Semi-Slav Defense: Meran Variation, Old 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
10… cxd4+0.12
The position is roughly equal. Stockfish 18, depth 18.
Analyze this positionIn the Semi-Slav Defense: Meran Variation, Old Variation (D48), 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, Stockfish 18 recommends 10… cxd4 for Black. The position is roughly equal (+0.12).
Top engine moves
- +0.1210… cxd4 11. Nxb5 axb5 12. exf6 Qb6 13. a4 bxa4 14. O-O gxf6 15. Rxa4
- +0.8510… c4 11. Bc2 Nd5 12. Ng5 Be7 13. Nxd5 exd5 14. h4 Nf8 15. Qf3
- +1.0710… Ng4 11. Bg5 Be7 12. Bxe7 Qxe7 13. Be4 Rb8 14. h3 cxd4 15. Qxd4
Frequently asked questions
What is the best move in the Semi-Slav Defense: Meran Variation, Old 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, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 10… cxd4 for Black, continuing 11. Nxb5 axb5 12. exf6 Qb6 13. a4 bxa4 14. O-O gxf6 15. Rxa4. The position is roughly equal (+0.12). The next best moves are 10… c4 (+0.85) and 10… Ng4 (+1.07).
Is the Semi-Slav Defense: Meran Variation, Old Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.12: 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, Old Variation?
D48. 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+).