Bogo-Indian Defense: Grünfeld Variation
The Bogo-Indian Grünfeld Variation is 4.Nbd2, blocking the check with the knight instead of the bishop. White threatens a3 to win the bishop pair and keeps e4 in reserve, while Black decides between keeping the bishop with ...Be7 and trading it on d2.
- Moves
- 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Bb4+ 4.Nbd2
- ECO
- E11
- Engine
- +0.38 · a slight edge for White (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
- Played
- 309 games in our lichess sample
- White scores
- 51.9%
Key ideas for both sides
White
- a3 asks the bishop to decide; after ...Be7, e4 builds a broad pawn center as in the top engine line.
- Qc2 supports e4 and prepares to recapture on d2 with the bishop if Black trades.
- Nf1 and Ng3 reroute the d2 knight after Be2 and e4, as the main engine line begins.
Black
- 4...O-O and ...Be7 avoid giving up the bishop pair and meet e4 with ...d6 and ...Nfd7.
- ...d6 and ...c5 hit d4; trading on d2 after a3 then opens the c-file for Black.
- ...b6 and ...Bb7 fight for e4, a setup close to the Queen's Indian.
- ...d5 at once stops e4 and gives Black a solid central pawn.
Plans and pawn structure
If White gets e4 in, the structure is the two-pawn e4 and d4 center against Black's ...e6 and ...d6. White then plays Be2, castles and expands with b4 or f4. Black aims for ...e5 or ...c5 to challenge d4 and uses the knight on d7 to support it. If Black trades on d2 early, White gets the bishop pair but loses time recapturing.
What the engine plays from here
Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position +0.38: a slight edge for White. Its three top choices for Black:
- +0.38 4...O-O 5.a3 Be7 6.e4 d6 7.Be2
- +0.39 4...d6 5.Qc2 c5 6.a3 Bxd2+ 7.Bxd2
- +0.41 4...b6 5.a3 Bxd2+ 6.Nxd2 Bb7 7.Qc2
Pawns, from White's side.
How it scores on lichess
309 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 51.9%.
Light: White wins. Grey: draws. Dark: Black wins. About the sample.
Where it goes next
- Queen's Indian Defense, with e34...b6 · rare
How to play against it
Castle and keep options open. If White plays a3, retreat to e7 rather than giving up the bishop for free, unless you have ...c5 ready. Do not allow e4 and e5 to push your knight back without counterplay; ...d6 and ...Nfd7 prepare ...e5 to hold the dark squares.
Questions
What are the moves of the Bogo-Indian Defense: Grünfeld Variation?
The Bogo-Indian Defense: Grünfeld Variation starts 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Bb4+ 4.Nbd2. Its ECO code is E11.
Is the Bogo-Indian Defense: Grünfeld Variation good for White?
Stockfish 17.1 rates the position +0.38 at depth 20, which is a slight edge for White. In 309 lichess games from our sample, White scored 51.9%. A strategic line for White players who like a big center; Black must know when to retreat the bishop and when to trade it.
What is the main idea of the Bogo-Indian Defense: Grünfeld Variation?
White blocks the check with the queen's knight so that a3 can win the bishop pair and e4 can follow. Black usually castles, retreats the bishop to e7 and meets the classical center with ...d6 and ...e5 or ...c5.
What should Black play next?
The engine's first choice is O-O, with d6 and b6 close behind. 4...O-O gets the king safe and keeps the bishop on b4 until a3 forces a decision.
Related lines
Updated October 2026. Sources and method.