The Chigorin Defense is a variation of the Semi-Slav Defense, catalogued as ECO D46. The line runs 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Nf3 Nbd7 6. Qc2 Bd6 7. b3 O-O 8. Bb2 Qe7 9. Bd3, reaching the position shown below after 17 half-moves.
Both sides have pawns in the centre (White on d4, Black on d5), and one pawn capture is available, so the structure has not settled yet. Development is level at four minor pieces each. It is Black to move after nine moves. Black has castled while White’s king is still uncommitted.
On the Semi-Slav Defense generally: A complex defense combining ideas from the Slav and Queen's Gambit Declined.
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The Chigorin Defense goes 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Nf3 Nbd7 6. Qc2 Bd6 7. b3 O-O 8. Bb2 Qe7 9. Bd3. It is a variation of the Semi-Slav Defense and is catalogued as ECO D46.
The Chigorin Defense is ECO D46. 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. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Nf3 Nbd7 6. Qc2 Bd6 7. b3 O-O 8. Bb2 Qe7 9. Bd3 at +0.20 at depth 18, which is balanced. 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.
Both sides have pawns in the centre (White on d4, Black on d5), and one pawn capture is available, so the structure has not settled yet. Development is level at four minor pieces each. It is Black to move. Black has castled while White’s king is still uncommitted.