Semi-Slav Defense: Stoltz Variation (7… O-O 8. Bb2)
1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. c4 c6 4. e3 e6 5. Nc3 Nbd7 6. Qc2 Bd6 7. b3 O-O 8. Bb2
The Semi-Slav Defense: Stoltz Variation is a chess opening classified as ECO D45, reached after 1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. c4 c6 4. e3 e6 5. Nc3 Nbd7 6. Qc2 Bd6 7. b3 O-O 8. Bb2. 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: 0.00 (Stockfish, depth 43; best line 8… e5 9. cxd5 cxd5 10. Nxe5 Nxe5 11. dxe5)
- ECO
- D45
- Moves
- 15 plies
- FEN
r1bq1rk1/pp1n1ppp/2pbpn2/3p4/2PP4/1PN1PN2/PBQ2PPP/R3KB1R b KQ - 2 8- PGN
1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. c4 c6 4. e3 e6 5. Nc3 Nbd7 6. Qc2 Bd6 7. b3 O-O 8. Bb2
Analyse with Stockfish · Board image (SVG) · Open on Lichess
Master games
6 over-the-board games are classified under this line (White 50%, draw 33%, Black 17%). The strongest:
- GM Jorge Cori (2652) – GM Sam Shankland (2691) 1-0 · Online Olym Top DivD 2020 · 2020-08-23
- FM Jaap Vogel (2209) – Arthur Pijpers (2371) 1/2-1/2 · Dutch Open 2014 · 2014-07-26
- IM Cesar Zuluaga Mancilla (2233) – FM Alejandro Mateus (2300) 1/2-1/2 · Fortalece Sede Cali 2022 · 2022-12-28
- IM Bjorn Thorfinnsson (2367) – WCM Gudrun Fanney Briem (2004) 1-0 · Icelandic Open 100yr 2025 · 2025-06-21
- Gabriel Nguyen (2024) – Hampus Sorensen (2243) 0-1 · Kvibergspelen 2018 · 2018-04-21
Search all games of the Semi-Slav Defense: Stoltz Variation and its sub-variations
Comes from
Semi-Slav Defense: Stoltz Variation (6… Bd6 7. b3) 1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. c4 c6 4. e3 e6 5. Nc3 Nbd7 6. Qc2 Bd6 7. b3
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.