The Botvinnik Variation is a variation of the Semi-Slav Defense, catalogued as ECO D44. The line runs 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bg5 dxc4 6. e4, reaching the position shown below after 11 half-moves.
White holds the centre with pawns on d4 and e4. White is ahead in development, with three minor pieces out to Black's one, and Black is up a pawn of material. It is Black to move after six moves. Black has doubled pawns on the c-file.
On the Semi-Slav Defense generally: A complex defense combining ideas from the Slav and Queen's Gambit Declined.
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The Botvinnik Variation goes 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bg5 dxc4 6. e4. It is a variation of the Semi-Slav Defense and is catalogued as ECO D44.
The Botvinnik Variation is ECO D44. ECO codes group openings by their move order, so nearby codes cover closely related lines of the Semi-Slav Defense.
Stockfish evaluates the position after 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bg5 dxc4 6. e4 at +0.63 at depth 18, which is a small but real edge for White. Engine evaluation is only a starting point — at club level the practical value of a line is mostly about whether you know its plans better than your opponent does.
White holds the centre with pawns on d4 and e4. White is ahead in development, with three minor pieces out to Black's one, and Black is up a pawn of material. It is Black to move. Black has doubled pawns on the c-file.