Semi-Slav Defense: Meran Variation, Blumenfeld Variation
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Statistics from Lichess
5,698 games: White 50.1% / Draw 7.1% / Black 42.8%
| Next move | Games | White / Draw / BlackW / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| 4,5274,527 | ||
| Semi-Slav Defense: Meran Variation, Sozin Variation | 742742 | |
| Semi-Slav Defense: Meran Variation, Rabinovich Variation | 247247 | |
| 7979 | ||
| 7878 | ||
| 1212 | ||
| 66 | ||
| 44 |
Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Oct 30, 2026
Engine evaluation
+0.10 The position is about equal
Best play: 11... Bb4+ 12. Bd2 Bxd2+ 13. Qxd2 axb5 14. exf6 Qxf6 15. Bxb5 e5 16. O-O
Stockfish 19, depth 30, after the line's last move. Scores are in pawns, from White's side.
Overview
Semi-Slav Defense: Meran Variation, Blumenfeld Variation (ECO D49, Closed & Semi-Closed Games) is a variation of the Semi-Slav Defense: Meran Variation, Old 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 10. e5 cxd4 11. Nxb5 (11 moves).
In 5,698 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 50.1%, Black 42.8% and 7.1% were drawn. Black's most played move here is 11…axb5, in 79% of those games.
It branches into 2 named variations; the most played are Semi-Slav Defense: Meran Variation, Rabinovich Variation and Semi-Slav Defense: Meran Variation, Stahlberg Variation.
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How to play against the Semi-Slav Defense: Meran Variation, Blumenfeld Variation
11…Nxe5 (Semi-Slav Defense: Meran Variation, Sozin Variation) scores best for Black: 51.5%, with Black winning 47.6% and White 44.5% of 742 games. The most played answer, 11…axb5, scores lowest: 45.7% in 4,527 games. Stockfish's first choice is 11…Bb4+.
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
Variations (2)
Transpositions
Cite this page
Caissa Codex. “Semi-Slav Defense: Meran Variation, Blumenfeld Variation (D49)”. Lichess data as of 30 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/semi-slav-defense-meran-variation-blumenfeld-variation