Grünfeld Defense D80
D — Closed & semi-closed · Family: Grünfeld Defense
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5
The Grünfeld Defense (1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5) is hypermodern provocation of the highest order: Black invites White to build a huge pawn center, then hammers it with pieces. Ernst Grünfeld's 1922 idea became the favorite of Kasparov, Svidler and countless dynamic players — Black's piece pressure on d4 and the open files give full compensation for White's space.
The main lines — the Exchange Variation with an early cxd5 and e4, the Russian System (4.Nf3 Bg5) and the Fianchetto (4.g3) — all revolve around the same tension: is White's center a strength or a target? Black's counterplans include ...c5 strikes, ...Nc6 and ...e5 hits and long-diagonal pressure from the g7-bishop; White plays for d5 and e4 pushes and a kingside space grip. Theory runs deep, but the plans are logical and learnable.
Play through the moves on the board above, explore the variations tree below — click any move of any branch — then test yourself against the engine from the position you picked.
- Position after 6 half-moves — White to move.
- Material is balanced.
- Family “Grünfeld Defense” contains 59 recorded variation(s) here.
Variations tree of the Grünfeld Defense family
Click any move to jump to that position; switch branches at any point with the alternative moves. Test your knowledge plays the shown position against the engine.
Variations of this family
| Name | ECO | Main line length |
|---|---|---|
| Grünfeld Defense: Three Knights Variation, Burille Variation, Reversed Tarrasch | A56 | 16 plies |
| Grünfeld Defense: Gibbon Gambit | D80 | 7 plies |
| Grünfeld Defense: Lundin Variation | D80 | 12 plies |
| Grünfeld Defense: Lutikov Variation | D80 | 7 plies |
| Grünfeld Defense: Lutikov Variation, Murrey Attack | D80 | 11 plies |
| Grünfeld Defense: Stockholm Variation | D80 | 7 plies |
| Grünfeld Defense: Zaitsev Gambit | D80 | 7 plies |
| Grünfeld Defense: Russian Variation, Accelerated Variation | D81 | 7 plies |
| Grünfeld Defense: Brinckmann Attack | D82 | 7 plies |
| Grünfeld Defense: Brinckmann Attack, Grünfeld Gambit | D83 | 10 plies |
| Grünfeld Defense: Brinckmann Attack, Grünfeld Gambit, Botvinnik Variation | D83 | 14 plies |
| Grünfeld Defense: Brinckmann Attack, Grünfeld Gambit, Capablanca Variation | D83 | 11 plies |
Related openings
Nearby ECO codes in the D — Closed & semi-closed volume — compare the move orders: