The Meran Variation, Old Variation is a variation of the Semi-Slav Defense, catalogued as ECO D48. 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, reaching the position shown below after 19 half-moves.
White holds the centre with pawns on d4 and e5, and one pawn capture is available, so the structure has not settled yet. Development is level at three minor pieces each. It is Black to move after ten moves.
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, Old 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. It is a variation of the Semi-Slav Defense and is catalogued as ECO D48.
The Meran Variation, Old Variation is ECO D48. 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 at +0.13 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.
White holds the centre with pawns on d4 and e5, and one pawn capture is available, so the structure has not settled yet. Development is level at three minor pieces each. It is Black to move.