Indian · a defense for Black
Grünfeld Defense: Three Knights Variation
7/7
1.d4Nf62.c4g63.Nc3d54.Nf3
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
Grünfeld Defense: Three Knights Variation1.5M games · Black to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
2.7%40k42%
0.7%11k42%
0.7%11k44%
0.4%5.8k45%
0.2%2.9k46%
0.1%1.6k41%
0.1%1.1k43%
0.1%78340%
Famous games in this line13k master games
Carlsen, M. (2881) – Grischuk, A. (2792)Carlsen, M. (2882) – Vachier Lagrave, M. (2778)Anand, V. (2792) – Carlsen, M. (2863)Carlsen, M. (2875) – Vachier Lagrave, M. (2779)Carlsen, Magnus (2863) – Nepomniachtchi, Ian (2784)Carlsen, Magnus (2863) – Aronian, Levon (2773)Grischuk, Alexander (2764) – Carlsen, Magnus (2872)Carlsen, M. (2881) – Giri, A. (2752)Heroes of this opening Carlsen, Magnus
- Family
- Grünfeld Defense
- Category
- Indian
- First move
- 1.d4
- ECO
- D90
- Line
- 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Nf3
FianchettoSharpHypermodern
★ Read the guide: Grünfeld DefenseExplore all 59 Grünfeld Defense lines →Keep exploring
Go deeper — named lines from here
Grünfeld Defense: Flohr Variation4…Bg7 5.Qa4Grünfeld Defense: Russian Variation4…Bg7 5.Qb3 · 8 deeper linesGrünfeld Defense: Three Knights Variation, Petrosian System4…Bg7 5.Bg5Grünfeld Defense: Three Knights Variation, Hungarian Attack4…Bg7 5.Bf4 · 1 deeper line
Nearby lines in the family
From the archives
Ernst Grünfeld introduced the counter-strike ...d5 in 1922 and beat the future world champion Alekhine with it in Vienna that November. Thirteen-year-old Bobby Fischer's 'Game of the Century' against Donald Byrne — the queen sacrifice every chess kid learns — transposed into the same opening. Give White the centre, then chop it down.
Study this opening