Caissa Codex
D31

Semi-Slav Defense: Anti-Noteboom, Stonewall Variation, Portisch Gambit

Chess diagram: Semi-Slav Defense: Anti-Noteboom, Stonewall Variation, Portisch Gambit after 5. g4

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Statistics from Lichess

9,658 games: White 55.5% / Draw 4.9% / Black 39.5%

The moves played next. Pick one to see it on the board.
Next moveGamesWhite / Draw / BlackW / D / B
5,4445,444
2,8802,880
659659
276276
149149
7070
5151
2727

Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Nov 10, 2026

Engine evaluation

+0.27 The position is about equal

Best play: 5... Nf6 6. g5 Ne4 7. h4 Bd6 8. Qh5+ g6 9. Qe2 h5 10. gxh6

Stockfish 19, depth 30, after the line's last move. Scores are in pawns, from White's side.

Overview

Semi-Slav Defense: Anti-Noteboom, Stonewall Variation, Portisch Gambit (ECO D31, Closed & Semi-Closed Games) is a gambit in the Semi-Slav Defense: Accelerated Move Order, reached after 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c6 4. e3 f5 5. g4 (5 moves).

In 9,658 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 55.5%, Black 39.5% and 4.9% were drawn. Black's most played move here is 5…Nf6, in 56% of those games.

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How to play against the Semi-Slav Defense: Anti-Noteboom, Stonewall Variation, Portisch Gambit

The most played answer, 5…Nf6, also scores best for Black: 44.6%, with Black winning 41.8% and White 52.7% of 5,444 games. Of the main answers, 5…g6 scores lowest: 35.5%. Stockfish's first choice is also 5…Nf6.

Main answers: those played in at least 5% of these games. Score: Black's wins plus half the draws, in rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500. How to play against other popular openings

Other lines from the same position

Instead of 4. e3 f5 5. g4, the position after Semi-Slav Defense: Accelerated Move Order also goes on to:

Cite this page

Caissa Codex. “Semi-Slav Defense: Anti-Noteboom, Stonewall Variation, Portisch Gambit (D31)”. Lichess data as of 10 Nov 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/semi-slav-defense-anti-noteboom-stonewall-variation-portisch-gambit

https://chesscodex.org/openings/semi-slav-defense-anti-noteboom-stonewall-variation-portisch-gambit