The Meran Variation, Blumenfeld Variation is a variation of the Semi-Slav Defense, catalogued as ECO D49. The line runs 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 10. e5 cxd4 11. Nxb5, reaching the position shown below after 21 half-moves.
Both sides have pawns in the centre (White on e5, Black on d4). Development is level at three minor pieces each. It is Black to move after 11 moves. Black’s a-file pawn is isolated; the c-file file is fully open.
On the Semi-Slav Defense generally: A complex defense combining ideas from the Slav and Queen's Gambit Declined.
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The Meran Variation, Blumenfeld Variation goes 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 10. e5 cxd4 11. Nxb5. It is a variation of the Semi-Slav Defense and is catalogued as ECO D49.
The Meran Variation, Blumenfeld Variation is ECO D49. 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. Bd3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 b5 8. Bd3 a6 9. e4 c5 10. e5 cxd4 11. Nxb5 at +0.10 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 e5, Black on d4). Development is level at three minor pieces each. It is Black to move. Black’s a-file pawn is isolated; the c-file file is fully open.