Grünfeld Defense · D87

Exchange Variation, Spassky Variation, after 8... O-O, through 8... O-O

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

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. Black's pawn on f7 is pinned against the king.

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. c4 Fights for d5 from the flank - contesting the centre without committing a centre pawn.
• 2... g6 Prepares the fianchetto: the bishop will take the long diagonal via g7. Theory calls this the West Indian Defense.

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