ECO D45 · Semi-Slav Defense

Semi-Slav Defense: Main Line

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Nf3

abcdefgh87654321
Black to move. The arrow shows Stockfish’s best move.
Best move

5… Be7+0.41

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Semi-Slav Defense: Main Line (D45), reached after 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Nf3, Stockfish 18 recommends 5… Be7 for Black. White is slightly better (+0.41).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.415… Be7 6. Bd3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 c5 8. O-O cxd4 9. exd4 Nc6 10. Re1
  2. +0.435… Bd6 6. Bd3 O-O 7. e4 dxe4 8. Nxe4 Nxe4 9. Bxe4 f5 10. Bc2
  3. +0.435… Nbd7 6. Bd3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 b5 8. Bd3 Bd6 9. Qc2 Bb7 10. e4

Other move orders

  • 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Nf3 Nbd7 6. Bd3
  • 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Nf3 Nbd7 6. Qc2 b6 7. b3 Bb7 8. Bd3 Be7 9. O-O O-O 10. Bb2

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Semi-Slav Defense: Main Line?
After 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Nf3, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 5… Be7 for Black, continuing 6. Bd3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 c5 8. O-O cxd4 9. exd4 Nc6 10. Re1. White is slightly better (+0.41). The next best moves are 5… Bd6 (+0.43) and 5… Nbd7 (+0.43).
Is the Semi-Slav Defense: Main Line a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.41: 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: Main Line?
D45. 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+).