Semi-Slav Defense: Meran Variation 9. e4 c5
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Statistics from Lichess
18,546 games: White 49.5% / Draw 5.9% / Black 44.6%
| Next move | Games | White / Draw / BlackW / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| Old Variation | 10,96411K | |
| Semi-Slav Defense: Meran Variation, Reynolds' Variation | 6,6766,676 | |
| 419419 | ||
| 149149 | ||
| 140140 | ||
| 109109 | ||
| 2727 | ||
| 1919 |
Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Oct 13, 2026
Engine evaluation
+0.24 The position is about equal
Best play: 10. e5 cxd4 11. Nxb5 axb5 12. exf6 Bb4+ 13. Bd2 Bxd2+ 14. Qxd2 Qxf6
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 9. e4 c5 (9 moves).
In 18,546 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 49.5%, Black 44.6% and 5.9% were drawn. White's most played move here is 10. e5, in 59% of those games.
It continues into one named variation, Semi-Slav Defense: Meran Variation, Old Variation. In all, 4 named lines continue from it.
Written from the Lichess opening list and explorer. Know this line well? Write about it.
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How to answer 9…c5
10. d5 (Semi-Slav Defense: Meran Variation, Reynolds' Variation) scores best for White: 55.8%, with White winning 53.0% and Black 41.5% of 6,676 games. The most played answer, 10. e5, scores lowest: 51.7% in 11K games. Stockfish's first choice is 10. e5.
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)
Transpositions
Cite this page
Caissa Codex. “Semi-Slav Defense: Meran Variation (D48)”. Lichess data as of 13 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/semi-slav-defense-meran-variation-3