Indian · a defense for Black
Grünfeld Defense: Russian Variation
9/9
1.d4Nf62.c4g63.Nc3d54.Nf3Bg75.Qb3
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
Grünfeld Defense: Russian Variation112k games · Black to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
72%80k47%
19%21k43%
4.9%5.5k41%
2.3%2.6k39%
0.9%1.0k47%
0.4%42333%
0.2%24129%
0.2%20432%
0.1%9726%
0.1%9227%
Famous games in this line5.3k master games
Carlsen, M. (2882) – Vachier Lagrave, M. (2778)Anand, V. (2792) – Carlsen, M. (2863)Carlsen, Magnus (2863) – Aronian, Levon (2773)Carlsen, M. (2881) – Giri, A. (2752)Giri, A. (2797) – Grischuk, A. (2810)Aronian, L. (2802) – Vachier Lagrave, M. (2804)Giri, A. (2783) – Mamedyarov, S. (2817)Anand, Viswanathan (2781) – Kasparov, Garry (2812)Heroes of this opening Carlsen, Magnus
- Family
- Grünfeld Defense
- Category
- Indian
- First move
- 1.d4
- ECO
- D96
- Line
- 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. Qb3
FianchettoSharpHypermodern
★ Read the guide: Grünfeld DefenseExplore all 59 Grünfeld Defense lines →Keep exploring
Go deeper — named lines from here
Grünfeld Defense: Russian Variation, Byrne Variation5…dxc4 6.Qxc4 O-O 7.e4 Nc6Grünfeld Defense: Russian Variation, Prins Variation5…dxc4 6.Qxc4 O-O 7.e4 Na6Grünfeld Defense: Russian Variation, Szabo Variation5…dxc4 6.Qxc4 O-O 7.e4 c6Grünfeld Defense: Russian Variation, Smyslov Variation5…dxc4 6.Qxc4 O-O 7.e4 Bg4 · 2 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