Semi-Slav Defense: Semi-Meran Variation
1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Nf3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 dxc4 7. Bxc4
The Semi-Slav Defense: Semi-Meran Variation is a chess opening classified as ECO D47, reached after 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Nf3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 dxc4 7. Bxc4. It is a line of the Semi-Slav Defense. Black is to move. 1 named line continues from this position.
In 12.6 million rated Lichess games (blitz and slower), this position was reached 52 times by this move order. White won 44%, 6% were drawn and Black won 50%. The most popular continuation is 7… b5 (92% of games).
Engine evaluation: +0.15 (Stockfish, depth 46; best line 7… b5 8. Bd3 b4 9. Ne4 Nxe4 10. Bxe4)
- ECO
- D47
- Moves
- 13 plies
- FEN
r1bqkb1r/pp1n1ppp/2p1pn2/8/2BP4/2N1PN2/PP3PPP/R1BQK2R b KQkq - 0 7- PGN
1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Nf3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 dxc4 7. Bxc4
Analyse with Stockfish · Board image (SVG) · Open on Lichess
Results by rating
| Average rating | Games | White / draw / Black |
|---|---|---|
| 1500-1999 | 14 | |
| 2000+ | 38 | |
| All | 52 |
Most played moves
| Move | Games | White / draw / Black |
|---|---|---|
| 7… b5 Meran Variation (7. Bxc4 b5) | 48 (92%) | |
| 7… Be7 | 2 (4%) | |
| 7… Bd6 | 2 (4%) |
Master games
18 over-the-board games are classified under this line (White 44%, draw 17%, Black 39%). The strongest:
- GM Anton Korobov (2687) – GM Boris Kharchenko (2483) 1-0 · Moscow Open A 2015 · 2015-02-02
- GM Sergey Volkov (2618) – GM Boris Kharchenko (2483) 1/2-1/2 · Vladimir Dvorkovich Mem · 2015-01-26
- GM Natalia Zhukova (2468) – IM Mariya Muzychuk (2495) 1/2-1/2 · TCh-SRB 1st League w 2013 · 2013-08-31
- GM Miralles, G. (2413) – GM Igor Efimov (2392) 0-1 · 4th ch-Francophonie 2016 · 2016-10-27
- FM Evgeny V. Melikhov (2292) – FM Jakub Seemann (2363) 1-0 · Titled Tue 24th May Early · 2022-05-24
Search all games of the Semi-Slav Defense: Semi-Meran Variation and its sub-variations
Highest-rated Lichess games
- MIGV (2616) – KhatanbaatarGM (2701) 0-1 · 2026-09-02 · 180 + 0s
- MIGV (2606) – classic_chess3456 (2640) 1-0 · 2026-09-02 · 180 + 0s
- Neftegor (2493) – zbmkbkgbkgmcskcjdovd (2488) 0-1 · 2026-09-04 · 180 + 0s
Comes from
Semi-Slav Defense: Main Line (5… Nbd7 6. Bd3) 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Nf3 Nbd7 6. Bd3
Continuations
- Semi-Slav Defense: Meran Variation (7. Bxc4 b5) D47 · 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Nf3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 b5
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.