ECO D44 · Semi-Slav Defense

Semi-Slav Defense: Botvinnik Variation

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bg5 dxc4 6. e4

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

6… b5+0.30

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Semi-Slav Defense: Botvinnik Variation (D44), reached after 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bg5 dxc4 6. e4, Stockfish 18 recommends 6… b5 for Black. White is slightly better (+0.30).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.306… b5 7. e5 h6 8. Bh4 g5 9. Nxg5 hxg5 10. Bxg5 Be7 11. exf6
  2. +0.796… h6 7. Bxf6 Qxf6 8. Bxc4 Nd7 9. O-O Nb6 10. Bd3 Bd7 11. Qe2
  3. +0.906… Bb4 7. e5 h6 8. exf6 hxg5 9. fxg7 Rg8 10. Bxc4 Nd7 11. h4

Other move orders

  • 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bg5 dxc4 6. e4 b5 7. e5 h6 8. Bh4 g5 9. Nxg5

Variations

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Semi-Slav Defense: Botvinnik Variation?
After 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bg5 dxc4 6. e4, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 6… b5 for Black, continuing 7. e5 h6 8. Bh4 g5 9. Nxg5 hxg5 10. Bxg5 Be7 11. exf6. White is slightly better (+0.30). The next best moves are 6… h6 (+0.79) and 6… Bb4 (+0.90).
Is the Semi-Slav Defense: Botvinnik Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.30: 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: Botvinnik Variation?
D44. 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+).