Grünfeld Defense: Exchange Variation, Modern Exchange Variation, Kramnik's Line
1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. c4 Bg7 4. Nc3 d5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. e4 Nxc3 7. bxc3 c5 8. h3
8… O-O+0.17
The position is roughly equal. Stockfish 18, depth 18.
Analyze this positionIn the Grünfeld Defense: Exchange Variation, Modern Exchange Variation, Kramnik's Line (D85), reached after 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. c4 Bg7 4. Nc3 d5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. e4 Nxc3 7. bxc3 c5 8. h3, Stockfish 18 recommends 8… O-O for Black. The position is roughly equal (+0.17).
Top engine moves
- +0.178… O-O 9. Be3 Qa5 10. Bd2 Qa3 11. Qc1 Qxc1+ 12. Rxc1 b6 13. Bc4
- +0.258… Nc6 9. Be3 O-O 10. Be2 cxd4 11. cxd4 Qa5+ 12. Bd2 Qa3 13. d5
- +0.298… cxd4 9. cxd4 Nc6 10. Be3 O-O 11. Qd2 Qa5 12. Qxa5 Nxa5 13. Rc1
Frequently asked questions
What is the best move in the Grünfeld Defense: Exchange Variation, Modern Exchange Variation, Kramnik's Line?
After 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. c4 Bg7 4. Nc3 d5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. e4 Nxc3 7. bxc3 c5 8. h3, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 8… O-O for Black, continuing 9. Be3 Qa5 10. Bd2 Qa3 11. Qc1 Qxc1+ 12. Rxc1 b6 13. Bc4. The position is roughly equal (+0.17). The next best moves are 8… Nc6 (+0.25) and 8… cxd4 (+0.29).
Is the Grünfeld Defense: Exchange Variation, Modern Exchange Variation, Kramnik's Line a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.17: 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, Kramnik's Line?
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+).