Grünfeld Defense · D85

Exchange Variation, Modern Exchange Variation, after 2. Nf3, through 8. Rb1

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. c4 Bg7 4. Nc3 d5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. e4 Nxc3 7. bxc3 c5 8. Rb1

An early pawn trade leaves the b-file as White's avenue and the d-file as Black's - both sides get real winning chances down their own file. Black's kingside bishop takes the long diagonal. White takes the full centre with e4 and c3; Black attacks it with ...c5, ...Bg7 and rooks on the d- and c-files - textbook centre versus pressure.

The first 4 moves, explained

• 1. d4 Stakes a claim in the centre, controlling e5, and frees the bishop and queen.
• 1... Nf6 Develops the knight to f6, eyeing d5 and e4.
• 2. Nf3 Develops the knight to f3, eyeing d4 and e5. It also props up the d4 pawn. Theory calls this the Knights Variation.
• 2... g6 Prepares the fianchetto: the bishop will take the long diagonal via g7. Theory calls this the East Indian Defense.

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