Chess Codex
Tree path 6 levels Queen's Pawn Game › Queen's Gambit › Slav Defense › Slav Defense › Semi-Slav Defense: Main Line › Semi-Slav Defense: Normal Variation
  1. Chess Codex
  2. Queen's Pawn Game D00
  3. Queen's Gambit D06
  4. Slav Defense D10
  5. Slav Defense D10
  6. Semi-Slav Defense: Main Line D45
  7. Semi-Slav Defense: Normal Variation D45 you are here
D45

Semi-Slav Defense: Normal Variation

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Overview

Semi-Slav Defense: Normal Variation is a variation within the Closed & Semi-Closed Games family, indexed as ECO D45.

The Closed & Semi-Closed Games group covers closed and semi-closed games — 1.d4 systems characterised by long strategic manoeuvring rather than early tactics.

It is reached after 10 plies of play, with the move sequence 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Nf3 Nbd7.

It is a variation of Semi-Slav Defense: Main Line, which itself descends from the root opening Queen's Pawn Game.

It branches into 3 notable variations — Semi-Slav Defense: Chigorin Defense, Semi-Slav Defense: Main Line, Semi-Slav Defense: Stoltz Variation.

In total, the branch covers 25 sub-variations across all depths.

Step through the moves on the interactive board below, review the live Lichess statistics, or play this position against Stockfish at one of six difficulty levels.

ECO code
D45
Group
Closed & Semi-Closed Games (D)
Plies
10
Parent
Semi-Slav Defense: Main Line
Direct variations
3
Total in subtree
25

This overview is generated automatically from the opening's metadata. Know this line well? Write a description — submissions are reviewed before publishing.

Statistics from Lichess

1,390,860 games · White 47.9% / Draw 6.3% / Black 45.9%

MovesGamesW / D / B
Bd3591,994
Qc2231,538
Be2177,337
cxd5116,912
b376,203
a375,077
Bd250,229
c526,031

Source: Lichess Opening Explorer · cached 2026-09-26 02:21:35

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Variations (3)

Related variations at the same level

Sister lines that share the same parent Semi-Slav Defense: Main Line:

Show all 25 sub-variations (full subtree)

https://chesscodex.org/openings/semi-slav-defense-normal-variation