Grünfeld Defense
Overview
Grünfeld Defense is a top-level opening within the Closed & Semi-Closed Games family, catalogued as ECO D80 — a starting point from which dozens of named sub-variations branch out.
The Closed & Semi-Closed Games group covers closed and semi-closed games — 1.d4 systems characterised by long strategic manoeuvring rather than early tactics.
The line arises from 6 plies — specifically the moves 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5.
The line has 9 documented children — Brinckmann Attack, Exchange Variation, Gibbon Gambit, and others being widely played.
Counted recursively, this branch covers 52 sub-variations at all depths.
Explore the position on the interactive board, study its real-world results from Lichess, and challenge the engine when you are ready.
- ECO code
- D80
- Group
- Closed & Semi-Closed Games (D)
- Plies
- 6
- Direct variations
- 9
- Total in subtree
- 52
This overview is generated automatically from the opening's metadata. Know this line well? Write a description — submissions are reviewed before publishing.
Statistics from Lichess
6,264,701 games · White 46.1% / Draw 6.6% / Black 47.4%
| Moves | Games | W / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| cxd5 | 2,613,094 | |
| Nf3 | 1,458,482 | |
| Bg5 | 642,844 | |
| e3 | 611,802 | |
| Bf4 | 374,342 | |
| e4 | 157,987 | |
| c5 | 118,307 | |
| g3 | 75,701 |
Source: Lichess Opening Explorer · cached 2026-09-26 01:30:42
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Variations (9)
Show all 52 sub-variations (full subtree)
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