Semi-Slav Defense: Hastings Variation
1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bxf6 Qxf6 7. Qb3
The Semi-Slav Defense: Hastings Variation is a chess opening classified as ECO D43, reached after 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bxf6 Qxf6 7. Qb3. It is a line of the Semi-Slav Defense. Black is to move.
This exact move order didn't appear in our sample of 12.6 million Lichess games: it's a rare line.
Engine evaluation: +0.08 (Stockfish, depth 43; best line 7… Nd7 8. e4 dxe4 9. Nxe4 Qf4 10. Bd3)
- ECO
- D43
- Moves
- 13 plies
- FEN
rnb1kb1r/pp3pp1/2p1pq1p/3p4/2PP4/1QN2N2/PP2PPPP/R3KB1R b KQkq - 1 7- PGN
1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bxf6 Qxf6 7. Qb3
Analyse with Stockfish · Board image (SVG) · Open on Lichess
Master games
89 over-the-board games are classified under this line (White 42%, draw 32%, Black 26%). The strongest:
- GM David Navara (2705) – GM Ruslan Ponomariov (2731) 1/2-1/2 · TCh-CZE Extraliga 2013-14 · 2014-03-22
- GM Aleksandar Indjic (2636) – GM Dmitry Andreikin (2729) 0-1 · Titled Tue 7th Mar Late · 2023-03-07
- GM David Navara (2700) – GM Alexander Motylev (2656) 1/2-1/2 · 15th ch-EUR Indiv 2014 · 2014-03-14
- GM David Navara (2700) – GM Milos Perunovic (2617) 1-0 · 15th ch-EUR Indiv 2014 · 2014-03-13
- GM Sandro Mareco (2634) – GM Krishnan Sasikiran (2675) 1/2-1/2 · FIDE Chess.com Grand Swiss · 2019-10-20
Search all games of the Semi-Slav Defense: Hastings Variation and its sub-variations
Comes from
Semi-Slav Defense: Moscow Variation 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bxf6 Qxf6
More Semi-Slav Defense lines (all)
- Semi-Slav Defense: Quiet Variation (4… e6 5. Nbd2) D30
- Semi-Slav Defense: Quiet Variation (5. Nbd2 Nbd7) D30
- Semi-Slav Defense: Accelerated Move Order D31
- Semi-Slav Defense: Anti-Noteboom, Stonewall Variation D31
- Semi-Slav Defense: Anti-Noteboom, Stonewall Variation, Portisch Gambit D31
- Semi-Slav Defense: Gunderam Gambit D31
- Semi-Slav Defense: Marshall Gambit D31
- Semi-Slav Defense: Marshall Gambit, Forgotten Variation D31
- Semi-Slav Defense: Marshall Gambit, Main Line D31
- Semi-Slav Defense: Marshall Gambit, Tolush Variation D31
- Semi-Slav Defense: Noteboom Variation D31
- Semi-Slav Defense: Noteboom Variation, Abrahams Variation D31
Opening names and moves from the Lichess openings dataset; statistics from the Lichess open database, 2026-09 (CC0), sample of 12.6 million games, bots excluded; evaluations from Lichess cloud analysis (all CC0). Master games from The Week in Chess #920–#1664 by Mark Crowther, used with permission.