The Meran Variation, Stahlberg 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 Nxe5 12. Nxe5 axb5 13. Qf3, reaching the position shown below after 25 half-moves.
Black holds the centre with pawns on d4. Development is level at three minor pieces each, and Black is up a pawn of material. It is Black to move after 13 moves. Black’s b-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.
You can play through this variation move by move in your browser — Learn mode walks the line with an explanation at each step, and Drill mode replays it from memory so you find out whether you actually know it. No account is required.
See all 63 Semi-Slav Defense variations →
The Meran Variation, Stahlberg 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 Nxe5 12. Nxe5 axb5 13. Qf3. It is a variation of the Semi-Slav Defense and is catalogued as ECO D49.
The Meran Variation, Stahlberg 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 Nxe5 12. Nxe5 axb5 13. Qf3 at +0.08 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.
Black holds the centre with pawns on d4. Development is level at three minor pieces each, and Black is up a pawn of material. It is Black to move. Black’s b-file pawn is isolated; the c-file file is fully open.