ECO D47 · Semi-Slav Defense

Semi-Slav Defense: Semi-Meran Variation

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Nf3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 dxc4 7. Bxc4

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

7… b5+0.29

The position is roughly equal. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Semi-Slav Defense: Semi-Meran Variation (D47), reached after 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Nf3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 dxc4 7. Bxc4, Stockfish 18 recommends 7… b5 for Black. The position is roughly equal (+0.29).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.297… b5 8. Bd3 a6 9. e4 c5 10. d5 Qc7 11. dxe6 fxe6 12. Bc2
  2. +0.447… a6 8. a4 b5 9. axb5 Nb6 10. Bd3 cxb5 11. O-O Bb7 12. e4
  3. +0.457… c5 8. O-O a6 9. a4 Qc7 10. Qe2 Bd6 11. dxc5 Nxc5 12. e4

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Semi-Slav Defense: Semi-Meran Variation?
After 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Nf3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 dxc4 7. Bxc4, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 7… b5 for Black, continuing 8. Bd3 a6 9. e4 c5 10. d5 Qc7 11. dxe6 fxe6 12. Bc2. The position is roughly equal (+0.29). The next best moves are 7… a6 (+0.44) and 7… c5 (+0.45).
Is the Semi-Slav Defense: Semi-Meran Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.29: 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: Semi-Meran 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+).