ECO D47 · Semi-Slav Defense

Semi-Slav Defense: Meran Variation, Wade Variation, Larsen Variation

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Nf3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 b5 8. Bd3 Bb7 9. e4 b4 10. Na4 c5 11. e5 Nd5

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

12. O-O+0.36

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Semi-Slav Defense: Meran Variation, Wade Variation, Larsen 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 8. Bd3 Bb7 9. e4 b4 10. Na4 c5 11. e5 Nd5, Stockfish 18 recommends 12. O-O for White. White is slightly better (+0.36).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.3612. O-O cxd4 13. Re1 Be7 14. Nxd4 O-O 15. Qg4 Re8 16. Bh6 Bf8
  2. +0.1612. Nxc5 Nxc5 13. dxc5 Bxc5 14. Qa4+ Ke7 15. Bg5+ f6 16. Bd2 Nb6
  3. +0.1312. dxc5 Nxc5 13. Nxc5 Bxc5 14. Ng5 Ne7 15. O-O Qd5 16. Be4 Qxd1

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Semi-Slav Defense: Meran Variation, Wade Variation, Larsen 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 Bb7 9. e4 b4 10. Na4 c5 11. e5 Nd5, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 12. O-O for White, continuing cxd4 13. Re1 Be7 14. Nxd4 O-O 15. Qg4 Re8 16. Bh6 Bf8. White is slightly better (+0.36). The next best moves are 12. Nxc5 (+0.16) and 12. dxc5 (+0.13).
Is the Semi-Slav Defense: Meran Variation, Wade Variation, Larsen Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.36: 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, Wade Variation, Larsen 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+).