ECO D45 · Semi-Slav Defense

Semi-Slav Defense: Normal Variation

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Nf3 Nbd7

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

6. Bd3+0.38

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Semi-Slav Defense: Normal Variation (D45), reached after 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Nf3 Nbd7, Stockfish 18 recommends 6. Bd3 for White. White is slightly better (+0.38).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.386. Bd3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 b5 8. Bd3 a6 9. e4 c5 10. d5 exd5
  2. +0.256. Qc2 Bd6 7. Bd3 e5 8. cxd5 cxd5 9. e4 dxe4 10. Nxe4 Nxe4
  3. +0.226. Be2 Bd6 7. O-O O-O 8. b3 b6 9. Bb2 Bb7 10. Qc2 Qe7

Other move orders

  • 1. Nf3 d5 2. e3 Nf6 3. c4 c6 4. Nc3 e6 5. b3 Bd6 6. Bb2 O-O 7. d4 Nbd7
  • 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c6 4. Nf3 Nf6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. b3 Bd6 7. Bb2 O-O 8. Be2

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Semi-Slav Defense: Normal Variation?
After 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Nf3 Nbd7, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 6. Bd3 for White, continuing dxc4 7. Bxc4 b5 8. Bd3 a6 9. e4 c5 10. d5 exd5. White is slightly better (+0.38). The next best moves are 6. Qc2 (+0.25) and 6. Be2 (+0.22).
Is the Semi-Slav Defense: Normal Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.38: 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: Normal Variation?
D45. 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+).