Caissa Codex
D48

Semi-Slav Defense: Meran Variation 8. Bd3 a6

Chess diagram: Semi-Slav Defense: Meran Variation after 8…a6

Type a move and press Enter: e4, Nf3, O-O, or from and to squares like g1f3 (e7e8q to promote). The board is also played with the mouse.

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Statistics from Lichess

101,545 games: White 44.5% / Draw 6.3% / Black 49.2%

The moves played next. Pick one to see it on the board.
Next moveGamesWhite / Draw / BlackW / D / B
54,14454K
24,10824K
11,83712K
4,6564,656
2,2682,268
1,6181,618
937937
679679

Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Oct 30, 2026

Engine evaluation

+0.20 The position is about equal

Best play: 9. e4 c5 10. e5 cxd4 11. Nxb5 axb5 12. exf6 gxf6 13. O-O Qb6

Stockfish 19, depth 30, after the line's last move. Scores are in pawns, from White's side.

Overview

Semi-Slav Defense: Meran Variation (ECO D48, 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 a6 (8 moves).

In 101,545 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 44.5%, Black 49.2% and 6.3% were drawn. White's most played move here is 9. O-O, in 53% of those games.

It continues into one named variation. In all, 5 named lines continue from it.

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How to answer 8…a6

9. e4 scores best for White: 54.5%, with White winning 51.7% and Black 42.6% of 24K games. The most played, 9. O-O, scores 46.0% in 54K games, and 9. a3 scores lowest: 42.7%. Stockfish's first choice is also 9. e4.

Main answers: those played in at least 5% of these games. Score: White's wins plus half the draws, in rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500. How to play against other popular openings

Variations (1)

Other lines from the same position

Instead of 8. Bd3 a6, the position after Semi-Slav Defense: Meran Variation also goes on to:

All 5 named lines that continue from here

Cite this page

Caissa Codex. “Semi-Slav Defense: Meran Variation (D48)”. Lichess data as of 30 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/semi-slav-defense-meran-variation-2

https://chesscodex.org/openings/semi-slav-defense-meran-variation-2