Tree path 6 levels Queen's Pawn Game › Queen's Gambit › Queen's Gambit Declined › Queen's Knight Variation › Semi-Slav Defense: Accelerated Move Order › Semi-Slav Defense: Marshall Gambit
- Chess Codex
- Queen's Pawn Game D00
- Queen's Gambit D06
- Queen's Gambit Declined D30
- Queen's Knight Variation D31
- Semi-Slav Defense: Accelerated Move Order D31
- Semi-Slav Defense: Marshall Gambit D31 you are here
Semi-Slav Defense: Marshall Gambit
Overview
Semi-Slav Defense: Marshall Gambit belongs to the gambit family of chess openings (ECO D31, Closed & Semi-Closed Games). It trades material for attacking chances — a classic trade-off that has fascinated players from the Romantic era to modern correspondence chess.
The Closed & Semi-Closed Games group covers closed and semi-closed games — 1.d4 systems characterised by long strategic manoeuvring rather than early tactics.
Play reaches this position via 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c6 4. e4, after 7 plies of opening development.
The line refines Semi-Slav Defense: Accelerated Move Order, which traces back to the root opening Queen's Pawn Game.
The line splits into 3 documented sub-systems: Semi-Slav Defense: Gunderam Gambit, Forgotten Variation, Main Line.
In total, the branch covers 4 sub-variations across all depths.
Explore the position on the interactive board, study its real-world results from Lichess, and challenge the engine when you are ready.
- ECO code
- D31
- Group
- Closed & Semi-Closed Games (D)
- Plies
- 7
- Direct variations
- 3
- Total in subtree
- 4
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
1,133,440 games · White 55.0% / Draw 4.9% / Black 40.2%
| Moves | Games | W / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| dxe4 | 545,345 | |
| Nf6 | 189,757 | |
| Bb4 | 169,555 | |
| dxc4 | 67,810 | |
| f5 | 35,396 | |
| Ne7 | 29,648 | |
| a6 | 16,671 | |
| Bd6 | 15,658 |
Source: Lichess Opening Explorer · cached 2026-09-26 01:42:43
Write a description
Markdown supported (headings ###, bold, lists, links).
Submissions are reviewed before publishing.