Grünfeld Defense
Stockfish 16.1 · runs in your browser1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 · For Black against 1.d4 · ECO A56 to E60
The example line for Grünfeld Defense is 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5. Explore 59 saved positions and compare up to three engine continuations per position. The saved Stockfish 16 analysis reaches depth 16, with scores in pawns from White's perspective. Step through the opening on the board and try a continuation to explore the resulting position.
By Chessvia · Updated Oct 18, 2026
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Grünfeld Defense
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5
White’s choices
- 4.Nc3 Bg7 5.Nf3 O-O 6.Be2 cxd4 7.exd4 d5 8.O-O Nc6 · Three Knights Variation, Burille Variation, Reversed Tarrasch
- 4.Bg2 d5 · Counterthrust Variation
- 4.g4 · Gibbon Gambit
- 4.f3 · Lutikov Variation
- 4.Bg5 · Stockholm Variation
- 4.h4 · Zaitsev Gambit
- 4.Qb3 · Russian Variation, Accelerated Variation
- 4.Bf4 · Brinckmann Attack
- 4.cxd5 Nxd5 · Exchange Variation
- 4.Nf3 · Three Knights Variation
- 4.e3 g6 5.Nf3 Bg7 6.Bd3 O-O 7.O-O Bf5 · Flohr Defense
- 4.e3 g6 5.Nf3 Bg7 6.Bd3 O-O 7.O-O Bg4 · Smyslov Defense
Stockfish 16 · depth 16 · + favours White
White slightly better +0.32
Engine lines
Three Knights Variation, Burille Variation, Reversed Tarrasch: 4.Nc3 Bg7 5.Nf3 O-O 6.Be2 cxd4 7.exd4 d5 8.O-O Nc6
Level -0.09
Play this lineCounterthrust Variation: 4.Bg2 d5
Level +0.29
Play this lineGibbon Gambit: 4.g4
Black slightly better -0.63
Play this lineLutikov Variation: 4.f3
Black slightly better -0.39
Play this line| Line | Moves | Engine check (+ favours White) | Board |
|---|---|---|---|
| Murrey Attack | 4...c5 5.cxd5 Nxd5 6.Na4 | Black slightly better -0.63 | Play |
Stockholm Variation: 4.Bg5
Level +0.28
Play this line| Line | Moves | Engine check (+ favours White) | Board |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lundin Variation | 4...Ne4 5.Nxe4 dxe4 6.Qd2 c5 | Level -0.08 | Play |
Zaitsev Gambit: 4.h4
Level -0.25
Play this lineRussian Variation, Accelerated Variation: 4.Qb3
Level +0.17
Play this lineBrinckmann Attack: 4.Bf4
Level +0.22
Play this line| Line | Moves | Engine check (+ favours White) | Board |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grünfeld Gambit | 4...Bg7 5.e3 O-O | White slightly better +0.32 | Play |
| Capablanca Variation | 6.Rc1 | Level +0.24 | Play |
| Botvinnik Variation | 6...c5 7.dxc5 Be6 | Level +0.23 | Play |
| Reshevsky Gambit | 6...c5 7.dxc5 Qa5 | White slightly better +0.47 | Play |
| Grünfeld Gambit Accepted | 6.cxd5 Nxd5 7.Nxd5 Qxd5 8.Bxc7 | Level +0.27 | Play |
Exchange Variation: 4.cxd5 Nxd5
Level +0.28
Play this line| Line | Moves | Engine check (+ favours White) | Board |
|---|---|---|---|
| Modern Exchange Variation | 5.e4 Nxc3 6.bxc3 Bg7 7.Nf3 | Level +0.27 | Play |
| After 7...c5 | White slightly better +0.31 | Play | |
| After 8.Rb1 | White slightly better +0.33 | Play | |
| Pawn Grab Line | 8...O-O 9.Be2 Nc6 10.d5 Bxc3+ | White slightly better +0.94 | Play |
| Kramnik's Line | 8.h3 | Level +0.23 | Play |
| Nadanian Attack | 5.Na4 | Level +0.12 | Play |
| Classical Variation | 5.e4 Nxc3 6.bxc3 Bg7 7.Bc4 | White slightly better +0.39 | Play |
| Larsen Variation | 7...O-O 8.Ne2 Qd7 | White slightly better +0.62 | Play |
| After 9...b6 | 9.O-O b6 | White slightly better +0.53 | Play |
| Simagin's Improved Variation | 7...O-O 8.Ne2 Nc6 | White slightly better +0.36 | Play |
| Simagin's Lesser Variation | 7...O-O 8.Ne2 b6 | White slightly better +0.87 | Play |
| Seville Variation | 7...c5 8.Ne2 Nc6 9.Be3 O-O 10.O-O Bg4 11.f3 Na5 12.Bxf7+ | White slightly better +0.46 | Play |
| Spassky Variation | 7...c5 8.Ne2 O-O | White slightly better +0.43 | Play |
| Spassky Variation | 7...c5 8.Ne2 Nc6 9.Be3 O-O 10.O-O cxd4 11.cxd4 | White slightly better +0.39 | Play |
| Spassky Variation | 7...c5 8.Ne2 Nc6 9.Be3 O-O 10.O-O Bg4 11.f3 Na5 12.Bd3 cxd4 13.cxd4 Be6 | Level +0.21 | Play |
| Sokolsky Variation | 14.d5 | Level +0.28 | Play |
Three Knights Variation: 4.Nf3
White slightly better +0.37
Play this line| Line | Moves | Engine check (+ favours White) | Board |
|---|---|---|---|
| After 4...Bg7 | White slightly better +0.31 | Play | |
| Flohr Variation | 5.Qa4+ | Level 0.00 | Play |
| Petrosian System | 5.Bg5 | Level +0.03 | Play |
| Hungarian Attack | 5.Bf4 | Level +0.13 | Play |
| Hungarian Variation | 5...O-O 6.e3 | Level +0.10 | Play |
| Burille Variation | 5.e3 | Level +0.07 | Play |
| Makogonov Variation | 5...O-O 6.b4 | Level -0.12 | Play |
| Opocensky Variation | 5...O-O 6.Bd2 | Level +0.12 | Play |
| Paris Variation | 5...O-O 6.Bd3 | Level -0.17 | Play |
| Vienna Variation | 5...O-O 6.Qb3 | Level -0.07 | Play |
| Botvinnik Variation | 6...e6 | Level -0.06 | Play |
| Russian Variation | 5.Qb3 | White slightly better +0.32 | Play |
| After 7.e4 | 5...dxc4 6.Qxc4 O-O 7.e4 | Level +0.21 | Play |
| Byrne Variation | 7...Nc6 | White slightly better +0.54 | Play |
| Hungarian Variation | 7...a6 | Level +0.24 | Play |
| Levenfish Variation | 7...b6 | White clearly better +1.41 | Play |
| Prins Variation | 7...Na6 | White slightly better +0.48 | Play |
| Szabo Variation | 7...c6 | White slightly better +0.64 | Play |
| Smyslov Variation | 7...Bg4 | White slightly better +0.64 | Play |
| Keres Variation | 8.Be3 Nfd7 9.Be2 Nb6 10.Qd3 Nc6 11.O-O-O | Level +0.25 | Play |
| After 9.Qb3 | 8.Be3 Nfd7 9.Qb3 | White slightly better +0.57 | Play |
| Yugoslav Variation | 9...c5 | White slightly better +0.70 | Play |
Flohr Defense: 4.e3 g6 5.Nf3 Bg7 6.Bd3 O-O 7.O-O Bf5
White slightly better +0.72
Play this lineSmyslov Defense: 4.e3 g6 5.Nf3 Bg7 6.Bd3 O-O 7.O-O Bg4
White slightly better +0.32
Play this linePachman Variation: 4.e3 Bg7 5.Qb3 dxc4 6.Bxc4 O-O 7.Nf3 Nbd7 8.Ng5
White slightly better +0.57
Play this line