D31 · Semi-Slav Defense

Semi-Slav Defense: Noteboom Variation, Abrahams Variation

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c6 4. Nf3 dxc4 5. a4 Bb4 6. e3 Bxc3+ 7. bxc3 b5 8. axb5 cxb5
♜♞♝♛♚♞♜♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♞♟♟♟♜♝♛♚♝♜
The position after 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c6 4. Nf3 dxc4 5. a4 Bb4 6. e3 Bxc3+ 7. bxc3 b5 8. axb5 cxb5, White to move.

In the Semi-Slav Defense: Noteboom Variation, Abrahams Variation, aim to understand the plans and pawn structures, not just memorize the first moves.

See how you play it

The Semi-Slav Defense: Noteboom Variation, Abrahams Variation is a chess opening classified under ECO code D31. It is reached after the moves 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c6 4. Nf3 dxc4 5. a4 Bb4 6. e3 Bxc3+ 7. bxc3 b5 8. axb5 cxb5: 16 moves in, with White to play.

It belongs to the Semi-Slav Defense family — one of many ways the line can branch. Understanding the parent system’s plans is the fastest way to play this variation well.

Club players rarely lose the Semi-Slav Defense: Noteboom Variation, Abrahams Variation in the opening itself. They lose it a few moves later, when the plan behind the moves runs out: that is what reading your own games in this line shows you.

Play the Semi-Slav Defense: Noteboom Variation, Abrahams Variation? See where you go wrong.
Deepline reviews your real games, finds the exact moves that cost you, and trains the fixes.
Analyze my games free →

Related openings

Semi-Slav Defense: Quiet VariationSemi-Slav Defense: Quiet VariationQueen's Gambit DeclinedQueen's Gambit Declined: Alapin VariationQueen's Gambit Declined: Charousek VariationQueen's Gambit Declined: Charousek Variation, Miladinovic GambitQueen's Gambit Declined: Janowski VariationQueen's Gambit Declined: Queen's Knight VariationQueen's Gambit Declined: Semi-Slav, Abrahams VariationQueen's Gambit Declined: Semi-Slav, Junge Variation

See how you play this opening