Semi-Slav Defense: Chigorin Defense 10…O-O 11. Qc2
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Statistics from Lichess
2,634 games: White 42.9% / Draw 10.9% / Black 46.2%
| Next move | Games | White / Draw / BlackW / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| 934934 | ||
| 790790 | ||
| 352352 | ||
| 139139 | ||
| 122122 | ||
| 7878 | ||
| 6565 | ||
| 4646 |
Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Oct 31, 2026
Engine evaluation
+0.22 The position is about equal
Best play: 11... Re8 12. h3 e5 13. Bd2 h6 14. b4 a6 15. Ne4 Nxe4 16. Bxe4
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: Meran Variation, reached after 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Nf3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 b5 8. Bd3 Bd6 9. O-O Bb7 10. a3 O-O 11. Qc2 (11 moves).
In 2,634 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 42.9%, Black 46.2% and 10.9% were drawn. Black's most played move here is 11…a6, in 35% of those games.
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How to answer 11. Qc2
11…Qe7 scores best for Black: 54.3%, with Black winning 48.9% and White 40.3% of 139 games. The most played, 11…a6, scores 53.5% in 934 games, and 11…a5 scores lowest: 49.4%. Stockfish's first choice is 11…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 31 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/semi-slav-defense-chigorin-defense-8