ECO D31 · Semi-Slav Defense

Semi-Slav Defense: Marshall Gambit

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c6 4. e4

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

4… dxe4+0.39

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Semi-Slav Defense: Marshall Gambit (D31), reached after 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c6 4. e4, Stockfish 18 recommends 4… dxe4 for Black. White is slightly better (+0.39).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.394… dxe4 5. Nxe4 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 Qxd4 7. Bxb4 Qxe4+ 8. Ne2 Na6 9. Bf8
  2. +0.584… Bb4 5. cxd5 exd5 6. e5 c5 7. a3 Bxc3+ 8. bxc3 Nc6 9. Nf3
  3. +0.884… h6 5. e5 Ne7 6. Nf3 b6 7. b3 c5 8. Be2 Bb7 9. O-O

Variations

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Semi-Slav Defense: Marshall Gambit?
After 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c6 4. e4, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 4… dxe4 for Black, continuing 5. Nxe4 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 Qxd4 7. Bxb4 Qxe4+ 8. Ne2 Na6 9. Bf8. White is slightly better (+0.39). The next best moves are 4… Bb4 (+0.58) and 4… h6 (+0.88).
Is the Semi-Slav Defense: Marshall Gambit a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.39: 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: Marshall Gambit?
D31. 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+).