Caissa Codex
D31

Semi-Slav Defense: Noteboom Variation, Abrahams Variation

Chess diagram: Semi-Slav Defense: Noteboom Variation, Abrahams Variation after 8…cxb5

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Statistics from Lichess

20,556 games: White 47.8% / Draw 4.2% / Black 48.0%

The moves played next. Pick one to see it on the board.
Next moveGamesWhite / Draw / BlackW / D / B
7,9527,952
7,3577,357
2,9382,938
669669
464464
446446
339339
137137

Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Oct 28, 2026

Engine evaluation

+0.18 The position is about equal

Best play: 9. Ne5 Nf6 10. Ba3 Qa5 11. Bb4 Qc7 12. Qf3 Bb7 13. Qg3 a5

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

Overview

Semi-Slav Defense: Noteboom Variation, Abrahams Variation (ECO D31, Closed & Semi-Closed Games) is a variation of the Semi-Slav Defense: Noteboom Variation, reached after 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c6 4. Nf3 dxc4 5. a4 Bb4 6. e3 Bxc3+ 7. bxc3 b5 8. axb5 cxb5 (8 moves).

In 20,556 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 47.8%, Black 48.0% and 4.2% were drawn. White's most played move here is 9. Ne5, in 39% of those games.

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How to play against the Semi-Slav Defense: Noteboom Variation, Abrahams Variation

The most played answer, 9. Ne5, also scores best for White: 52.7%, with White winning 50.7% and Black 45.3% of 7,952 games. Of the main answers, 9. Be2 scores lowest: 46.9%. Stockfish's first choice is also 9. Ne5.

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

Other lines from the same position

Instead of 5. a4 Bb4 6. e3 Bxc3+ 7. bxc3 b5 8. axb5 cxb5, the position after Semi-Slav Defense: Noteboom Variation also goes on to:

Cite this page

Caissa Codex. “Semi-Slav Defense: Noteboom Variation, Abrahams Variation (D31)”. Lichess data as of 28 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/semi-slav-defense-noteboom-variation-abrahams-variation

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