ECO D44 · Semi-Slav Defense

Semi-Slav Defense: Botvinnik Variation, Lilienthal Variation

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 hxg5 10. Bxg5 Nbd7 11. g3

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

11… Qc7+0.57

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Semi-Slav Defense: Botvinnik Variation, Lilienthal Variation (D44), reached after 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 hxg5 10. Bxg5 Nbd7 11. g3, Stockfish 18 recommends 11… Qc7 for Black. White is slightly better (+0.57).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.5711… Qc7 12. exf6 Bb7 13. Bg2 c5 14. d5 Qe5+ 15. Be3 Nxf6 16. Nxb5
  2. +0.7111… Bb7 12. Bg2 Qb6 13. exf6 O-O-O 14. O-O c5 15. d5 b4 16. Na4
  3. +0.7311… Qb6 12. exf6 Bb7 13. Bg2 O-O-O 14. O-O c5 15. d5 b4 16. Na4

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Semi-Slav Defense: Botvinnik Variation, Lilienthal Variation?
After 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 hxg5 10. Bxg5 Nbd7 11. g3, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 11… Qc7 for Black, continuing 12. exf6 Bb7 13. Bg2 c5 14. d5 Qe5+ 15. Be3 Nxf6 16. Nxb5. White is slightly better (+0.57). The next best moves are 11… Bb7 (+0.71) and 11… Qb6 (+0.73).
Is the Semi-Slav Defense: Botvinnik Variation, Lilienthal 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 Semi-Slav Defense: Botvinnik Variation, Lilienthal 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+).