ECO D49 · Semi-Slav Defense

Semi-Slav Defense: Meran Variation, Rabinovich 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 Ng4

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

12. Qa4+0.57

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Semi-Slav Defense: Meran Variation, Rabinovich 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 Ng4, Stockfish 18 recommends 12. Qa4 for White. White is slightly better (+0.57).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.5712. Qa4 Bb7 13. Nbxd4 Qb6 14. O-O Bc5 15. h3 Bxf3 16. hxg4 Bd5
  2. +0.3112. Nd6+ Bxd6 13. exd6 Qa5+ 14. Qd2 Qd5 15. Qg5 Qxg5 16. Bxg5 f6
  3. +0.1712. Nbxd4 Bb4+ 13. Bd2 Bxd2+ 14. Qxd2 Ndxe5 15. Be4 Rb8 16. O-O Nxf3+

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Semi-Slav Defense: Meran Variation, Rabinovich 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 Ng4, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 12. Qa4 for White, continuing Bb7 13. Nbxd4 Qb6 14. O-O Bc5 15. h3 Bxf3 16. hxg4 Bd5. White is slightly better (+0.57). The next best moves are 12. Nd6+ (+0.31) and 12. Nbxd4 (+0.17).
Is the Semi-Slav Defense: Meran Variation, Rabinovich Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.57: 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, Rabinovich 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+).