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Semi-Slav: Moscow Variation

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 · D43

Part of Semi-Slav Defense

Starting positionWhite to move

0 / 18

The bishop pair comes from an actual exchange

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The idea

Black asks the g5 bishop to decide with ...h6. In the Moscow Variation White exchanges on f6, conceding the bishop pair in return for comfortable development and a solid centre.

Main line: 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 e6 5.Bg5 h6 6.Bxf6 Qxf6 7.e3 Nd7 8.Bd3 dxc4 9.Bxc4 g6

What White wants

  • Exchange on f6 and develop with e3, Bd3 and castling
  • Use the knights and central space before Black's bishops become active
  • Prepare e4 only when the pieces can support it

What Black wants

  • Recapture with the queen and keep the bishop pair
  • Develop ...Nd7 and challenge the centre with ...dxc4 or ...c5
  • Find active diagonals for both bishops rather than defend passively

Key idea

Understand this and the moves stop needing to be memorised.

The bishop pair comes from an actual exchange

Bxf6 Qxf6 trades White's dark-squared bishop for a knight, so Black gains the two-bishop advantage. White has easier development and less immediate tactical risk. Retreating to h4 instead is the separate Anti-Moscow line, where ...dxc4 and ...g5 can lead to sharper play.

Common mistake

Exchanging on f6 and then opening the position before the pieces are ready. Black's bishop pair benefits from open diagonals; White should finish development and choose a central break that gains activity rather than merely releases the bishops.

Representative position

The position this opening is aiming at. Copy the FEN, or open it in the analysis board and let the engine tell you what it is worth.

r1b1kb1r/pp1n1p2/2p1pqpp/8/2BP4/2N1PN2/PP3PPP/R2QK2R w KQkq - 0 10

Analyze this position

Related openings

Semi-Slav Defense1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 e6 · D43–D49Black combines the Slav and the QGD — ...c6 and ...e6 together — creating a fortress that then expands on the queenside with ...b5.Semi-Slav: Botvinnik Variation1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 e6 · D44The most analysed line in 1.d4: Black grabs material on the queenside while White sacrifices a knight for a raging attack on the kingside.Slav Defense1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 dxc4 · D10–D19Black defends d5 with the c-pawn instead of the e-pawn, keeping the bishop on c8 free to develop actively to f5.Queen's Gambit Declined1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Be7 · D30–D69Black holds d5 with ...e6 and accepts a slightly cramped but extremely solid position — the classical answer to 1.d4 for over a century.