The Botvinnik Variation, Ekstrom 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. exf6 gxh4 10. Ne5, reaching the position shown below after 19 half-moves.
White holds the centre with pawns on d4. 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 ten moves. White has doubled pawns on the f-file; Black has doubled pawns on the c- and h-files; White’s d-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, Ekstrom 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. exf6 gxh4 10. Ne5. It is a variation of the Semi-Slav Defense and is catalogued as ECO D44.
The Botvinnik Variation, Ekstrom 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. exf6 gxh4 10. Ne5 at -0.46 at depth 18, which is a slight pull for Black, 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. 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. White has doubled pawns on the f-file; Black has doubled pawns on the c- and h-files; White’s d-file pawn is isolated.