ECO D86 · Grünfeld Defense

Grünfeld Defense: Exchange Variation, Simagin's Lesser 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 b6

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

9. h4+0.85

White is clearly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Grünfeld Defense: Exchange Variation, Simagin's Lesser 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 b6, Stockfish 18 recommends 9. h4 for White. White is clearly better (+0.85).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.859. h4 Nc6 10. e5 Na5 11. Bd3 c5 12. h5 cxd4 13. cxd4 Bb7
  2. +0.469. Qd3 Nc6 10. Bd5 Qd7 11. Ba3 Bb7 12. h4 Na5 13. Bxb7 Nxb7
  3. +0.439. Be3 Bb7 10. f3 Nc6 11. h4 h5 12. Qd2 e5 13. Bg5 Qd7

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Grünfeld Defense: Exchange Variation, Simagin's Lesser 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 b6, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 9. h4 for White, continuing Nc6 10. e5 Na5 11. Bd3 c5 12. h5 cxd4 13. cxd4 Bb7. White is clearly better (+0.85). The next best moves are 9. Qd3 (+0.46) and 9. Be3 (+0.43).
Is the Grünfeld Defense: Exchange Variation, Simagin's Lesser Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.85: White is clearly better. That is a large edge for an opening position, so check the engine lines before playing it from the other side.
What is the ECO code of the Grünfeld Defense: Exchange Variation, Simagin's Lesser 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+).