for Black · advanced
Grünfeld Defense
6/6
1.d4Nf62.c4g63.Nc3d5
A hypermodern gem: Black lets White occupy the centre with pawns, then attacks it relentlessly with the g7-bishop and piece pressure. It is dynamic and theory-heavy.
Key ideas
- Cede the centre with ...d5xc4 ideas, then attack it with pieces
- Pressure d4 with the g7-bishop, ...c5 and ...Nc6
- Target White's big centre as a long-term weakness
- Play actively and dynamically for counterplay
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
Grünfeld Defense5.0M games · White to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
40%2.0M49%
11%546k47%
2.7%137k43%
2.3%114k44%
1.3%64k51%
Famous games in this line43k master games
Carlsen, M. (2881) – Grischuk, A. (2792)Carlsen, M. (2882) – Vachier Lagrave, M. (2778)Carlsen, M. (2882) – Nepomniachtchi, I. (2774)Anand, V. (2792) – Carlsen, M. (2863)Anand, V. (2792) – Carlsen, M. (2863)Carlsen, M. (2875) – Vachier Lagrave, M. (2779)Carlsen, Magnus (2863) – Ding, Liren (2791)Carlsen, M. (2872) – Vachier Lagrave, M. (2780)Heroes of this opening Carlsen, M.
Keep exploring
Go deeper — named lines from here
Grünfeld Defense: Gibbon Gambit4.g4Grünfeld Defense: Zaitsev Gambit4.h4Grünfeld Defense: Lutikov Variation4.f3 · 1 deeper lineGrünfeld Defense: Brinckmann Attack4.Bf4 · 5 deeper lines
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