Semi-Slav Defense: Noteboom Variation
1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c6 4. Nf3 dxc4
The Semi-Slav Defense: Noteboom Variation is a chess opening classified as ECO D31, reached after 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c6 4. Nf3 dxc4. It is a line of the Semi-Slav Defense. White is to move. 5 named lines continue from this position.
In 12.6 million rated Lichess games (blitz and slower), this position was reached 684 times by this move order. White won 42%, 6% were drawn and Black won 52%. The most popular continuation is 5. a4 (43% of games).
Engine evaluation: +0.29 (Stockfish, depth 60; best line 5. e3 b5 6. a4 Bb4 7. Bd2 a5)
- ECO
- D31
- Moves
- 8 plies
- FEN
rnbqkbnr/pp3ppp/2p1p3/8/2pP4/2N2N2/PP2PPPP/R1BQKB1R w KQkq - 0 5- PGN
1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c6 4. Nf3 dxc4
Analyse with Stockfish · Board image (SVG) · Open on Lichess
Results by rating
| Average rating | Games | White / draw / Black |
|---|---|---|
| 0-1499 | 36 | |
| 1500-1999 | 363 | |
| 2000+ | 285 | |
| All | 684 |
Most played moves
| Move | Games | White / draw / Black |
|---|---|---|
| 5. a4 | 291 (43%) | |
| 5. e4 | 238 (35%) | |
| 5. e3 | 73 (11%) | |
| 5. Bg5 Noteboom Variation, Anti-Noteboom Variation | 36 (5%) | |
| 5. Bf4 | 20 (3%) | |
| 5. g3 Noteboom Variation, Anti-Noteboom Gambit | 20 (3%) | |
| 5. Ne5 | 5 (1%) |
Master games
761 over-the-board games are classified under this line (White 39%, draw 16%, Black 45%). The strongest:
- GM Ian Nepomniachtchi (2771) – GM Erigaisi Arjun (2712) 0-1 · chess.com SpeedChess 2023 · 2023-09-14
- GM Samuel Sevian (2698) – GM Erigaisi Arjun (2712) 0-1 · FIDE Grand Swiss 2023 · 2023-11-04
- GM Alexander Grischuk (2732) – GM David Anton Guijarro (2672) 1-0 · Titled Tue 13th Feb Late · 2024-02-13
- GM Aleksandr Lenderman (2626) – GM Evgeny Tomashevsky (2744) 1/2-1/2 · Qatar Masters Open 2015 · 2015-12-28
- GM Matthias Bluebaum (2663) – GM David Anton Guijarro (2642) 0-1 · FIDE World Bl Team 5-8th · 2025-06-15
Search all games of the Semi-Slav Defense: Noteboom Variation and its sub-variations
Highest-rated Lichess games
- Lauris_Laimins (2534) – Tranquilou (2445) 1-0 · 2026-09-02 · 180 + 0s
- TurkishHairlines (2487) – FM BonaventuraB (2484) 1-0 · 2026-09-05 · 180 + 0s
- alejandro-valverde (2476) – Nenidon_Andriy (2493) 0-1 · 2026-09-01 · 180 + 0s
Comes from
Semi-Slav Defense: Accelerated Move Order 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c6
Continuations
- Semi-Slav Defense: Noteboom Variation, Anti-Noteboom Gambit D31 · 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c6 4. Nf3 dxc4 5. g3
- Semi-Slav Defense: Noteboom Variation, Anti-Noteboom Variation D31 · 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c6 4. Nf3 dxc4 5. Bg5
- Queen's Gambit Declined: Semi-Slav, Abrahams Variation D31 · 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c6 4. Nf3 dxc4 5. a4 Bb4 6. e3 b5 7. Bd2 a5
- Queen's Gambit Declined: Semi-Slav, Koomen Variation D31 · 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c6 4. Nf3 dxc4 5. e3 b5 6. a4 Bb4 7. Bd2 Qe7
- Semi-Slav Defense: Noteboom Variation, Abrahams Variation D31 · 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c6 4. Nf3 dxc4 5. a4 Bb4 6. e3 Bxc3+ 7. bxc3 b5 8. axb5 cxb5
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: 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 Variation, Belyavsky Line D31
- Semi-Slav Defense D43
- Semi-Slav Defense: Anti-Moscow Gambit D43
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.