Semi-Slav Defense: Stoltz Variation, Center Variation, Mikhalchishin Line

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Qc2 Bd6 7. e4 dxe4 8. Nxe4 Nxe4 9. Qxe4 e5 10. dxe5

The Semi-Slav Defense: Stoltz Variation, Center Variation, Mikhalchishin Line is a chess opening classified as ECO D45, reached after 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Qc2 Bd6 7. e4 dxe4 8. Nxe4 Nxe4 9. Qxe4 e5 10. dxe5. 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: −0.07 (Stockfish, depth 29; best line 10… O-O 11. Be2 Re8 12. Be3 Qa5+ 13. Bd2)

ECO

D45

Moves

19 plies

FEN

r1bqk2r/pp1n1ppp/2pb4/4P3/2P1Q3/5N2/PP3PPP/R1B1KB1R b KQkq - 0 10

PGN

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Qc2 Bd6 7. e4 dxe4 8. Nxe4 Nxe4 9. Qxe4 e5 10. dxe5

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.