Semi-Slav Defense: Stoltz Variation (6… b6 7. b3)

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

The Semi-Slav Defense: Stoltz Variation is a chess opening classified as ECO D45, reached after 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Nf3 Nbd7 6. Qc2 b6 7. b3. It is a line of the Semi-Slav Defense. Black is to move. 1 named line continues from this position.

This exact move order didn't appear in our sample of 12.6 million Lichess games: it's a rare line.

Engine evaluation: +0.22 (Stockfish, depth 35; best line 7… Bb7 8. Bb2 Rc8 9. Rd1 Bb4 10. a3)

ECO

D45

Moves

13 plies

FEN

r1bqkb1r/p2n1ppp/1pp1pn2/3p4/2PP4/1PN1PN2/P1Q2PPP/R1B1KB1R b KQkq - 0 7

PGN

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

Analyse with Stockfish · Board image (SVG) · Open on Lichess

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.