ECO D74 · Neo-Grünfeld Defense

Neo-Grünfeld Defense: Delayed Exchange Variation

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nf3 Bg7 4. g3 O-O 5. Bg2 d5 6. cxd5 Nxd5 7. O-O

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

7… Nb6+0.32

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Neo-Grünfeld Defense: Delayed Exchange Variation (D74), reached after 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nf3 Bg7 4. g3 O-O 5. Bg2 d5 6. cxd5 Nxd5 7. O-O, Stockfish 18 recommends 7… Nb6 for Black. White is slightly better (+0.32).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.327… Nb6 8. Nc3 Nc6 9. d5 Na5 10. e4 c6 11. Bg5 cxd5 12. Nxd5
  2. +0.437… c5 8. e4 Nf6 9. e5 Nd5 10. dxc5 Nc6 11. Qa4 Qc7 12. Rd1
  3. +0.547… Re8 8. e4 Nb6 9. Nc3 Bg4 10. e5 Nc6 11. Be3 Qd7 12. Rc1

Other move orders

  • 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nf3 Bg7 4. g3 O-O 5. Bg2 d5 6. cxd5 Nxd5 7. O-O Nb6
  • 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. Nf3 O-O 5. g3 d5 6. cxd5 Nxd5 7. Bg2 c5 8. O-O
  • 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. c4 Bg7 4. g3 O-O 5. Bg2 d5 6. cxd5 Nxd5 7. O-O c5 8. dxc5

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Neo-Grünfeld Defense: Delayed Exchange Variation?
After 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nf3 Bg7 4. g3 O-O 5. Bg2 d5 6. cxd5 Nxd5 7. O-O, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 7… Nb6 for Black, continuing 8. Nc3 Nc6 9. d5 Na5 10. e4 c6 11. Bg5 cxd5 12. Nxd5. White is slightly better (+0.32). The next best moves are 7… c5 (+0.43) and 7… Re8 (+0.54).
Is the Neo-Grünfeld Defense: Delayed Exchange Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.32: 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 Neo-Grünfeld Defense: Delayed Exchange Variation?
D74. 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+).