ECO D46 · Semi-Slav Defense

Semi-Slav Defense: Romih Variation

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Nf3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 Bb4

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

7. O-O+0.38

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Semi-Slav Defense: Romih Variation (D46), reached after 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Nf3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 Bb4, Stockfish 18 recommends 7. O-O for White. White is slightly better (+0.38).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.387. O-O O-O 8. Bd2 Bd6 9. Qc2 dxc4 10. Bxc4 e5 11. Bb3 h6
  2. +0.377. Qc2 O-O 8. O-O b6 9. cxd5 exd5 10. a3 Be7 11. Rd1 Bb7
  3. +0.367. Bd2 O-O 8. O-O Bd6 9. Qc2 dxc4 10. Bxc4 e5 11. Bb3 h6

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Semi-Slav Defense: Romih Variation?
After 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Nf3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 Bb4, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 7. O-O for White, continuing O-O 8. Bd2 Bd6 9. Qc2 dxc4 10. Bxc4 e5 11. Bb3 h6. White is slightly better (+0.38). The next best moves are 7. Qc2 (+0.37) and 7. Bd2 (+0.36).
Is the Semi-Slav Defense: Romih 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: Romih Variation?
D46. 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+).