Semi-Slav Defense: Meran Variation, Blumenfeld Variation
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 10. e5 cxd4 11. Nxb5
11… axb5+0.25
The position is roughly equal. Stockfish 18, depth 18.
Analyze this positionIn the Semi-Slav Defense: Meran Variation, Blumenfeld Variation (D49), reached after 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 10. e5 cxd4 11. Nxb5, Stockfish 18 recommends 11… axb5 for Black. The position is roughly equal (+0.25).
Top engine moves
- +0.2511… axb5 12. exf6 Qb6 13. fxg7 Bxg7 14. O-O O-O 15. Qe2 Ba6 16. b4
- +0.2911… Qb6 12. Qa4 Bb7 13. Nbxd4 Bb4+ 14. Bd2 Bxf3 15. Qxb4 Qxb4 16. Bxb4
- +0.3311… Bb4+ 12. Bd2 Bxd2+ 13. Qxd2 axb5 14. exf6 Qxf6 15. Bxb5 e5 16. O-O
Frequently asked questions
What is the best move in the Semi-Slav Defense: Meran Variation, Blumenfeld Variation?
After 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 10. e5 cxd4 11. Nxb5, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 11… axb5 for Black, continuing 12. exf6 Qb6 13. fxg7 Bxg7 14. O-O O-O 15. Qe2 Ba6 16. b4. The position is roughly equal (+0.25). The next best moves are 11… Qb6 (+0.29) and 11… Bb4+ (+0.33).
Is the Semi-Slav Defense: Meran Variation, Blumenfeld Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.25: the position is roughly equal. 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, Blumenfeld Variation?
D49. 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+).