Semi-Slav Defense: Chigorin Defense 8…Qe7 9. Bd3
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Statistics from Lichess
2,837 games: White 48.3% / Draw 7.3% / Black 44.4%
| Next move | Games | White / Draw / BlackW / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| 856856 | ||
| 799799 | ||
| 289289 | ||
| 284284 | ||
| 262262 | ||
| 132132 | ||
| 122122 | ||
| 3030 |
Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Oct 27, 2026
Engine evaluation
+0.18 The position is about equal
Best play: 9... Re8 10. h3 dxc4 11. bxc4 e5 12. dxe5 Bxe5 13. O-O Bd6 14. Na4
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: Stoltz Variation, reached after 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Nf3 Nbd7 6. Qc2 Bd6 7. b3 O-O 8. Bb2 Qe7 9. Bd3 (9 moves).
In 2,837 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 48.3%, Black 44.4% and 7.3% were drawn. Black's most played move here is 9…dxc4, in 30% 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 9. Bd3
9…Re8 scores best for Black: 51.8%, with Black winning 48.6% and White 45.1% of 284 games. The most played, 9…dxc4, scores 51.5% in 856 games, and 9…e5 scores lowest: 42.7%. Stockfish's first choice is also 9…Re8.
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 27 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/semi-slav-defense-chigorin-defense-5