D44 Semi-Slav Defense Accepted
D44 holds seven named lines, all under the name Semi-Slav Defense. It leaves D43 (Semi-Slav Defense) with 5.Bg5 dxc4. When the reference line ends, Black is one pawn up on material. No other Semi-Slav Defense code shares this. Black’s pieces and pawns attack seven squares in White’s half, the most of the 7 Semi-Slav Defense codes. White, to move in that position, has 38 legal moves, the second-highest count of the 7 Semi-Slav Defense codes.
| # | White | Black |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | d4 | d5 |
| 2 | c4 | c6 |
| 3 | Nf3 | Nf6 |
| 4 | Nc3 | e6 |
| 5 | Bg5 | dxc4 |
Moves only D44 plays
Same as D52 up to 5.Bg5, then:
- 5...dxc4 The d-pawn takes the pawn on c4, covering b3 and d3, opening a line for the queen on d8.
Lines filed under D44
All seven share the start 1.d4 and then split two ways at Black’s move 1.
| Name | After the shared start | Plies | At the end |
|---|---|---|---|
| Semi-Slav Defense Accepted | 1...d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 e6 5.Bg5 dxc4 | 10 | Black +1 |
| Semi-Slav Defense: Botvinnik Variation | 1...d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 e6 5.Bg5 dxc4 6.e4 | 11 | Black +1 |
| Semi-Slav Defense: Botvinnik Variation | 1...d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 e6 5.Bg5 dxc4 6.e4 b5 7.e5 h6 8.Bh4 g5 9.Nxg5 | 17 | |
| Semi-Slav Defense: Botvinnik Variation, Alatortsev System | 1...Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 c6 5.Bg5 dxc4 6.e4 b5 7.e5 h6 8.Bh4 g5 9.Nxg5 Nd5 | 18 | |
| Semi-Slav Defense: Botvinnik Variation, Ekstrom Variation | 1...d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 e6 5.Bg5 dxc4 6.e4 b5 7.e5 h6 8.Bh4 g5 9.exf6 gxh4 10.Ne5 | 19 | Black +1 |
| Semi-Slav Defense: Botvinnik Variation, Lilienthal Variation | 1...d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 e6 5.Bg5 dxc4 6.e4 b5 7.e5 h6 8.Bh4 g5 9.Nxg5 hxg5 10.Bxg5 Nbd7 11.g3 | 21 | Black +2 |
| Semi-Slav Defense: Botvinnik Variation, Szabo Variation | 1...Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 c6 5.Bg5 dxc4 6.e4 b5 7.e5 h6 8.Bh4 g5 9.Nxg5 hxg5 10.Bxg5 Nbd7 11.Qf3 | 21 | Black +2 |
The road to D44
- 1.d4 … 3...Nf6five earlier stops: A40, D00, D06, D10, D11
- 4.Nc3D15 Three Knights Variation
- 4...e6D43 Semi-Slav Defense
- 5...dxc4D44
The position after 5...dxc4
White has brought out the knight on c3, knight on f3 and bishop on g5; Black the knight on f6. White has a half-open c-file; Black a half-open d-file. White could capture with Bxf6.
Closest boards in other codes
| Code | Line | Differs on |
|---|---|---|
| D39 | Queen’s Gambit Declined: Ragozin Defense, Vienna Variation | four squares: b4, c6, c7, f8 |
| D15 | Slav Defense: Three Knights Variation | six squares: c1, c4, d5, g5, e6, e7 |
| D16 | Slav Defense: Alapin Variation | six squares: c1, a2, a4, g5, e6, e7 |
| D24 | Queen’s Gambit Accepted: Showalter Variation | six squares: c1, g5, c6, e6, c7, e7 |
| D37 | Queen’s Gambit Declined: Three Knights Variation | six squares: c1, c4, d5, g5, c6, c7 |
| D40 | Queen’s Gambit Declined: Semi-Tarrasch Defense | six squares: c1, c4, c5, d5, g5, c6 |
| D41 | Queen’s Gambit Declined: Semi-Tarrasch Defense | six squares: c1, c4, c5, d5, g5, c6 |