ECO D43 · Semi-Slav Defense

Semi-Slav Defense: Anti-Moscow Gambit

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bh4

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

6… dxc4+0.31

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Semi-Slav Defense: Anti-Moscow Gambit (D43), reached after 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bh4, Stockfish 18 recommends 6… dxc4 for Black. White is slightly better (+0.31).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.316… dxc4 7. e4 g5 8. Bg3 b5 9. Ne5 Nbd7 10. Nxc6 Qb6 11. d5
  2. +0.326… Nbd7 7. e3 Be7 8. Qc2 O-O 9. Bd3 dxc4 10. Bxc4 b5 11. Be2
  3. +0.346… Be7 7. e3 O-O 8. Bd3 dxc4 9. Bxc4 b5 10. Be2 Nbd7 11. Qc2

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Semi-Slav Defense: Anti-Moscow Gambit?
After 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bh4, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 6… dxc4 for Black, continuing 7. e4 g5 8. Bg3 b5 9. Ne5 Nbd7 10. Nxc6 Qb6 11. d5. White is slightly better (+0.31). The next best moves are 6… Nbd7 (+0.32) and 6… Be7 (+0.34).
Is the Semi-Slav Defense: Anti-Moscow Gambit a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.31: 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 Semi-Slav Defense: Anti-Moscow Gambit?
D43. 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+).