D30-D49

Semi-Slav Defense

69 named lines in this family, ECO D30-D49. Under each line you get its moves and the sentences it adds that this page has not already printed; sixty lines to a page. A line's own page carries up to its first 4 per-move notes in full.

Quiet Variation, through 5. Nbd2D30

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Nbd2

...e6 plus ...c6 holds d5 twice and threatens to take on c4 and keep it with ...b5 - solid structure with real sharpness underneath.

• 1. d4 Stakes a claim in the centre, controlling e5, and frees the bishop and queen.
• 1... d5 Stakes a claim in the centre, controlling e4, and frees the bishop and queen.
• 2. c4 Challenges the pawn on d5 - the central tension has to resolve. The pawn is genuinely on offer - this is the Queen's Gambit: development and initiative over material.
• 2... c6 Fights for d5 from the flank - contesting the centre without committing a centre pawn. Theory calls this the Slav Defense.

Quiet Variation, after 5... Nbd7D30

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Nbd2 Nbd7

Accelerated Move OrderD31

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c6

• 2... e6 Supports the centre, adding control of d5. Theory calls this the Queen's Gambit Declined.

Marshall GambitD31

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c6 4. e4

The pawns on d5 and e4 stand in direct tension - the first player to resolve it chooses the structure.

Anti-Noteboom, Stonewall VariationD31

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c6 4. e3 f5

Noteboom VariationD31

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c6 4. Nf3 dxc4

An early pawn trade leaves the c-file as White's avenue and the d-file as Black's - both sides get real winning chances down their own file. Black comes out ahead on material - White needs concrete play to justify it.

Anti-Noteboom, Stonewall Variation, Portisch GambitD31

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c6 4. e3 f5 5. g4

Gunderam GambitD31

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c6 4. e4 dxe4 5. f3

An early pawn trade leaves the d-file as Black's avenue and the e-file as White's - both sides get real winning chances down their own file. Black keeps the extra pawn; White plays for time, open lines, and initiative - the classic gambit trade.

Noteboom Variation, Anti-Noteboom GambitD31

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c6 4. Nf3 dxc4 5. g3

Noteboom Variation, Anti-Noteboom VariationD31

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c6 4. Nf3 dxc4 5. Bg5

Noteboom Variation, Anti-Noteboom Variation, Belyavsky LineD31

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c6 4. Nf3 dxc4 5. Bg5 f6

Marshall Gambit, Forgotten VariationD31

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c6 4. e4 dxe4 5. Nxe4 Bb4+ 6. Nc3

White's knight on c3 is pinned against the king.

Marshall Gambit, Main LineD31

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c6 4. e4 dxe4 5. Nxe4 Bb4+ 6. Bd2

White's bishop on d2 is pinned against the king.

Noteboom Variation, Abrahams VariationD31

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c6 4. Nf3 dxc4 5. a4 Bb4 6. e3 Bxc3+ 7. bxc3 b5 8. axb5 cxb5

White comes out of the line with the bishop pair.

Marshall Gambit, Tolush VariationD31

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c6 4. e4 dxe4 5. Nxe4 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 Qxd4 7. Bxb4 Qxe4+ 8. Be2 c5 9. Bxc5 Qxg2

Main lineD43

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6

Anti-Moscow GambitD43

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bh4

Moscow VariationD43

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bxf6 Qxf6

Black comes out of the line with the bishop pair.

Hastings VariationD43

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bxf6 Qxf6 7. Qb3

Botvinnik Variation, through 6. e4D44

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bg5 dxc4 6. e4

Both sides burn the boats: White gives structure for a huge centre and attack, Black grabs queenside pawns and runs - one of the sharpest lines in chess.

Botvinnik Variation, after 6... b5D44

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bg5 dxc4 6. e4 b5 7. e5 h6 8. Bh4 g5 9. Nxg5

Botvinnik Variation, Alatortsev SystemD44

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 c6 5. Bg5 dxc4 6. e4 b5 7. e5 h6 8. Bh4 g5 9. Nxg5 Nd5

• 1... Nf6 Develops the knight to f6, eyeing d5 and e4.

Botvinnik Variation, Ekstrom VariationD44

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bg5 dxc4 6. e4 b5 7. e5 h6 8. Bh4 g5 9. exf6 gxh4 10. Ne5

White has doubled pawns on the f-file.

Botvinnik Variation, Lilienthal VariationD44

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bg5 dxc4 6. e4 b5 7. e5 h6 8. Bh4 g5 9. Nxg5 hxg5 10. Bxg5 Nbd7 11. g3

Botvinnik Variation, Szabo VariationD44

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 c6 5. Bg5 dxc4 6. e4 b5 7. e5 h6 8. Bh4 g5 9. Nxg5 hxg5 10. Bxg5 Nbd7 11. Qf3

Main Line, through 5. Nf3D45

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Nf3

Accelerated Meran VariationD45

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Nf3 a6

Normal Variation, after 1. d4, through 5... Nbd7D45

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Nf3 Nbd7

Rubinstein SystemD45

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c6 4. Nf3 Nf6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Ne5

Stoltz Variation, after 2. c4, through 6. Qc2D45

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Nf3 Nbd7 6. Qc2

Stonewall DefenseD45

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. c4 c6 4. Nc3 e6 5. e3 Ne4 6. Bd3 f5

• 2. Nf3 Develops the knight to f3, eyeing d4 and e5. It also props up the d4 pawn. Theory calls this the Zukertort Variation.
• 2... Nf6 It also props up the d5 pawn. Theory calls this the Symmetrical Variation.

Stoltz Variation, after 2. c4, through 7. b3D45

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Nf3 Nbd7 6. Qc2 b6 7. b3

Stoltz Variation, after 2. Nf3, through 7. b3D45

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. c4 c6 4. e3 e6 5. Nc3 Nbd7 6. Qc2 Bd6 7. b3

Stoltz Variation, Center VariationD45

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Qc2 Bd6 7. e4

Stoltz Variation, Shabalov AttackD45

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Qc2 Bd6 7. g4

Normal Variation, after 1. Nf3, through 7... Nbd7D45

1. Nf3 d5 2. e3 Nf6 3. c4 c6 4. Nc3 e6 5. b3 Bd6 6. Bb2 O-O 7. d4 Nbd7

White's queenside bishop takes the long diagonal.

• 1. Nf3 Theory calls this the Zukertort Opening.
• 2. e3 Supports the centre, adding control of d4.

Stoltz Variation, after 2. c4, through 7... Bb7D45

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Nf3 Nbd7 6. Qc2 b6 7. b3 Bb7

Black's queenside bishop takes the long diagonal.

Normal Variation, after 1. d4, through 8. Be2D45

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c6 4. Nf3 Nf6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. b3 Bd6 7. Bb2 O-O 8. Be2

Stoltz Variation, after 2. Nf3, through 8. Bb2D45

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. c4 c6 4. e3 e6 5. Nc3 Nbd7 6. Qc2 Bd6 7. b3 O-O 8. Bb2

Stoltz Variation, Center Variation, Mikhalchishin LineD45

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Qc2 Bd6 7. e4 dxe4 8. Nxe4 Nxe4 9. Qxe4 e5 10. dxe5

The structure hands Black the half-open e-file - rook pressure down it is a standing plan. White is up material out of the opening - Black is banking on activity to show for it.

Main Line, after 5... Nbd7, through 6. Bd3D46

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Nf3 Nbd7 6. Bd3

Bogoljubow VariationD46

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Nf3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 Be7

Chigorin Defense, after 3. Nc3, through 6... Bd6, line 1D46

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Nf3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 Bd6

Romih VariationD46

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Nf3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 Bb4

Chigorin Defense, after 3. Nc3, through 7. Qc2, line 2D46

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Nf3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 Bd6 7. Qc2

Chigorin Defense, after 3. Nc3, through 8. Bd3, line 3D46

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Nf3 Nbd7 6. b3 Bd6 7. Bb2 O-O 8. Bd3

Chigorin Defense, after 3. Nc3, through 8. Bd3, line 4D46

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Nf3 Nbd7 6. Qc2 b6 7. b3 Bb7 8. Bd3

Chigorin Defense, after 3. Nc3, through 9. Bd3, line 5D46

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Nf3 Nbd7 6. Qc2 Bd6 7. b3 O-O 8. Bb2 Re8 9. Bd3

Chigorin Defense, after 3. Nc3, through 9. Bd3, line 6D46

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Nf3 Nbd7 6. Qc2 Bd6 7. b3 O-O 8. Bb2 Qe7 9. Bd3

Chigorin Defense, after 3. Nf3, through 10. Qc2, line 7D46

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 e6 4. e3 Nf6 5. Nc3 Bd6 6. Bd3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 b5 8. Bd3 Nbd7 9. O-O O-O 10. Qc2

Main Line, after 5... Nbd7, through 10. Bb2D46

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Nf3 Nbd7 6. Qc2 b6 7. b3 Bb7 8. Bd3 Be7 9. O-O O-O 10. Bb2

White's queenside bishop takes the long diagonal and Black's queenside bishop takes the long diagonal.

Chigorin Defense, after 3. Nc3, through 11. Qc2, line 8D46

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Nf3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 b5 8. Bd3 Bd6 9. O-O Bb7 10. a3 O-O 11. Qc2

Semi-Meran VariationD47

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Nf3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 dxc4 7. Bxc4

Meran Variation, through 7... b5D47

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Nf3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 b5

Meran Variation, Lundin VariationD47

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 b5 8. Bd3 b4

Meran Variation, Wade VariationD47

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Nf3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 b5 8. Bd3 Bb7

Meran Variation, Wade Variation, Larsen VariationD47

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

Meran Variation, Wade Variation, Kaidanov GambitD47

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 12. O-O cxd4 13. Nxd4

Meran Variation, after 8. Bd3, through 8... a6D48

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Nf3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 b5 8. Bd3 a6

Meran Variation, after 8. Bd3, through 9... c5D48

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Nf3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 b5 8. Bd3 a6 9. e4 c5

Lines 1–60 of 69 — page 1 of 2.

Walk these lines on a board

An account opens every move's note in this family, the plan behind each line, and a trainer that plays the line back at you. It is free.

Create account All families