Library/Openings/Semi-Slav Defense/Botvinnik Variation/Szabo Variation ECO D44
Opening· 21 plies

Semi-Slav Defense: Botvinnik Variation, Szabo Variation

An entry in the Encyclopedia of Chess Openings (ECO D44), reached after 21 half-moves: 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 c6 5. Bg5 dxc4 6. e4 b5 7. e5 h6 8. Bh4 g5 9. Nxg5 hxg5 10. Bxg5 Nbd7 11. Qf3.

Semi-Slav Defense: Botvinnik Variation, Szabo Variation ECO D44
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Black rook
Black bishop
Black queen
Black king
Black bishop
Black rook
Black pawn
Black knight
Black pawn
Black pawn
Black pawn
Black knight
Black pawn
White pawn
White bishop
Black pawn
White pawn
White knight
White queen
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White bishop
White rook
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End of this line

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

About this opening

Semi-Slav Defense: Botvinnik Variation, Szabo 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 21 half-moves from the starting position, with the move sequence 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 c6 5. Bg5 dxc4 6. e4 b5 7. e5 h6 8. Bh4 g5 9. Nxg5 hxg5 10. Bxg5 Nbd7 11. Qf3.

It belongs to the Semi-Slav Defense family. Within that family this is a level-2 branch (the Botvinnik Variation → Szabo Variation line). The immediate parent line is Semi-Slav Defense: Botvinnik Variation, transitioned via 11.Qf3.

The opening sequence in prose form: 1.d4 Nf6, 2.c4 e6, 3.Nf3 d5, 4.Nc3 c6, 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.