Grünfeld Defense: Three Knights Variation, Burille Variation
The Burille Variation is 4...Bg7 5.e3 in the Three Knights Grünfeld, a quiet setup that shuts in White's dark bishop. Black plays ...O-O and ...c5 to open lines, while White wants a compact center and a slow edge.
- Moves
- 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.e3
- ECO
- D94
- Engine
- +0.04 · level (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
- Played
- 752 games in our lichess sample
- White scores
- 50.0%
Key ideas for both sides
White
- Bd2 and Be2 develop quietly and keep d4 well protected.
- After ...c5, dxc5 and cxd5 can win a pawn, but Black gets quick piece play.
- Qa4+ is a useful check against ...a6 to disrupt Black's development.
- Castle short and use Rc1 for queenside play.
Black
- Castle with 5...O-O and play ...c5 to open lines.
- ...Na6 and ...Nxc5 after dxc5, as the top engine line shows.
- ...e6 is a quiet choice that keeps d5 supported.
- Use the g7 bishop against d4 and b2.
Plans and pawn structure
White's e3 setup is solid but passive, since the c1 bishop is shut in. White develops calmly with Be2 and short castling, then tries Rc1 and queenside play. Black castles, breaks with ...c5 and uses the g7 bishop on the long diagonal. After ...c5 and dxc5, Black often gives a pawn for quick development with ...Na6. The game is balanced.
What the engine plays from here
Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position +0.04: level. Its three top choices for Black:
- +0.04 5...O-O 6.Bd2 c5 7.dxc5 Na6 8.cxd5
- +0.17 5...e6 6.Be2 O-O 7.O-O Qe7 8.Qc2
- +0.25 5...a6 6.Qa4+ c6 7.cxd5 Nxd5 8.Bd2
Pawns, from White's side.
How it scores on lichess
752 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 50.0%.
Light: White wins. Grey: draws. Dark: Black wins. About the sample.
Where it goes next
- Botvinnik Variation5...O-O · rare
How to play against it
As Black, castle and play ...c5 quickly. Don't play too passively with ...e6 if you want activity. As White, develop calmly and look for a small edge.
Questions
What are the moves of the Grünfeld Defense: Three Knights Variation, Burille Variation?
The Grünfeld Defense: Three Knights Variation, Burille Variation starts 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.e3. Its ECO code is D94.
Is the Grünfeld Defense: Three Knights Variation, Burille Variation good for White?
Stockfish 17.1 rates the position +0.04 at depth 20, which is level. In 752 lichess games from our sample, White scored 50.0%. A quiet choice for White players who want to avoid theory, while Black can equalize with simple moves.
What is the main idea of the Grünfeld Defense: Three Knights Variation, Burille Variation?
White chooses a quiet setup with e3. Black castles and breaks with ...c5 to open the long diagonal.
What should Black play next?
The engine's first choice is O-O, with e6 and a6 close behind. 5...O-O castles and prepares ...c5 to open the long diagonal.
Related lines
Updated October 2026. Sources and method.