Semi-Slav Defense: Meran Variation
The Meran Variation is 6.Bd3 dxc4 7.Bxc4 b5, where Black takes on c4 and then gains a tempo on the bishop. Black will continue with ...Bb7, ...a6 and ...c5 to free the light-squared bishop, while White aims for e4 and e5 to grab the center.
- Moves
- 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.e3 e6 5.Nf3 Nbd7 6.Bd3 dxc4 7.Bxc4 b5
- ECO
- D47, D48
- Engine
- 0.00 · level (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
- Played
- 220 games in our lichess sample
- White scores
- 51.6%
Key ideas for both sides
White
- 8.Bd3 is the main retreat; after ...b4 Ne4 trades knights and the bishop recaptures on e4.
- 8.Be2 and 8.Bb3 keep the bishop elsewhere and prepare e4 with O-O first.
- Push e4 and e5 when ready, kicking the f6 knight and gaining space on the kingside.
- Use a4 to attack the b5 pawn and open the a-file when Black's queenside pawns advance.
Black
- Follow with ...Bb7 and ...a6, then ...c5 to open the long diagonal toward g2.
- Against 8.Bd3, ...b4 kicks the knight and forces trades that ease Black's game.
- If White plays e4 and e5, the knight on f6 must move; ...Nd5 or ...Nxe4 are typical.
- Castle short with ...Be7 and ...O-O before opening the center too much.
Plans and pawn structure
Black now has queenside space with b5 and the c-pawn ready for ...c5, which frees the b7 bishop on the long diagonal. White's trump is the center: e4 and e5 drive away Black's knight and open attacking chances. The middlegame is often about whether Black's queenside expansion is faster than White's kingside play. If Black gets ...c5 in safely, the d4 pawn becomes a target. If White gets e5 with pieces ready, Black's king is under pressure.
What the engine plays from here
Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position 0.00: level. Its three top choices for White:
- 0.00 8.Bd3 b4 9.Ne4 Nxe4 10.Bxe4 Bb7
- −0.05 8.Be2 Bb7 9.O-O Be7 10.e4 b4
- −0.19 8.Bb3 Bb7 9.O-O Be7 10.e4 b4
Pawns, from White's side.
How it scores on lichess
220 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 51.6%.
Light: White wins. Grey: draws. Dark: Black wins. About the sample.
Where it goes next
- Meran Variation, Stahlberg Variation8.Bd3 · rare
How to play against it
With White, retreat with 8.Bd3 and be ready for ...b4 and the knight trade on e4; the bishop then lands on a strong central square. Prepare e4 by castling first. With Black, do not delay ...c5 too long, because it is the move that frees the b7 bishop and hits d4.
Other lines with this name
The lichess opening list also files these lines under the same name, though they reach a different position: 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.e3 e6 5.Nf3 Nbd7 6.Bd3 dxc4 7.Bxc4 b5 8.Bd3 a6; 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.e3 e6 5.Nf3 Nbd7 6.Bd3 dxc4 7.Bxc4 b5 8.Bd3 a6 9.e4 c5; 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 c6 4.e3 Nf6 5.Nf3 a6 6.Bd3 dxc4 7.Bxc4 b5 8.Bd3 c5 9.O-O Bb7 10.Qe2.
Questions
What are the moves of the Semi-Slav Defense: Meran Variation?
The Semi-Slav Defense: Meran Variation starts 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.e3 e6 5.Nf3 Nbd7 6.Bd3 dxc4 7.Bxc4 b5. Its ECO code is D47, D48.
Is the Semi-Slav Defense: Meran Variation good for Black?
Stockfish 17.1 rates the position 0.00 at depth 20, which is level. In 220 lichess games from our sample, White scored 51.6%. A classic choice for players on both sides who like rich, dynamic positions and are willing to learn concrete lines.
What is the main idea of the Semi-Slav Defense: Meran Variation?
Black takes on c4 and gains time with ...b5 to expand on the queenside. White aims for e4 and e5, while Black seeks ...c5 to free the light-squared bishop.
What should White play next?
The engine's first choice is Bd3, with Be2 and Bb3 close behind. 8.Bd3 puts the bishop on its best diagonal and leads to forcing trades after ...b4.
Related lines
Updated October 2026. Sources and method.