ECO D31 · Semi-Slav Defense

Semi-Slav Defense: Marshall Gambit, Tolush Variation

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c6 4. e4 dxe4 5. Nxe4 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 Qxd4 7. Bxb4 Qxe4+ 8. Be2 c5 9. Bxc5 Qxg2

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

10. Bf3+0.65

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Semi-Slav Defense: Marshall Gambit, Tolush Variation (D31), reached after 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c6 4. e4 dxe4 5. Nxe4 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 Qxd4 7. Bxb4 Qxe4+ 8. Be2 c5 9. Bxc5 Qxg2, Stockfish 18 recommends 10. Bf3 for White. White is slightly better (+0.65).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.6510. Bf3 Qg5 11. Qd6 Nd7 12. Ba3 Qa5+ 13. Bb4 Qe5+ 14. Ne2 a5
  2. +0.6510. Qd6 Nd7 11. Bf3 Qg5 12. Ba3 Qa5+ 13. Bb4 Qe5+ 14. Ne2 a5
  3. +0.3810. Qd4 Nc6 11. Qd6 Nge7 12. O-O-O Qe4 13. b3 Ng6 14. Bf3 Qf4+

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Semi-Slav Defense: Marshall Gambit, Tolush Variation?
After 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c6 4. e4 dxe4 5. Nxe4 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 Qxd4 7. Bxb4 Qxe4+ 8. Be2 c5 9. Bxc5 Qxg2, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 10. Bf3 for White, continuing Qg5 11. Qd6 Nd7 12. Ba3 Qa5+ 13. Bb4 Qe5+ 14. Ne2 a5. White is slightly better (+0.65). The next best moves are 10. Qd6 (+0.65) and 10. Qd4 (+0.38).
Is the Semi-Slav Defense: Marshall Gambit, Tolush Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.65: 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, Tolush Variation?
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+).