Queen's Gambit Declined: Semi-Slav, Junge Variation
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Statistics from Lichess
4,393 games: White 40.1% / Draw 3.8% / Black 56.1%
| Next move | Games | White / Draw / BlackW / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| 1,2951,295 | ||
| 1,1111,111 | ||
| 726726 | ||
| 691691 | ||
| 325325 | ||
| 6767 | ||
| 6666 | ||
| 6464 |
Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Oct 31, 2026
Engine evaluation
+0.39 White is slightly better
Best play: 8. Ne4 Be7 9. b3 cxb3 10. Qxb3 Nf6 11. Nxf6+ Bxf6 12. axb5 Ba6
Stockfish 19, depth 30, after the line's last move. Scores are in pawns, from White's side.
Overview
Queen's Gambit Declined: Semi-Slav, Junge Variation (ECO D31, Closed & Semi-Closed Games) is a declined gambit in the Queen's Gambit Declined, reached after 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 c6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bb4 6. e3 b5 7. Bd2 Qb6 (7 moves).
In 4,393 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 40.1%, Black 56.1% and 3.8% were drawn. White's most played move here is 8. Ne5, in 29% of those games.
Written from the Lichess opening list and explorer. Know this line well? Write about it.
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How to play against the Queen's Gambit Declined: Semi-Slav, Junge Variation
8. Ne4 scores best for White: 60.3%, with White winning 57.8% and Black 37.2% of 325 games. The most played, 8. Ne5, scores 44.7% in 1,295 games, and 8. axb5 scores lowest: 35.6%. Stockfish's first choice is also 8. Ne4.
Main answers: those played in at least 5% of these games. Score: White's wins plus half the draws, in rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500. How to play against other popular openings
Cite this page
Caissa Codex. “Queen's Gambit Declined: Semi-Slav, Junge Variation (D31)”. Lichess data as of 31 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/queens-gambit-declined-semi-slav-junge-variation