Neo-Grünfeld Defense: Classical Variation, Original Defense
The Original Defense of the Neo-Grünfeld is 6...d5 after Black has already played ...c6, giving a Slav-like pawn pair on c6 and d5. Black wants a center with no weak pawns and quick ...Bf5 or ...Ne4, while White chooses between cxd5, Qa4 and b3 to keep a small edge.
- Moves
- 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nf3 Bg7 4.g3 O-O 5.Bg2 c6 6.O-O d5
- ECO
- D78
- Engine
- +0.16 · level (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
- Played
- 694 games in our lichess sample
- White scores
- 53.9%
Key ideas for both sides
White
- 7.cxd5 cxd5 8.Nc3 leads to a symmetrical center where Ne5 and Bf4 fight for squares.
- 7.Qa4 pins the c6 pawn and prepares Bf4 to fight for e5.
- 7.b3 and Bb2 give a sturdy queenside and cover the long diagonal.
- Keep pressure on d5 with the g2 bishop and pieces.
Black
- ...Bf5 or ...Bg4 develops the light bishop outside the pawn chain.
- ...Ne4 jumps into the center after Nc3, as in the main engine line.
- ...a5 and ...a4 gain queenside space against b3 setups.
- ...dxc4 followed by ...b5 is an option to grab space.
Plans and pawn structure
Black's c6 and d5 pawns make a Slav-style center that is hard to break. White's plans are to exchange on d5 and fight for e5 with Ne5 and Bf4, or keep tension with Qa4 or b3. Black develops the light bishop to f5, plays ...Ne4 to trade pieces, and uses ...a5-a4 against a b3 setup. If White trades on d5, the position becomes symmetrical and calm, with a slight White pull.
What the engine plays from here
Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position +0.16: level. Its three top choices for White:
- +0.16 7.cxd5 cxd5 8.Nc3 Ne4 9.Ne5 Bf5
- +0.09 7.Qa4 a6 8.Bf4 Be6 9.cxd5 Nxd5
- +0.04 7.b3 a5 8.e3 Bf5 9.Bb2 a4
Pawns, from White's side.
How it scores on lichess
694 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 53.9%.
Light: White wins. Grey: draws. Dark: Black wins. About the sample.
Where it goes next
- Ultra-Delayed Exchange Variation7.cxd5 · 211 games
How to play against it
As White, play 7.cxd5 and develop with Nc3 and Ne5, or try 7.Qa4. Avoid letting Black play ...Bf5 and ...Ne4 for free. Keep the pressure on d5.
Questions
What are the moves of the Neo-Grünfeld Defense: Classical Variation, Original Defense?
The Neo-Grünfeld Defense: Classical Variation, Original Defense starts 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nf3 Bg7 4.g3 O-O 5.Bg2 c6 6.O-O d5. Its ECO code is D78.
Is the Neo-Grünfeld Defense: Classical Variation, Original Defense good for Black?
Stockfish 17.1 rates the position +0.16 at depth 20, which is level. In 694 lichess games from our sample, White scored 53.9%. A very solid choice for Black players who want a safe center, while White needs patience for a small edge.
What is the main idea of the Neo-Grünfeld Defense: Classical Variation, Original Defense?
Black builds a solid Slav-style center with ...c6 and ...d5. White exchanges on d5 or uses Qa4 and b3 to keep a small edge.
What should White play next?
The engine's first choice is cxd5, with Qa4 and b3 close behind. 7.cxd5 cxd5 opens the c-file and leads to a symmetrical center where Nc3 and Ne5 come next.
Related lines
Updated October 2026. Sources and method.