ECO E60 · Grünfeld Defense

Grünfeld Defense: Counterthrust Variation

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. g3 Bg7 4. Bg2 d5

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White to move. The arrow shows Stockfish’s best move.
Best move

5. cxd5+0.38

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Grünfeld Defense: Counterthrust Variation (E60), reached after 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. g3 Bg7 4. Bg2 d5, Stockfish 18 recommends 5. cxd5 for White. White is slightly better (+0.38).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.385. cxd5 Nxd5 6. Nf3 O-O 7. O-O Nb6 8. Nc3 Nc6 9. d5 Na5
  2. +0.235. Nf3 c6 6. b3 dxc4 7. bxc4 c5 8. O-O O-O 9. e3 Nc6
  3. +0.015. Qb3 dxc4 6. Qxc4 O-O 7. Nf3 Be6 8. Qa4 Nd5 9. O-O Nb6

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Grünfeld Defense: Counterthrust Variation?
After 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. g3 Bg7 4. Bg2 d5, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 5. cxd5 for White, continuing Nxd5 6. Nf3 O-O 7. O-O Nb6 8. Nc3 Nc6 9. d5 Na5. White is slightly better (+0.38). The next best moves are 5. Nf3 (+0.23) and 5. Qb3 (+0.01).
Is the Grünfeld Defense: Counterthrust Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.38: white is slightly better. Evaluations this early in the game are small, so practical results depend far more on knowing the plans and typical structures than on the engine's number.
What is the ECO code of the Grünfeld Defense: Counterthrust Variation?
E60. ECO codes classify chess openings from A00 to E99; E is the volume for indian defenses.

Opening names from the Lichess opening book (CC0). Pieces by Colin M.L. Burnett (GPLv2+).