Grünfeld Defense · D88

Exchange Variation, Spassky Variation, after 8... Nc6, through 11. cxd4

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 10. O-O cxd4 11. cxd4

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 c-file is fully open.

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.

Sign in to read every move's note and train this line — 17 more moves in this line, 21 in all.