Tree path 5 levels Queen's Pawn Game › Queen's Gambit › Slav Defense › Slav Defense › Semi-Slav Defense: Main Line
- Chess Codex
- Queen's Pawn Game D00
- Queen's Gambit D06
- Slav Defense D10
- Slav Defense D10
- Semi-Slav Defense: Main Line D45 you are here
Semi-Slav Defense: Main Line
Overview
Semi-Slav Defense: Main Line is a specific line in the Closed & Semi-Closed Games family (ECO D45), arising from a recognised theoretical position.
The Closed & Semi-Closed Games group covers closed and semi-closed games — 1.d4 systems characterised by long strategic manoeuvring rather than early tactics.
It begins with 9 plies and takes 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Nf3 to reach the canonical position.
The line refines Slav Defense, which traces back to the root opening Queen's Pawn Game.
The line splits into 2 documented sub-systems: Semi-Slav Defense: Accelerated Meran Variation, Semi-Slav Defense: Normal Variation.
Together the deeper variations number 27 across the full subtree.
Explore the position on the interactive board, study its real-world results from Lichess, and challenge the engine when you are ready.
- ECO code
- D45
- Group
- Closed & Semi-Closed Games (D)
- Plies
- 9
- Parent
- Slav Defense
- Direct variations
- 2
- Total in subtree
- 27
This overview is generated automatically from the opening's metadata. Know this line well? Write a description — submissions are reviewed before publishing.
Statistics from Lichess
4,031,393 games · White 50.2% / Draw 5.7% / Black 44.1%
| Moves | Games | W / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| Nbd7 | 1,192,688 | |
| Be7 | 950,944 | |
| Bd6 | 822,737 | |
| Bb4 | 634,307 | |
| a6 | 107,414 | |
| dxc4 | 82,393 | |
| g6 | 56,312 | |
| b6 | 52,032 |
Source: Lichess Opening Explorer · cached 2026-09-26 02:09:17
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Variations (2)
Show all 27 sub-variations (full subtree)
- D45 Semi-Slav Defense: Accelerated Meran Variation 10-ply
- D45 Semi-Slav Defense: Normal Variation 10-ply
- D46 Semi-Slav Defense: Chigorin Defense 15-ply
- D46 Semi-Slav Defense: Main Line 11-ply
- D45 Semi-Slav Defense: Stoltz Variation 11-ply
- D46 Semi-Slav Defense: Bogoljubow Variation 12-ply
- D46 Semi-Slav Defense: Chigorin Defense 17-ply
- D46 Semi-Slav Defense: Chigorin Defense 17-ply
- D46 Semi-Slav Defense: Chigorin Defense 12-ply
- D46 Semi-Slav Defense: Romih Variation 12-ply
- D47 Semi-Slav Defense: Semi-Meran Variation 13-ply
- D45 Semi-Slav Defense: Stoltz Variation 13-ply
- D46 Semi-Slav Defense: Chigorin Defense 13-ply
- D47 Semi-Slav Defense: Meran Variation 14-ply
- D45 Semi-Slav Defense: Stoltz Variation 14-ply
- D46 Semi-Slav Defense: Chigorin Defense 15-ply
- D46 Semi-Slav Defense: Chigorin Defense 21-ply
- D48 Semi-Slav Defense: Meran Variation 16-ply
- D47 Wade Variation 16-ply
- D46 Semi-Slav Defense: Main Line 19-ply
- D48 Semi-Slav Defense: Meran Variation 18-ply
- D47 Larsen Variation 22-ply
- D48 Old Variation 19-ply
- D47 Semi-Slav Defense: Meran Variation, Wade Variation, Kaidanov Gambit 25-ply
- D49 Semi-Slav Defense: Meran Variation, Blumenfeld Variation 21-ply
- D49 Semi-Slav Defense: Meran Variation, Rabinovich Variation 22-ply
- D49 Semi-Slav Defense: Meran Variation, Stahlberg Variation 25-ply