Semi-Slav Defense: Botvinnik Variation, Ekstrom Variation

An entry in the Encyclopedia of Chess Openings (ECO D44), reached after 19 half-moves: 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.

Black rook — Use ← → arrows or click moves to step through.

Black knight — Use ← → arrows or click moves to step through.

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No further variations branch from this position in our database. To explore neighbouring ideas:

About this opening

Semi-Slav Defense: Botvinnik Variation, Ekstrom Variation is an opening in the Encyclopedia of Chess Openings, classified under code D44. ECO group D (D00–D99) covers closed games and semi-closed games beginning 1.d4 d5, covering the Queen's Gambit, Slav, Grünfeld and related queen-pawn structures. This particular variation is reached after 19 half-moves from the starting position, with the move sequence 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 belongs to the Semi-Slav Defense family. Within that family this is a level-2 branch (the Botvinnik Variation → Ekstrom Variation line). The immediate parent line is Semi-Slav Defense: Botvinnik Variation, transitioned via 10.Ne5.

The opening sequence in prose form: 1.d4 d5, 2.c4 c6, 3.Nf3 Nf6, 4.Nc3 e6, 5.Bg5 dxc4, 6.e4 b5. From this position the encyclopaedia records no further canonical continuations — practical play branches into unnamed transpositions or returns to the parent line for alternative ideas.