Semi-Slav Defense: Stoltz Variation, Shabalov Attack
1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Qc2 Bd6 7. g4
The Semi-Slav Defense: Stoltz Variation, Shabalov Attack 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. g4. It is a line of the Semi-Slav Defense. Black is to move.
In 12.6 million rated Lichess games (blitz and slower), this position was reached 11 times by this move order. White won 27%, 0% were drawn and Black won 73%. The most popular continuation is 7… h6 (55% of games).
Engine evaluation: 0.00 (Stockfish, depth 50; best line 7… h6 8. h3 e5 9. Bd2 O-O 10. dxe5)
- ECO
- D45
- Moves
- 13 plies
- FEN
r1bqk2r/pp1n1ppp/2pbpn2/3p4/2PP2P1/2N1PN2/PPQ2P1P/R1B1KB1R b KQkq - 0 7- PGN
1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Qc2 Bd6 7. g4
Analyse with Stockfish · Board image (SVG) · Open on Lichess
Results by rating
| Average rating | Games | White / draw / Black |
|---|---|---|
| 1500-1999 | 2 | |
| 2000+ | 9 | |
| All | 11 |
Most played moves
| Move | Games | White / draw / Black |
|---|---|---|
| 7… h6 | 6 (55%) | |
| 7… Nxg4 | 3 (27%) | |
| 7… Bb4 | 1 (9%) | |
| 7… dxc4 | 1 (9%) |
Master games
115 over-the-board games are classified under this line (White 44%, draw 26%, Black 30%). The strongest:
- LCZero 0.27.0d-Tilps-dje-magic_JH.94-100 (3586) – Stockfish 20210113 (3601) 1/2-1/2 · TCEC 20 Superfinal 2020 · 2021-01-20
- Stockfish 20210113 (3601) – LCZero 0.27.0d-Tilps-dje-magic_JH.94-100 (3586) 1/2-1/2 · TCEC 20 Superfinal 2020 · 2021-01-19
- GM Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (2733) – GM Sam Shankland (2669) 1/2-1/2 · Titled Tue 27th Aug Late · 2024-08-27
- GM Nikolas Theodorou (2634) – GM Hans Moke Niemann (2742) 1-0 · 3rd UzChess Cup Masters · 2026-06-07
- GM Pavel Ponkratov (2625) – GM Vladislav Artemiev (2708) 1-0 · Titled Tuesday 10th Nov · 2020-11-10
Search all games of the Semi-Slav Defense: Stoltz Variation, Shabalov Attack and its sub-variations
Highest-rated Lichess games
- oddovi (2469) – Prorook (2444) 1-0 · 2026-09-04 · 180 + 0s
- petrnml (2309) – eskemb (2439) 1-0 · 2026-09-02 · 180 + 2s
- MarkusSpuelt (2320) – freak1000 (2384) 0-1 · 2026-09-02 · 180 + 0s
Comes from
Semi-Slav Defense 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6
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.