Tree path 9 levels Queen's Pawn Game › Queen's Gambit › Slav Defense › Slav Defense › Semi-Slav Defense: Main Line › Semi-Slav Defense: Normal Variation › Semi-Slav Defense: Main Line › Semi-Slav Defense: Semi-Meran Variation › Semi-Slav Defense: Meran Variation
- Chess Codex
- Queen's Pawn Game D00
- Queen's Gambit D06
- Slav Defense D10
- Slav Defense D10
- Semi-Slav Defense: Main Line D45
- Semi-Slav Defense: Normal Variation D45
- Semi-Slav Defense: Main Line D46
- Semi-Slav Defense: Semi-Meran Variation D47
- Semi-Slav Defense: Meran Variation D47 you are here
Semi-Slav Defense: Meran Variation
Overview
Semi-Slav Defense: Meran Variation is a named branch in the Closed & Semi-Closed Games group of chess theory, classified under ECO D47.
The Closed & Semi-Closed Games group covers closed and semi-closed games — 1.d4 systems characterised by long strategic manoeuvring rather than early tactics.
The line arises from 14 plies — specifically the moves 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Nf3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 b5.
In the opening tree, this line branches off from Semi-Slav Defense: Semi-Meran Variation, part of the broader Queen's Pawn Game system.
3 named variations grow from this line, including Semi-Slav Defense: Chigorin Defense, Semi-Slav Defense: Meran Variation, Wade Variation.
Together the deeper variations number 10 across the full subtree.
Use the board to walk through every move, check how the position has scored on Lichess, or take it head-to-head against Stockfish.
- ECO code
- D47
- Group
- Closed & Semi-Closed Games (D)
- Plies
- 14
- Direct variations
- 3
- Total in subtree
- 10
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
324,163 games · White 45.6% / Draw 6.4% / Black 47.9%
| Moves | Games | W / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| Bd3 | 236,230 | |
| Bb3 | 48,051 | |
| Be2 | 39,274 | |
| Nxb5 | 252 | |
| O-O | 190 | |
| Bf1 | 55 | |
| Ne2 | 24 | |
| Bxb5 | 24 |
Source: Lichess Opening Explorer · cached 2026-09-26 03:00:14
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Variations (3)
Show all 10 sub-variations (full subtree)
- D46 Semi-Slav Defense: Chigorin Defense 21-ply
- D48 Semi-Slav Defense: Meran Variation 16-ply
- D47 Wade Variation 16-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