ECO D47 · Semi-Slav Defense

Semi-Slav Defense: Meran Variation

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Nf3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 b5

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

8. Bd3+0.33

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Semi-Slav Defense: Meran Variation (D47), reached after 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Nf3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 b5, Stockfish 18 recommends 8. Bd3 for White. White is slightly better (+0.33).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.338. Bd3 a6 9. e4 c5 10. d5 c4 11. dxe6 cxd3 12. exd7+ Qxd7
  2. +0.198. Be2 Bb7 9. O-O Be7 10. a3 O-O 11. e4 c5 12. e5 Nd5
  3. +0.028. Bb3 b4 9. Ne2 Be7 10. O-O O-O 11. Bc2 c5 12. e4 Ba6

Other move orders

  • 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Nf3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 b5 8. Bd3 a6
  • 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Nf3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 b5 8. Bd3 a6 9. e4 c5

Variations

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Semi-Slav Defense: Meran Variation?
After 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Nf3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 b5, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 8. Bd3 for White, continuing a6 9. e4 c5 10. d5 c4 11. dxe6 cxd3 12. exd7+ Qxd7. White is slightly better (+0.33). The next best moves are 8. Be2 (+0.19) and 8. Bb3 (+0.02).
Is the Semi-Slav Defense: Meran Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.33: 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: Meran Variation?
D47. 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+).