Caissa Codex
D47

Semi-Slav Defense: Meran Variation, Wade Variation, Kaidanov Gambit

Chess diagram: Semi-Slav Defense: Meran Variation, Wade Variation, Kaidanov Gambit after 13. Nxd4

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Statistics from Lichess

637 games: White 52.3% / Draw 8.2% / Black 39.6%

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Next moveGamesWhite / Draw / BlackW / D / B
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Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Oct 23, 2026

Engine evaluation

+0.15 The position is about equal

Best play: 13... Be7 14. Re1 O-O 15. Qg4 Re8 16. Bh6 Bf8 17. Rad1 Rc8 18. h4

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

Overview

Semi-Slav Defense: Meran Variation, Wade Variation, Kaidanov Gambit (ECO D47, Closed & Semi-Closed Games) is a gambit in the Semi-Slav Defense: Meran Variation, Wade Variation, Larsen 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 Bb7 9. e4 b4 10. Na4 c5 11. e5 Nd5 12. O-O cxd4 13. Nxd4 (13 moves).

In 637 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 52.3%, Black 39.6% and 8.2% were drawn. Black's most played move here is 13…Nxe5, in 54% of those games.

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How to play against the Semi-Slav Defense: Meran Variation, Wade Variation, Kaidanov Gambit

13…Be7 scores best for Black: 47.4%, with Black winning 43.9% and White 49.1% of 171 games. The most played answer, 13…Nxe5, scores lowest: 41.7% in 343 games. Stockfish's first choice is also 13…Be7.

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

Cite this page

Caissa Codex. “Semi-Slav Defense: Meran Variation, Wade Variation, Kaidanov Gambit (D47)”. Lichess data as of 23 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/semi-slav-defense-meran-variation-wade-variation-kaidanov-gambit

https://chesscodex.org/openings/semi-slav-defense-meran-variation-wade-variation-kaidanov-gambit