Opening Overview

Semi-Slav Defense

68 lines
black repertoire

About This Opening

Black builds a sturdy structure and often prepares sharp central counterplay.

These structures usually reward accurate development, good piece coordination, and patience before committing to pawn breaks.

The practical edge often comes from knowing the main pawn structures and where each side wants counterplay, rather than memorizing long forcing lines.

Key ideas
  • Typical theme: sound structure and flexible plans.
  • Most plans revolve around piece activity and pawn breaks at the right moment.
  • Best for players who want reliable positions and clear structure.
  • Learn the standard middlegame plans, not just the first moves.

Choose a variation

Semi-Slav Defense: Noteboom Variation, Anti-Noteboom Variation
D31 9 plies
1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c6 4. Nf3 dxc4 5. Bg5
Semi-Slav Defense: Noteboom Variation, Anti-Noteboom Variation, Belyavsky Line
D31 10 plies
1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c6 4. Nf3 dxc4 5. Bg5 f6
Semi-Slav Defense
D43 8 plies
1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6
Semi-Slav Defense: Anti-Moscow Gambit
D43 11 plies
1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bh4
Semi-Slav Defense: Hastings Variation
D43 13 plies
1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bxf6 Qxf6 7. Qb3
Semi-Slav Defense: Moscow Variation
D43 12 plies
1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bxf6 Qxf6
Semi-Slav Defense: Botvinnik Variation
D44 11 plies
1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bg5 dxc4 6. e4
Semi-Slav Defense: Botvinnik Variation
D44 17 plies
1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bg5 dxc4 6. e4 b5 7. e5 h6 8. Bh4 g5 9. Nxg5
Semi-Slav Defense: Botvinnik Variation, Alatortsev System
D44 18 plies
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 c6 5. Bg5 dxc4 6. e4 b5 7. e5 h6 8. Bh4 g5 9. Nxg5 Nd5
Semi-Slav Defense: Botvinnik Variation, Ekstrom Variation
D44 19 plies
1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bg5 dxc4 6. e4 b5 7. e5 h6 8. Bh4 g5 9. exf6 gxh4 10. Ne5
Semi-Slav Defense: Botvinnik Variation, Lilienthal Variation
D44 21 plies
1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bg5 dxc4 6. e4 b5 7. e5 h6 8. Bh4 g5 9. Nxg5 hxg5 10. Bxg5 Nbd7 11. g3
Semi-Slav Defense: Botvinnik Variation, Szabo Variation
D44 21 plies
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 c6 5. Bg5 dxc4 6. e4 b5 7. e5 h6 8. Bh4 g5 9. Nxg5 hxg5 10. Bxg5 Nbd7 11. Qf3
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