Caissa Codex
D44

Semi-Slav Defense: Botvinnik Variation, Szabo Variation

Chess diagram: Semi-Slav Defense: Botvinnik Variation, Szabo Variation after 11. Qf3

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Statistics from Lichess

7,402 games: White 42.6% / Draw 4.7% / Black 52.7%

The moves played next. Pick one to see it on the board.
Next moveGamesWhite / Draw / BlackW / D / B
3,3373,337
3,2533,253
413413
8888
7575
6868
6666
4141

Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Oct 30, 2026

Engine evaluation

+0.01 The position is about equal

Best play: 11... Bb7 12. Be2 Qc7 13. Bxf6 Nxf6 14. Qxf6 Rh6 15. Qf4 O-O-O 16. O-O-O

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

Overview

Semi-Slav Defense: Botvinnik Variation, Szabo Variation (ECO D44, Closed & Semi-Closed Games) is a variation of the Queen's Gambit Declined: Three Knights Variation, reached after 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 (11 moves).

In 7,402 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 42.6%, Black 52.7% and 4.7% were drawn. Black's most played move here is 11…Bb7, in 45% of those games.

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How to play against the Semi-Slav Defense: Botvinnik Variation, Szabo Variation

The most played answer, 11…Bb7, also scores best for Black: 60.0%, with Black winning 57.4% and White 37.4% of 3,337 games. Of the main answers, 11…Be7 scores lowest: 38.9%. Stockfish's first choice is also 11…Bb7.

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…c6 5. Bg5 dxc4 6. e4 b5 7. e5 h6 8. Bh4 g5 9. Nxg5 hxg5 10. Bxg5 Nbd7 11. Qf3, the position after Queen's Gambit Declined: Three Knights Variation also goes on to:

Cite this page

Caissa Codex. “Semi-Slav Defense: Botvinnik Variation, Szabo Variation (D44)”. Lichess data as of 30 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/semi-slav-defense-botvinnik-variation-szabo-variation

https://chesscodex.org/openings/semi-slav-defense-botvinnik-variation-szabo-variation