← Openings

Semi-Slav Defense D43

D — Closed & semi-closed · Family: Semi-Slav Defense

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

🎓 Train this family

The Semi-Slav Defense (1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Nf3 e6 — or by other move orders) combines the two most solid defenses, the Queen's Gambit Declined and the Slav, into one of the sharpest battlegrounds in chess. Black's compact center supports ...e5 and ...dxc4 plans while keeping every option open.

The Meran Variation leads to rich piece play with dynamic, sometimes hanging, pawn structures; the Botvinnik Variation inside it explodes into deep forced analysis; and White's gambit tries — the Marshall 4.e4!? or the Anti-Moscow 3.Bg5 h6 4.Bh4 — throw material onto the scales. Few openings reward theoretical homework this much, which is why it stays a mainstay of elite repertoires.

Play through the moves on the board above, explore the variations tree below — click any move of any branch — then test yourself against the engine from the position you picked.

• Position after 8 half-moves — White to move.
• Material is balanced.
• Family “Semi-Slav Defense” contains 69 recorded variation(s) here.

Variations tree of the Semi-Slav Defense family

Click any move to jump to that position; switch branches at any point with the alternative moves. Test your knowledge plays the shown position against the engine.

Variations of this family

Related openings

Nearby ECO codes in the D — Closed & semi-closed volume — compare the move orders:

• Queen's Pawn Game (D00)