Library/Openings/Semi-Slav Defense/Marshall Gambit/Main Line ECO D31
Opening· 11 plies

Semi-Slav Defense: Marshall Gambit, Main Line

An entry in the Encyclopedia of Chess Openings (ECO D31), reached after 11 half-moves: 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c6 4. e4 dxe4 5. Nxe4 Bb4+ 6. Bd2.

Semi-Slav Defense: Marshall Gambit, Main Line ECO D31
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Black rook
Black knight
Black bishop
Black queen
Black king
Black knight
Black rook
Black pawn
Black pawn
Black pawn
Black pawn
Black pawn
Black pawn
Black pawn
Black bishop
White pawn
White pawn
White knight
White pawn
White pawn
White bishop
White pawn
White pawn
White pawn
White rook
White queen
White king
White bishop
White knight
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: Marshall Gambit, Main Line is an opening in the Encyclopedia of Chess Openings, classified under code D31. 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 11 half-moves from the starting position, with the move sequence 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c6 4. e4 dxe4 5. Nxe4 Bb4+ 6. Bd2.

It belongs to the Semi-Slav Defense family. Within that family this is a level-2 branch (the Marshall Gambit → Main Line line). The immediate parent line is Semi-Slav Defense: Marshall Gambit, transitioned via 6.Bd2.

The opening sequence in prose form: 1.d4 d5, 2.c4 e6, 3.Nc3 c6, 4.e4 dxe4, 5.Nxe4 Bb4+, 6.Bd2. 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.