Normal Variation

The Normal Variation is Black's usual answer to the Main Line, 5. e3, of the Semi-Slav Defense. Black develops the queen's knight to d7 before deciding where the f8-bishop belongs. From d7 the knight supports the freeing breaks ...e5 and ...c5, and Black keeps the option of ...dxc4 followed by ...b5. The move order given here, with 4. e3 before Nf3, is one route to the position, and the early e3 prevents Black from taking on c4 in Slav Accepted fashion. The engine regards the position as roughly balanced, and in Lichess games White scores only slightly better than Black.

White's sixth move shapes the game. 6. Bd3, the most common choice, leads to the Semi-Slav Main Line. There 6...dxc4 7. Bxc4 b5 is the Meran Variation, and 6...Bd6 is the older Chigorin Defense. 6. Be2 is a more modest development. 6. Qc2, the Stoltz Variation and one of the engine's preferred moves, delays the king's bishop so that ...dxc4 does not gain a tempo, and White scores clearly better with it on Lichess. 6. Ne5, the Rubinstein System, is rarely played.