ECO D85 · Grünfeld Defense

Grünfeld Defense: Exchange Variation

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5

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

5. Bd2+0.38

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Grünfeld Defense: Exchange Variation (D85), reached after 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5, Stockfish 18 recommends 5. Bd2 for White. White is slightly better (+0.38).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.385. Bd2 Nxc3 6. Bxc3 Bg7 7. e4 c5 8. d5 Bxc3+ 9. bxc3 Qd6
  2. +0.335. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Nf3 c5 8. Bb5+ Nc6 9. Rb1 O-O
  3. +0.285. Nf3 Bg7 6. e4 Nxc3 7. bxc3 c5 8. Bb5+ Nc6 9. Rb1 O-O

Variations

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Grünfeld Defense: Exchange Variation?
After 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 5. Bd2 for White, continuing Nxc3 6. Bxc3 Bg7 7. e4 c5 8. d5 Bxc3+ 9. bxc3 Qd6. White is slightly better (+0.38). The next best moves are 5. e4 (+0.33) and 5. Nf3 (+0.28).
Is the Grünfeld Defense: Exchange 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: Exchange Variation?
D85. ECO codes classify chess openings from A00 to E99; D is the volume for closed and semi-closed games.

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