Semi-Slav Defense: Meran Variation, Sozin Variation 12…axb5 13. O-O
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Statistics from Lichess
73 games: White 47.9% / Draw 5.5% / Black 46.6%
| Next move | Games | White / Draw / BlackW / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| 3131 | ||
| 2323 | ||
| 77 | ||
| 66 | ||
| 22 | ||
| 22 | ||
| 11 | ||
| 11 |
Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Oct 30, 2026
Engine evaluation
0.00 The position is about equal
Best play: 13... Qd5 14. Qe2 Ba6 15. Nf3 Bd6 16. Rd1 O-O 17. Bg5 Bb7 18. Bxf6
Stockfish 19, depth 30, after the line's last move. Scores are in pawns, from White's side.
Overview
Semi-Slav Defense: Meran Variation, Sozin Variation (ECO D49, Closed & Semi-Closed Games) is a variation of the Queen's Pawn Game: Symmetrical Variation, reached after 1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. c4 c6 4. Nc3 e6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 b5 8. Bd3 a6 9. e4 c5 10. e5 cxd4 11. Nxb5 Nxe5 12. Nxe5 axb5 13. O-O (13 moves).
In 73 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 47.9%, Black 46.6% and 5.5% were drawn. Black's most played move here is 13…Qd5, in 42% of those games. That is too few games for the percentages to mean much.
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Cite this page
Caissa Codex. “Semi-Slav Defense: Meran Variation, Sozin Variation (D49)”. Lichess data as of 30 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/semi-slav-defense-meran-variation-sozin-variation-2