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 b5 7. e5 h6 8. Bh4 g5 9. Nxg5, reaching the position shown below after 17 half-moves.
White holds the centre with pawns on d4 and e5. White is ahead in development, with three minor pieces out to Black's one. It is Black to move after nine moves. Black has doubled pawns on the c-file; Black’s h-file pawn is isolated.
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 b5 7. e5 h6 8. Bh4 g5 9. Nxg5. 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 b5 7. e5 h6 8. Bh4 g5 9. Nxg5 at +0.53 at depth 18, which is a slight pull for White, within normal opening margins. 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 e5. White is ahead in development, with three minor pieces out to Black's one. It is Black to move. Black has doubled pawns on the c-file; Black’s h-file pawn is isolated.