Grünfeld Defense: Exchange Variation, Sokolsky Variation
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Bc4 c5 8. Ne2 O-O 9. O-O Nc6 10. Be3 Bg4 11. f3 Na5 12. Bd3 cxd4 13. cxd4 Be6 14. d5
14… Bxa1+0.20
The position is roughly equal. Stockfish 18, depth 18.
Analyze this positionIn the Grünfeld Defense: Exchange Variation, Sokolsky Variation (D89), reached after 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Bc4 c5 8. Ne2 O-O 9. O-O Nc6 10. Be3 Bg4 11. f3 Na5 12. Bd3 cxd4 13. cxd4 Be6 14. d5, Stockfish 18 recommends 14… Bxa1 for Black. The position is roughly equal (+0.20).
Top engine moves
- +0.2014… Bxa1 15. Qxa1 f6 16. Qd4 Bf7 17. Rb1 e5 18. Qb4 b6 19. Nc3
- +0.5314… Bd7 15. Nd4 e6 16. dxe6 Bxe6 17. Nxe6 fxe6 18. Rb1 Bd4 19. Qe2
- +0.7914… Bc8 15. Rc1 e6 16. Nf4 exd5 17. Nxd5 Be6 18. Nc7 Rc8 19. Nxe6
Frequently asked questions
What is the best move in the Grünfeld Defense: Exchange Variation, Sokolsky Variation?
After 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Bc4 c5 8. Ne2 O-O 9. O-O Nc6 10. Be3 Bg4 11. f3 Na5 12. Bd3 cxd4 13. cxd4 Be6 14. d5, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 14… Bxa1 for Black, continuing 15. Qxa1 f6 16. Qd4 Bf7 17. Rb1 e5 18. Qb4 b6 19. Nc3. The position is roughly equal (+0.20). The next best moves are 14… Bd7 (+0.53) and 14… Bc8 (+0.79).
Is the Grünfeld Defense: Exchange Variation, Sokolsky Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.20: 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, Sokolsky Variation?
D89. 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+).