Grünfeld Defense: Russian Variation, Szabo Variation
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. Qb3 dxc4 6. Qxc4 O-O 7. e4 c6
8. Be2+0.41
White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.
Analyze this positionIn the Grünfeld Defense: Russian Variation, Szabo Variation (D97), reached after 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. Qb3 dxc4 6. Qxc4 O-O 7. e4 c6, Stockfish 18 recommends 8. Be2 for White. White is slightly better (+0.41).
Top engine moves
- +0.418. Be2 b5 9. Qb3 a5 10. Qc2 c5 11. dxc5 b4 12. Nb5 Bb7
- +0.368. Qb3 c5 9. dxc5 Qa5 10. Qb5 Qxb5 11. Bxb5 Bd7 12. a4 Bc6
- +0.268. e5 Nd5 9. h4 Bg4 10. Be2 Na6 11. h5 Bxh5 12. Ng5 Nb6
Frequently asked questions
What is the best move in the Grünfeld Defense: Russian Variation, Szabo Variation?
After 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. Qb3 dxc4 6. Qxc4 O-O 7. e4 c6, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 8. Be2 for White, continuing b5 9. Qb3 a5 10. Qc2 c5 11. dxc5 b4 12. Nb5 Bb7. White is slightly better (+0.41). The next best moves are 8. Qb3 (+0.36) and 8. e5 (+0.26).
Is the Grünfeld Defense: Russian Variation, Szabo Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.41: 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, Szabo Variation?
D97. 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+).