Grünfeld Defense: Exchange Variation, Spassky 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. Be3+0.39
White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.
Analyze this positionIn the Grünfeld Defense: Exchange Variation, Spassky Variation (D87), 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, Stockfish 18 recommends 9. Be3 for White. White is slightly better (+0.39).
Top engine moves
- +0.399. Be3 Nc6 10. O-O Na5 11. Bd3 b6 12. Rb1 Qd7 13. Qd2 Bb7
- +0.389. O-O Nc6 10. Be3 Na5 11. Bd3 b6 12. Rc1 e5 13. dxc5 Be6
- +0.219. h4 Nc6 10. Be3 cxd4 11. cxd4 Qa5+ 12. Kf1 h5 13. f3 e6
Other move orders
- 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Bc4 c5 8. Ne2 Nc6 9. Be3 O-O 10. O-O cxd4 11. cxd4
- 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Bc4 c5 8. Ne2 Nc6 9. Be3 O-O 10. O-O Bg4 11. f3 Na5 12. Bd3 cxd4 13. cxd4 Be6
Frequently asked questions
What is the best move in the Grünfeld Defense: Exchange Variation, Spassky 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, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 9. Be3 for White, continuing Nc6 10. O-O Na5 11. Bd3 b6 12. Rb1 Qd7 13. Qd2 Bb7. White is slightly better (+0.39). The next best moves are 9. O-O (+0.38) and 9. h4 (+0.21).
Is the Grünfeld Defense: Exchange Variation, Spassky Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.39: white is slightly 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, Spassky Variation?
D87. 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+).