Semi-Slav Defense: Noteboom Variation, Abrahams Variation
1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c6 4. Nf3 dxc4 5. a4 Bb4 6. e3 Bxc3+ 7. bxc3 b5 8. axb5 cxb5
The Semi-Slav Defense: Noteboom Variation, Abrahams Variation is a chess opening classified as ECO D31, 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. It is a line of the Semi-Slav Defense. White is to move.
In 12.6 million rated Lichess games (blitz and slower), this position was reached 5 times by this move order. White won 60%, 0% were drawn and Black won 40%. The most popular continuation is 9. Ne5 (80% of games).
Engine evaluation: +0.24 (Stockfish, depth 31; best line 9. Ne5 Nf6 10. Ba3 Qa5 11. Bb4 Qc7)
- ECO
- D31
- Moves
- 16 plies
- FEN
rnbqk1nr/p4ppp/4p3/1p6/2pP4/2P1PN2/5PPP/R1BQKB1R w KQkq - 0 9- PGN
1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c6 4. Nf3 dxc4 5. a4 Bb4 6. e3 Bxc3+ 7. bxc3 b5 8. axb5 cxb5
Analyse with Stockfish · Board image (SVG) · Open on Lichess
Results by rating
| Average rating | Games | White / draw / Black |
|---|---|---|
| 1500-1999 | 5 | |
| All | 5 |
Most played moves
| Move | Games | White / draw / Black |
|---|---|---|
| 9. Ne5 | 4 (80%) | |
| 9. Be2 | 1 (20%) |
Highest-rated Lichess games
- kolitogpakoy (2000) – usombu (1992) 0-1 · 2026-09-03 · 300 + 0s
- Sabrov2 (1955) – Haythameissa (2031) 1-0 · 2026-09-04 · 420 + 2s
- suryasurya16 (1826) – theebiglittle (1823) 1-0 · 2026-09-03 · 180 + 2s
Comes from
Semi-Slav Defense: Noteboom Variation 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c6 4. Nf3 dxc4
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, Anti-Noteboom Gambit D31
- Semi-Slav Defense: Noteboom Variation, Anti-Noteboom 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.