ECO D85 · Grünfeld Defense

Grünfeld Defense: Exchange Variation, Modern Exchange Variation

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Nf3

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

7… c5+0.29

The position is roughly equal. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Grünfeld Defense: Exchange Variation, Modern Exchange Variation (D85), reached after 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Nf3, Stockfish 18 recommends 7… c5 for Black. The position is roughly equal (+0.29).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.297… c5 8. Bb5+ Nc6 9. d5 Qa5 10. Rb1 Bxc3+ 11. Bd2 a6 12. Bxc6+
  2. +0.537… O-O 8. Be2 c5 9. O-O Nc6 10. Be3 Qa5 11. d5 Ne5 12. Nxe5
  3. +0.557… Bg4 8. Qb3 c5 9. Bb5+ Nc6 10. d5 a6 11. dxc6 axb5 12. cxb7

Other move orders

  • 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Nf3 c5
  • 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. c4 Bg7 4. Nc3 d5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. e4 Nxc3 7. bxc3 c5 8. Rb1

Variations

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Grünfeld Defense: Exchange Variation, Modern Exchange Variation?
After 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Nf3, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 7… c5 for Black, continuing 8. Bb5+ Nc6 9. d5 Qa5 10. Rb1 Bxc3+ 11. Bd2 a6 12. Bxc6+. The position is roughly equal (+0.29). The next best moves are 7… O-O (+0.53) and 7… Bg4 (+0.55).
Is the Grünfeld Defense: Exchange Variation, Modern Exchange Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.29: the position is roughly equal. 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, Modern 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+).