ECO D46 · Semi-Slav Defense

Semi-Slav Defense: Bogoljubow Variation

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Nf3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 Be7

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

7. O-O+0.48

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Semi-Slav Defense: Bogoljubow Variation (D46), reached after 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Nf3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 Be7, Stockfish 18 recommends 7. O-O for White. White is slightly better (+0.48).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.487. O-O O-O 8. b3 b6 9. Bb2 Bb7 10. Rc1 Rc8 11. Qe2 dxc4
  2. +0.477. b3 b6 8. Qe2 Bb7 9. Bb2 O-O 10. O-O Qc7 11. Rfd1 Rad8
  3. +0.347. Qe2 dxc4 8. Bxc4 b5 9. Bd3 b4 10. Na4 c5 11. dxc5 Bb7

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Semi-Slav Defense: Bogoljubow Variation?
After 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Nf3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 Be7, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 7. O-O for White, continuing O-O 8. b3 b6 9. Bb2 Bb7 10. Rc1 Rc8 11. Qe2 dxc4. White is slightly better (+0.48). The next best moves are 7. b3 (+0.47) and 7. Qe2 (+0.34).
Is the Semi-Slav Defense: Bogoljubow Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.48: 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: Bogoljubow Variation?
D46. 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+).