ECO D86 · Grünfeld Defense

Grünfeld Defense: Exchange Variation, Simagin's Improved 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 Nc6

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

9. O-O+0.29

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

Analyze this position

In the Grünfeld Defense: Exchange Variation, Simagin's Improved 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 Nc6, Stockfish 18 recommends 9. O-O for White. The position is roughly equal (+0.29).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.299. O-O Na5 10. Bd3 e5 11. dxe5 Bxe5 12. f4 Bg7 13. e5 Qe7
  2. +0.259. Be3 e5 10. O-O Qe7 11. Qc2 Na5 12. Bd3 b6 13. Rad1 c5
  3. +0.229. e5 Na5 10. Bd3 c5 11. O-O cxd4 12. cxd4 Qd5 13. Be3 Nc6

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Grünfeld Defense: Exchange Variation, Simagin's Improved 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 Nc6, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 9. O-O for White, continuing Na5 10. Bd3 e5 11. dxe5 Bxe5 12. f4 Bg7 13. e5 Qe7. The position is roughly equal (+0.29). The next best moves are 9. Be3 (+0.25) and 9. e5 (+0.22).
Is the Grünfeld Defense: Exchange Variation, Simagin's Improved 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, Simagin's Improved 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+).