Chess opening · ECO D80
Grünfeld Defense
...g6 combined with an early ...d5 makes the Grünfeld Defense. Black invites White to trade on d5 and build a big pawn center with e4, then aims the g7 bishop, the c-pawn and the knights at d4. White hopes the center will cramp Black and support an attack. Black hopes it will turn into a target. Few openings depend so much on whether a center is strong or weak.
- Rank by weighted share
- #112 of 159
Key moves
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5
- 2... g6Black prepares to fianchetto the bishop to g7, where it will press on d4 and down the long diagonal toward the queenside.
- 3... d5The defining move. Instead of building with ...d6 as in the King's Indian, Black challenges c4 at once and accepts that White can take on d5 and gain time against the recapturing knight.
The Exchange Variation center
After cxd5 Nxd5 e4, the black knight is driven away and usually trades on c3. White recaptures with the b-pawn and stands with pawns on c3, d4 and e4, a broad center with a half-open b-file.
Black then hits d4 with the g7 bishop, the c5 pawn, a knight on c6 and sometimes ...Bg4 to hit the f3 knight that defends it. White has to keep d4 guarded or push it to d5 at a moment when it does not drop.
Calmer tries: e3 and Nf3
Not every White player takes on d5. Moves like e3 and Nf3 keep the tension and develop, and Black's ...Bg7 and ...O-O follow in the same way. The center stays more fluid, and the fight over d4 and c4 comes later.
Pressure on d4 in the Exchange
4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Nf3 c5 8. Rb1 O-O 9. Be2
White holds the center and puts a rook on the half-open b-file, where it eyes b7. Black has castled and already has the g7 bishop and the c5 pawn aimed at d4, with ...Nc6 and ...Bg4 as natural next steps.
Top replies by rating
In the 1200 to 1399 band, e3 edges ahead, but cxd5 tops every band from 1400 up and its share grows with each step up the rating ladder.
| Rating | Top | Second | Third |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1200–1399 | e3 27% | cxd5 26% | Nf3 24% |
| 1400–1599 | cxd5 29% | e3 26% | Nf3 22% |
| 1600–1799 | cxd5 31% | Nf3 22% | e3 21% |
| 1800–1999 | cxd5 47% | Nf3 21% | e3 14% |
| 2000 and up | cxd5 52% | Nf3 24% | e3 7% |
Questions
Why does Black let White have the center?
Because a big center is also something to aim at. Black's pieces are set up to attack d4 from several directions, and if the center gives way, the g7 bishop's diagonal opens all the way to the white queenside.
Related openings
Try it on the board. The first coached game and three analyses are free.