Semi-Slav Defense: Chigorin Defense 6…Bd6 7. Qc2
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Statistics from Lichess
69,280 games: White 49.3% / Draw 7.4% / Black 43.3%
| Next move | Games | White / Draw / BlackW / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| 32,80733K | ||
| 22,30222K | ||
| 4,0764,076 | ||
| 3,1923,192 | ||
| 2,9642,964 | ||
| 1,3491,349 | ||
| 1,1431,143 | ||
| 398398 |
Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Oct 30, 2026
Engine evaluation
+0.14 The position is about equal
Best play: 7... O-O 8. O-O e5 9. cxd5 cxd5 10. Nb5 Bb8 11. Nxe5 Nxe5 12. dxe5
Stockfish 19, depth 30, after the line's last move. Scores are in pawns, from White's side.
Overview
Semi-Slav Defense: Chigorin Defense (ECO D46, Closed & Semi-Closed Games) is a variation of the Semi-Slav Defense: Chigorin Defense, reached after 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Nf3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 Bd6 7. Qc2 (7 moves).
In 69,280 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 49.3%, Black 43.3% and 7.4% were drawn. Black's most played move here is 7…O-O, in 47% of those games.
Written from the Lichess opening list and explorer. Know this line well? Write about it.
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How to answer 7. Qc2
The most played answer, 7…O-O, also scores best for Black: 48.2%, with Black winning 44.3% and White 48.0% of 33K games. Of the main answers, 7…dxc4 scores lowest: 45.7%. Stockfish's first choice is also 7…O-O.
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
Cite this page
Caissa Codex. “Semi-Slav Defense: Chigorin Defense (D46)”. Lichess data as of 30 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/semi-slav-defense-chigorin-defense-2