Chess Openings Lab
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Zukertort Opening: Reversed Grünfeld

The Reversed Grunfeld is 2.g3 c5 3.Bg2 Nc6 4.d4, where White plays a Grunfeld setup with an extra tempo against Black's broad center. White wants to hit d5 and c5 with the bishop and c4, while Black keeps the center or trades it.

Moves
1.Nf3 d5 2.g3 c5 3.Bg2 Nc6 4.d4
ECO
A08
Engine
+0.27 · level (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
Played
1,250 games in our lichess sample
White scores
58.0%

Key ideas for both sides

White

  • Castle short and play c4 to attack d5, as in the second engine line.
  • After ...cxd4, take with Nxd4 and trade on c6 to leave Black with doubled c-pawns.
  • Use the g2 bishop and Bg5 to press on Black's center and f6 knight.

Black

  • 4...Nf6 and ...cxd4 with ...e5 build a broad center supported by the c6 knight.
  • 4...e6 with ...Nf6 keeps a solid center and lets Black meet c4 with ...dxc4.
  • After Nxc6, recapture with ...bxc6 to keep central pawns and open the b-file.

Plans and pawn structure

White's Grunfeld-style plan is to attack Black's center with c4, Nxd4 trades, and the g2 bishop on the long diagonal. Black's center is broad but can be a target. In the ...e5 lines Black ends up with doubled c-pawns after Nxc6 bxc6, and White hits them with c4 and Bg5. In the ...e6 lines the game can simplify with an early queen trade.

What the engine plays from here

Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position +0.27: level. Its three top choices for Black:

  1. +0.27 4...Nf6 5.O-O cxd4 6.Nxd4 e5 7.Nxc6
  2. +0.39 4...e6 5.O-O Nf6 6.c4 dxc4 7.dxc5
  3. +0.41 4...cxd4 5.Nxd4 e5 6.Nxc6 bxc6 7.c4

Pawns, from White's side.

How it scores on lichess

1,250 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 58.0%.

1200–159942.8%
1600–199956.8%
2000 and up61.4%

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

How to play against it

As Black, keep the center solid with ...Nf6 and ...e6, or take on d4 and build with ...e5. Don't overextend; White's g2 bishop punishes loose pawns. Meet c4 with ...dxc4 when it keeps material balance. In the ...e5 lines, accept the doubled c-pawns only if your pieces become active in return.

Other lines with this name

The lichess opening list also files these lines under the same name, though they reach a different position: 1.Nf3 d5 2.g3 c5 3.Bg2 Nc6 4.d4 Nf6; 1.Nf3 d5 2.g3 c5 3.Bg2 Nc6 4.d4 Nf6 5.O-O; 1.Nf3 d5 2.g3 c5 3.Bg2 Nc6 4.d4 e6 5.O-O.

Questions

What are the moves of the Zukertort Opening: Reversed Grünfeld?

The Zukertort Opening: Reversed Grünfeld starts 1.Nf3 d5 2.g3 c5 3.Bg2 Nc6 4.d4. Its ECO code is A08.

Is the Zukertort Opening: Reversed Grünfeld good for White?

Stockfish 17.1 rates the position +0.27 at depth 20, which is level. In 1,250 lichess games from our sample, White scored 58.0%. A rich choice for White players who know Grunfeld ideas, and it demands precise central play from Black.

What is the main idea of the Zukertort Opening: Reversed Grünfeld?

White plays a Grunfeld with an extra tempo, aiming the g2 bishop and c4 at Black's center. Black keeps the broad center or trades it with ...cxd4 and ...e5.

What should Black play next?

The engine's first choice is Nf6, with e6 and cxd4 close behind. 4...Nf6 develops and supports d5, keeping Black's center while White castles.

Updated October 2026. Sources and method.