ECO D86 · Grünfeld Defense

Grünfeld Defense: Exchange Variation, Larsen Variation

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Bc4 O-O 8. Ne2 Qd7

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

9. O-O+0.40

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Grünfeld Defense: Exchange Variation, Larsen Variation (D86), reached after 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Bc4 O-O 8. Ne2 Qd7, Stockfish 18 recommends 9. O-O for White. White is slightly better (+0.40).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.409. O-O Nc6 10. Rb1 e5 11. Be3 Qe7 12. Ng3 Na5 13. Be2 b6
  2. +0.399. Rb1 e5 10. O-O Nc6 11. Be3 Qe7 12. Bd5 Na5 13. Qa4 c6
  3. +0.389. Be3 c5 10. h4 Qg4 11. Ng3 Qxd1+ 12. Rxd1 h5 13. O-O cxd4

Other move orders

  • 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Bc4 O-O 8. Ne2 Qd7 9. O-O b6

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Grünfeld Defense: Exchange Variation, Larsen Variation?
After 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Bc4 O-O 8. Ne2 Qd7, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 9. O-O for White, continuing Nc6 10. Rb1 e5 11. Be3 Qe7 12. Ng3 Na5 13. Be2 b6. White is slightly better (+0.40). The next best moves are 9. Rb1 (+0.39) and 9. Be3 (+0.38).
Is the Grünfeld Defense: Exchange Variation, Larsen Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.40: 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, Larsen Variation?
D86. 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+).