Slav Defense: Exchange Variation, Trifunovic Variation
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Statistics from Lichess
15,500 games: White 49.2% / Draw 11.8% / Black 39.0%
| Next move | Games | White / Draw / BlackW / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| 9,6469,646 | ||
| 3,3273,327 | ||
| 1,2371,237 | ||
| 769769 | ||
| 427427 | ||
| 2929 | ||
| 2828 | ||
| 1919 |
Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Oct 13, 2026
Engine evaluation
+0.20 The position is about equal
Best play: 9. Bb5 Bxc3+ 10. Qxc3 O-O 11. Bxc6 Rc8 12. Ne5 Ng4 13. Nxg4 Bxg4
Stockfish 19, depth 30, after the line's last move. Scores are in pawns, from White's side.
Overview
Slav Defense: Exchange Variation, Trifunovic Variation (ECO D14, Closed & Semi-Closed Games) is a variation of the Slav Defense: Exchange Variation, reached after 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. cxd5 cxd5 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bf4 Bf5 7. e3 e6 8. Qb3 Bb4 (8 moves).
In 15,500 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 49.2%, Black 39.0% and 11.8% were drawn. White's most played move here is 9. Bb5, in 62% of those games.
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How to play against the Slav Defense: Exchange Variation, Trifunovic Variation
9. Ne5 scores best for White: 56.5%, with White winning 50.8% and Black 37.8% of 3,327 games. The most played, 9. Bb5, scores 55.9% in 9,646 games, and 9. a3 scores lowest: 48.1%. Stockfish's first choice is 9. Bb5.
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
Cite this page
Caissa Codex. “Slav Defense: Exchange Variation, Trifunovic Variation (D14)”. Lichess data as of 13 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/slav-defense-exchange-variation-trifunovic-variation