Semi-Slav Defense: Marshall Gambit, Forgotten Variation
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Statistics from Lichess
56,182 games: White 48.5% / Draw 6.8% / Black 44.7%
| Next move | Games | White / Draw / BlackW / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| 25,64026K | ||
| 18,78719K | ||
| 5,8595,859 | ||
| 2,3262,326 | ||
| 1,4111,411 | ||
| 544544 | ||
| 528528 | ||
| 322322 |
Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Oct 31, 2026
Engine evaluation
+0.11 The position is about equal
Best play: 6... e5 7. Be3 exd4 8. Qxd4 Qxd4 9. Bxd4 Nf6 10. O-O-O Be6 11. Nf3
Stockfish 19, depth 30, after the line's last move. Scores are in pawns, from White's side.
Overview
Semi-Slav Defense: Marshall Gambit, Forgotten Variation (ECO D31, Closed & Semi-Closed Games) is a gambit in the Semi-Slav Defense: Marshall Gambit, reached after 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c6 4. e4 dxe4 5. Nxe4 Bb4+ 6. Nc3 (6 moves).
In 56,182 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 48.5%, Black 44.7% and 6.8% were drawn. Black's most played move here is 6…Nf6, in 46% of those games.
Written from the Lichess opening list and explorer. Know this line well? Write about it.
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How to play against the Semi-Slav Defense: Marshall Gambit, Forgotten Variation
6…e5 scores best for Black: 53.9%, with Black winning 50.0% and White 42.3% of 5,859 games. The most played answer, 6…Nf6, scores lowest: 46.7% in 26K games. Stockfish's first choice is also 6…e5.
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: Marshall Gambit, Forgotten Variation (D31)”. Lichess data as of 31 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/semi-slav-defense-marshall-gambit-forgotten-variation