Caissa Codex
D47

Semi-Slav Defense: Meran Variation, Wade Variation, Larsen Variation

Chess diagram: Semi-Slav Defense: Meran Variation, Wade Variation, Larsen Variation after 11…Nd5

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Statistics from Lichess

6,489 games: White 48.7% / Draw 7.2% / Black 44.1%

The moves played next. Pick one to see it on the board.
Next moveGamesWhite / Draw / BlackW / D / B
3,3153,315
1,5661,566
1,3201,320
169169
3939
2626
2323
66

Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Nov 1, 2026

Engine evaluation

+0.12 The position is about equal

Best play: 12. O-O Rc8 13. Nxc5 Nxc5 14. dxc5 Bxc5 15. Ng5 Be7 16. Ne4 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, Wade Variation, Larsen Variation (ECO D47, Closed & Semi-Closed Games) is a variation of the Semi-Slav Defense: Meran Variation, Wade 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 (11 moves).

In 6,489 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 48.7%, Black 44.1% and 7.2% were drawn. White's most played move here is 12. O-O, in 51% of those games.

It continues into one named variation, Semi-Slav Defense: Meran Variation, Wade Variation, Kaidanov Gambit.

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

12. Nxc5 scores best for White: 54.8%, with White winning 51.3% and Black 41.7% of 1,320 games. The most played, 12. O-O, scores 53.2% in 3,315 games, and 12. dxc5 scores lowest: 49.5%. Stockfish's first choice is 12. O-O.

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)

Cite this page

Caissa Codex. “Semi-Slav Defense: Meran Variation, Wade Variation, Larsen Variation (D47)”. Lichess data as of 1 Nov 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/semi-slav-defense-meran-variation-wade-variation-larsen-variation

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