Semi-Slav Defense: Stoltz Variation (5… Nbd7 6. Qc2)
1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Nf3 Nbd7 6. Qc2
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. It is a line of the Semi-Slav Defense. Black is to move. 3 named lines continue from this position.
In 12.6 million rated Lichess games (blitz and slower), this position was reached 34 times by this move order. White won 50%, 0% were drawn and Black won 50%. The most popular continuation is 6… Bd6 (65% of games).
Engine evaluation: +0.18 (Stockfish, depth 50; best line 6… Bd6 7. Be2 O-O 8. O-O Re8 9. b3)
- ECO
- D45
- Moves
- 11 plies
- FEN
r1bqkb1r/pp1n1ppp/2p1pn2/3p4/2PP4/2N1PN2/PPQ2PPP/R1B1KB1R b KQkq - 3 6- PGN
1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Nf3 Nbd7 6. Qc2
Analyse with Stockfish · Board image (SVG) · Open on Lichess
Results by rating
| Average rating | Games | White / draw / Black |
|---|---|---|
| 1500-1999 | 5 | |
| 2000+ | 29 | |
| All | 34 |
Most played moves
| Move | Games | White / draw / Black |
|---|---|---|
| 6… Bd6 | 22 (65%) | |
| 6… Be7 | 6 (18%) | |
| 6… a6 | 4 (12%) | |
| 6… dxc4 | 2 (6%) |
Master games
1,394 over-the-board games are classified under this line (White 49%, draw 30%, Black 21%). The strongest:
- GM Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (2764) – GM Magnus Carlsen (2882) 1/2-1/2 · 7th Sinquefield Cup 2019 · 2019-08-20
- GM Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (2770) – GM Magnus Carlsen (2847) 1/2-1/2 · NIC Classic Prelim 2021 · 2021-04-26
- GM Jan-Krzysztof Duda (2750) – GM Magnus Carlsen (2864) 0-1 · Charity Cup KO 2022 · 2022-03-25
- GM Teimour Radjabov (2748) – GM Magnus Carlsen (2843) 1/2-1/2 · Vugar Gashimov Mem 2018 · 2018-04-22
- GM Hikaru Nakamura (2790) – GM Anish Giri (2793) 1/2-1/2 · FIDE Candidates 2016 · 2016-03-15
Search all games of the Semi-Slav Defense: Stoltz Variation and its sub-variations
Highest-rated Lichess games
- CM HandKnit (2481) – behrooz10000 (2543) 0-1 · 2026-09-06 · 180 + 2s
- CM HandKnit (2487) – Sacrifice_chaser (2529) 1-0 · 2026-09-03 · 180 + 2s
- poj60 (2593) – ChessCoach2027 (2397) 1-0 · 2026-09-06 · 600 + 0s
Comes from
Semi-Slav Defense: Normal Variation (5. Nf3 Nbd7) 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Nf3 Nbd7
Continuations
- Semi-Slav Defense: Stoltz Variation (6… b6 7. b3) D45 · 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Nf3 Nbd7 6. Qc2 b6 7. b3
- Semi-Slav Defense: Chigorin Defense (8… Re8 9. Bd3) D46 · 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Nf3 Nbd7 6. Qc2 Bd6 7. b3 O-O 8. Bb2 Re8 9. Bd3
- Semi-Slav Defense: Chigorin Defense (8… Qe7 9. Bd3) D46 · 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Nf3 Nbd7 6. Qc2 Bd6 7. b3 O-O 8. Bb2 Qe7 9. Bd3
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.