Semi-Slav Defense: Stoltz Variation 6…Bd6 7. b3
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Statistics from Lichess
46,407 games: White 49.5% / Draw 8.0% / Black 42.5%
| Next move | Games | White / Draw / BlackW / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| 35,85836K | ||
| 3,4183,418 | ||
| 2,2702,270 | ||
| 2,1152,115 | ||
| 808808 | ||
| 447447 | ||
| 324324 | ||
| 318318 |
Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Oct 30, 2026
Engine evaluation
+0.10 The position is about equal
Best play: 7... O-O 8. Be2 b6 9. a4 a5 10. O-O Qe7 11. Bb2 Bb7 12. Bd3
Stockfish 19, depth 30, after the line's last move. Scores are in pawns, from White's side.
Overview
Semi-Slav Defense: Stoltz Variation (ECO D45, Closed & Semi-Closed Games) is a variation of the Queen's Pawn Game: Symmetrical Variation, reached after 1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. c4 c6 4. e3 e6 5. Nc3 Nbd7 6. Qc2 Bd6 7. b3 (7 moves).
In 46,407 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 49.5%, Black 42.5% and 8.0% were drawn. Black's most played move here is 7…O-O, in 77% of those games.
It continues into one named variation.
Written from the Lichess opening list and explorer. Know this line well? Write about it.
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How to answer 7. b3
The most played answer, 7…O-O, also scores best for Black: 47.1%, with Black winning 43.0% and White 48.8% of 36K games. Of the main answers, 7…Qe7 scores lowest: 46.0%. Stockfish's first choice is also 7…O-O.
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
Variations (1)
Cite this page
Caissa Codex. “Semi-Slav Defense: Stoltz Variation (D45)”. Lichess data as of 30 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/semi-slav-defense-stoltz-variation-2