Grünfeld Defence: moves, ideas and plans

Black gives White a big centre on purpose, then attacks it with the g7 bishop and ...c5.

D86Play it as BlackAdvanced18 moves

Main line: 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Bc4 c5 8. Ne2 Nc6 9. Be3 O-O

Key ideas

• ...d5 invites cxd5 and e4.
• The g7 bishop and ...c5 target d4.
• A dynamic defence played at the very top level.

The Grünfeld Defence move by move

Every move of the main line, with the reason it is played. The final position is recognised in the opening database as D86 Grünfeld Defense: Exchange Variation, Classical Variation.

1. 1. d4Centre.
2. 1… Nf6Flexible.
3. 2. c4More space.
4. 2… g6Prepares ...Bg7.
5. 3. Nc3White aims for e4.
6. 3… d5The Grünfeld: Black challenges the centre at once.
7. 4. cxd5The Exchange Variation.
8. 4… Nxd5The knight recaptures.
9. 5. e4White gains time on the knight and builds a big centre.
10. 5… Nxc3Black trades knights.
11. 6. bxc3White has a strong but targetable centre.
12. 6… Bg7The bishop hits c3 and d4.
13. 7. Bc4Active development.
14. 7… c5The key strike against d4.
15. 8. Ne2The knight supports d4 without being pinned.
16. 8… Nc6More pressure on d4.
17. 9. Be3Holds d4.
18. 9… O-OBlack castles.

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