Semi-Slav Defense: Anti-Moscow Gambit
The Anti-Moscow Gambit line is 5.Bg5 h6 6.Bh4, where White keeps the pin on f6 instead of taking the knight. Black can take on c4 and push ...g5 to break the pin, while White offers that pawn for open lines and a later h4 against Black's loosened kingside.
- Moves
- 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 e6 5.Bg5 h6 6.Bh4
- ECO
- D43
- Engine
- +0.27 · level (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
- Played
- 249 games in our lichess sample
- White scores
- 55.0%
Key ideas for both sides
White
- If Black takes on c4, play e4, then answer ...g5 with Bg3 and attack the pawns with h4.
- In quieter lines, e3, Qc2 and Rg1 prepare g4 to open the kingside after Black castles.
- Keep the h4 bishop alive; after ...g5 the bishop on g3 eyes e5, b8 and the long diagonal.
- Use the e4 pawn and d4 pawn as a center that can push to e5 at the right time.
Black
- 6...Be7 is the calm way: break the pin by development, then castle and play ...b6 and ...Bb7.
- 6...dxc4 accepts the gambit; follow with ...g5, ...b5 and ...Bb7 to keep the pawn.
- Remember that ...g5 weakens f5 and h5; do not castle short into an h4 attack.
- Against Rg1 and g4 plans, central counterplay with ...c5 or ...e5 is the best defense.
Plans and pawn structure
The triangle on c6, d5 and e6 stays intact in the quiet lines, and the game turns on White's kingside space. With Qc2 and Rg1, White threatens g4 and g5 to open files against a king on g8. Black castles and answers with ...b6, ...Bb7 and ...c5. In the gambit line, Black's pawns on g5 and b5 give space but leave holes, and White uses h4, Be2 and long castling ideas to target them.
Where the engine's main line heads: Black's pawn triangle: c6, d5, e6. Black's triangle of pawns on c6, d5 and e6: very solid, but it can shut in the c8 bishop.
What the engine plays from here
Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position +0.27: level. Its three top choices for Black:
- +0.27 6...Be7 7.e3 Nbd7 8.Qc2 O-O 9.Rd1
- +0.29 6...dxc4 7.e4 g5 8.Bg3 b5 9.Be2
- +0.30 6...Nbd7 7.e3 Be7 8.Qc2 O-O 9.a3
Pawns, from White's side.
How it scores on lichess
249 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 55.0%.
Light: White wins. Grey: draws. Dark: Black wins. About the sample.
How to play against it
With Black, choose 6...Be7 if you want a quiet game with no gambit to learn, then castle and play ...b6. If you take on c4, follow up with ...g5 and ...b5 at once. Do not leave the knight pinned without a plan, or e4 and e5 will hurt.
Questions
What are the moves of the Semi-Slav Defense: Anti-Moscow Gambit?
The Semi-Slav Defense: Anti-Moscow Gambit starts 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 e6 5.Bg5 h6 6.Bh4. Its ECO code is D43.
Is the Semi-Slav Defense: Anti-Moscow Gambit good for White?
Stockfish 17.1 rates the position +0.27 at depth 20, which is level. In 249 lichess games from our sample, White scored 55.0%. Good for White players who like long-term pressure and a pawn sacrifice, while Black can stay safe with simple development.
What is the main idea of the Semi-Slav Defense: Anti-Moscow Gambit?
White keeps the pin with Bh4 and is ready to give the c4 pawn for central and kingside play. Black chooses between solid development with ...Be7 and grabbing c4 followed by ...g5.
What should Black play next?
The engine's first choice is Be7, with dxc4 and Nbd7 close behind. 6...Be7 breaks the pin by development and lets Black castle before deciding on ...b6 or ...dxc4.
Related lines
Updated October 2026. Sources and method.