ECO D90 · Grünfeld Defense

Grünfeld Defense: Three Knights Variation

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

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

4… Bg7+0.31

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Grünfeld Defense: Three Knights Variation (D90), reached after 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Nf3, Stockfish 18 recommends 4… Bg7 for Black. White is slightly better (+0.31).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.314… Bg7 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. e4 Nxc3 7. bxc3 c5 8. Bb5+ Nc6 9. d5
  2. +0.374… c6 5. cxd5 cxd5 6. Bf4 Nc6 7. e3 Nh5 8. Be5 f6 9. Bg3
  3. +0.664… e6 5. Bf4 Bg7 6. e3 O-O 7. Rc1 c6 8. Be2 b6 9. O-O

Other move orders

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

Variations

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Grünfeld Defense: Three Knights Variation?
After 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Nf3, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 4… Bg7 for Black, continuing 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. e4 Nxc3 7. bxc3 c5 8. Bb5+ Nc6 9. d5. White is slightly better (+0.31). The next best moves are 4… c6 (+0.37) and 4… e6 (+0.66).
Is the Grünfeld Defense: Three Knights Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.31: 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: Three Knights Variation?
D90. 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+).