb7 9. Nbd2 c5 10. cxd5 exd5 11. Rc1 Qe7 12. dxc5
  2. +0.177… c5 8. c4 b6 9. Nc3 Bb7 10. cxd5 exd5 11. Ne2 Qe7 12. dxc5
  3. +0.347… Qe7 8. Nbd2 c5 9. Re1 e5 10. e4 exd4 11. exd5 Qd8 12. Nc4

Other move orders

  • 1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. e3 e6 4. Bd3 Bd6 5. O-O O-O 6. b3 Nbd7 7. Bb2 c6
  • 1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. e3 e6 4. Bd3 Bd6 5. O-O O-O 6. b3 Nbd7 7. Bb2 c6 8. Nbd2

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Rubinstein Opening: Semi-Slav Defense?
After 1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. e3 e6 4. Bd3 Bd6 5. O-O O-O 6. b3 Nbd7 7. Bb2, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 7… b6 for Black, continuing 8. c4 Bb7 9. Nbd2 c5 10. cxd5 exd5 11. Rc1 Qe7 12. dxc5. The position is roughly equal (+0.11). The next best moves are 7… c5 (+0.17) and 7… Qe7 (+0.34).
Is the Rubinstein Opening: Semi-Slav Defense a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.11: the position is roughly equal. 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 Rubinstein Opening: Semi-Slav Defense?
D05. 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+).