ECO D96 · Grünfeld Defense

Grünfeld Defense: Russian Variation

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. Qb3

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

5… dxc4+0.37

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Grünfeld Defense: Russian Variation (D96), reached after 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. Qb3, Stockfish 18 recommends 5… dxc4 for Black. White is slightly better (+0.37).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.375… dxc4 6. Qxc4 Be6 7. Qb5+ Bd7 8. Qxb7 Nc6 9. Qb3 Rb8 10. Qd1
  2. +0.445… c6 6. cxd5 cxd5 7. Bg5 O-O 8. e3 e6 9. h3 Nc6 10. Bd3
  3. +0.515… e6 6. Bf4 O-O 7. e3 b6 8. Be2 Nc6 9. cxd5 Nxd5 10. Nxd5

Other move orders

  • 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. Qb3 dxc4 6. Qxc4 O-O 7. e4

Variations

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Grünfeld Defense: Russian Variation?
After 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. Qb3, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 5… dxc4 for Black, continuing 6. Qxc4 Be6 7. Qb5+ Bd7 8. Qxb7 Nc6 9. Qb3 Rb8 10. Qd1. White is slightly better (+0.37). The next best moves are 5… c6 (+0.44) and 5… e6 (+0.51).
Is the Grünfeld Defense: Russian Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.37: 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: Russian Variation?
D96. 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+).