D49

Semi-Slav Defense: Meran Variation, Stahlberg Variation

Chess diagram: Semi-Slav Defense: Meran Variation, Stahlberg Variation after 13. Qf3

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Statistics from Lichess

9 games: White 33.3% / Draw 0.0% / Black 66.7%

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Next moveGamesWhite / Draw / BlackW / D / B
44
22
22
11

Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Oct 29, 2026

Engine evaluation

+0.13 The position is about equal

Best play: 13... Qa5+ 14. Ke2 b4 15. Qc6+ Ke7 16. Nc4 Qh5+ 17. f3 Qd5 18. Qc7+

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

Overview

Semi-Slav Defense: Meran Variation, Stahlberg Variation (ECO D49, Closed & Semi-Closed Games) is a variation of the Semi-Slav Defense: Meran Variation, Blumenfeld 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 Nxe5 12. Nxe5 axb5 13. Qf3 (13 moves).

In 9 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 33.3%, Black 66.7% and 0.0% were drawn. Black's most played move here is 13…Bb4+, in 44% 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, Stahlberg Variation (D49)”. Lichess data as of 29 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/semi-slav-defense-meran-variation-stahlberg-variation