Chess Openings Lab
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Grünfeld Defense: Exchange Variation

The Exchange Variation of the Grünfeld is 4.cxd5 Nxd5, where White trades on d5 to gain the center with e4. Black lets White build the big e4 and d4 center and then attacks it with ...Bg7 and ...c5.

Moves
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5
ECO
D85
Engine
+0.25 · level (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
Played
2,402 games in our lichess sample
White scores
49.3%

Key ideas for both sides

White

  • Play e4 to kick the d5 knight, forcing ...Nxc3 and bxc3 for a big center.
  • Nf3 first keeps options, as the top engine line shows.
  • Use Be3 and Rb1 to defend d4 and hit b7.
  • Bd2 recaptures on c3 with the bishop to keep a healthy pawn structure.

Black

  • Play ...Bg7 to aim at d4 and the long diagonal.
  • ...c5 hits d4 and adds pressure on White's center.
  • ...Nc6 and ...Qa5 pile up on d4 and c3.
  • Trade on c3 with ...Nxc3 when White plays e4.

Plans and pawn structure

White gets a big center with e4, d4 and c3 after ...Nxc3 bxc3. Black's plan is to attack it with ...Bg7, ...c5, ...Nc6 and ...Qa5. White defends with Be3, Rb1 and short castling, and may push d5 to gain space. If White's center holds, Black lacks space. If it falls, Black's pieces dominate.

What the engine plays from here

Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position +0.25: level. Its three top choices for White:

  1. +0.25 5.Nf3 Bg7 6.e4 Nxc3 7.bxc3 c5
  2. +0.20 5.e4 Nxc3 6.bxc3 Bg7 7.Nf3 c5
  3. +0.16 5.Bd2 Bg7 6.e4 Nxc3 7.Bxc3 O-O

Pawns, from White's side.

How it scores on lichess

2,402 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 49.3%.

1200–159942.9%
1600–199949.1%
2000 and up50.2%

Light: White wins. Grey: draws. Dark: Black wins. About the sample.

Where it goes next

How to play against it

As Black, play ...Bg7 and ...c5 right away and keep pressure on d4. Avoid passive moves that let White build the center and attack. As White, support d4 with Be3 and Nf3.

Questions

What are the moves of the Grünfeld Defense: Exchange Variation?

The Grünfeld Defense: Exchange Variation starts 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5. Its ECO code is D85.

Is the Grünfeld Defense: Exchange Variation good for Black?

Stockfish 17.1 rates the position +0.25 at depth 20, which is level. In 2,402 lichess games from our sample, White scored 49.3%. A main-line test for Grünfeld players, rewarding White's center building and Black's quick counterattack.

What is the main idea of the Grünfeld Defense: Exchange Variation?

White builds a big center with e4 after trading on d5. Black attacks it with ...Bg7, ...c5 and ...Nc6.

What should White play next?

The engine's first choice is Nf3, with e4 and Bd2 close behind. 5.Nf3 develops and keeps options of e4 next, avoiding early pins.

Updated October 2026. Sources and method.