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
9. h4+0.85
White is clearly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.
Analyze this positionIn 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
- +0.859. h4 Nc6 10. e5 Na5 11. Bd3 c5 12. h5 cxd4 13. cxd4 Bb7
- +0.469. Qd3 Nc6 10. Bd5 Qd7 11. Ba3 Bb7 12. h4 Na5 13. Bxb7 Nxb7
- +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. 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 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+).