- ECO code
- D31
- Moves
- 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 c6
- Family
- Semi-Slav Defense
- To move
- White
- Master games
- 282
- Average game length
- 40 moves
- Years covered
- 1890–2026
Semi-Slav Defense: Accelerated Move Order is the opening filed under ECO code D31, reached after 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 c6. It belongs to the Semi-Slav Defense family and is known as the Accelerated Move Order; in the resulting position it is White to move.
Katuranga's collection of 138,070 master games contains 282 games on this line — the 309th most played opening in the collection. The oldest game on this line is from 1890 and the most recent from 2026. The busiest decade in this collection is the 2020s, with 73 games. An average game here lasts 40 moves.
White wins 35% of those games, 36% end in a draw, and Black wins 29%. That is close to the collection average (White 37%, draws 35%, Black 28%).
From this position the most popular move is 4.e3, played in 124 games, followed by 4.Nf3 (89) and 4.e4 (49). After 4.e3 White scores 36% and Black 26%.
The name that appears most often on the White side of this line is Mamedyarov,S (16 games); on the Black side, Erigaisi,Arjun (33).
Reading about an opening is not the same as knowing it. Play this line against the Katuranga bot, then let the engine mark your brilliant moves, mistakes and blunders in Analysis — the fastest way to find out which of these moves you actually understand.
Results in master games
- White 35% (99)
- Draws 36% (102)
- Black 29% (81)
Most played continuations
| Move | Games | White / draws / Black | Leads into |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.e3 | 124 | 36/38/26 | — |
| 4.Nf3 | 89 | 33/36/31 | — |
| 4.e4 | 49 | 33/34/33 | — |
| 4.cxd5 | 16 | 43/38/19 | — |
| 4.Bf4 | 2 | 50/0/50 | — |
| 4.Qb3 | 2 | 50/0/50 | — |
How the position is reached
- Queen's Pawn Game · 1.d4 · 45,810 games
- Queen's Pawn Game · 1.d4 d5 · 11,560 games
- Queen's Gambit · 1.d4 d5 2.c4 · 8,858 games
- Queen's Gambit Declined · 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 · 3,217 games
- Queen's Gambit Declined: Queen's Knight Variation · 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 · 2,147 games
Played most often by
As White
- Mamedyarov,S 16
- Pillsbury, Harry Nelson 9
- Karpov, Anatoly 7
As Black
- Erigaisi,Arjun 33
- Chigorin, Mikhail 15
- Grischuk, Alexander 12
Games per decade
- 1890s 14
- 1900s 14
- 1910s 1
- 1920s 8
- 1930s 3
- 1940s 18
- 1950s 10
- 1960s 2
- 1970s 7
- 1980s 9
- 1990s 47
- 2000s 33
- 2010s 43
- 2020s 73
Master games on this line
| White | Black | Result | Year | Events |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vachier Lagrave,M | Droin,Augustin | 0-1 | 2026 | Titled Tue 20th Jan 2026 |
| Ivanchuk,V | Terkiewicz,Bruno | 1-0 | 2026 | 10th Semana Santa Open |
| So,W | Praggnanandhaa,R | 1-0 | 2026 | 14th Norway Chess 2026 |
| So,W | Sindarov,Javokhir | 1-0 | 2026 | GCT Super Rapid Poland |
| Nakamura,Hi | Sindarov,Javokhir | 0-1 | 2026 | FIDE Candidates 2026 |
| Chirila,I | Aronian,L | 0-1 | 2026 | American Cup Blitz 2026 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the Semi-Slav Defense: Accelerated Move Order?
It is the opening with ECO code D31, reached after 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 c6. It belongs to the Semi-Slav Defense family.
Is the Semi-Slav Defense: Accelerated Move Order good for White or for Black?
In 282 master games on this line White wins 35%, 36% are drawn and Black wins 29%. The collection average is White 37%, draws 35%, Black 28% — so this line is a slightly better bargain for Black than the field as a whole.
What is the main continuation of the Semi-Slav Defense: Accelerated Move Order?
4.e3 — played in 124 of the master games on this line.
Which grandmasters play the Semi-Slav Defense: Accelerated Move Order?
On the White side Mamedyarov,S (16), Pillsbury, Harry Nelson (9), Karpov, Anatoly (7); on the Black side Erigaisi,Arjun (33), Chigorin, Mikhail (15), Grischuk, Alexander (12).
Every number on this page is computed from Katuranga's master game collection; names and ECO codes follow the lichess opening book (CC0).
Try this line on the board
Play this opening against the Katuranga bot, then review the game — the engine marks every brilliant move, mistake and blunder.