Grünfeld Defense: Exchange Variation, Modern Exchange Variation, Pawn Grab Line
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Statistics from Lichess
23,248 games: White 64.4% / Draw 6.9% / Black 28.7%
| Next move | Games | White / Draw / BlackW / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| 23,13523K | ||
| 102102 | ||
| 99 | ||
| 22 |
Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Nov 1, 2026
Engine evaluation
+0.34 White is slightly better
Best play: 11. Bd2 Bxd2+ 12. Qxd2 Nd4 13. Nxd4 cxd4 14. Qxd4 Qa5+ 15. Qd2 Qxd2+
Stockfish 19, depth 30, after the line's last move. Scores are in pawns, from White's side.
Overview
Grünfeld Defense: Exchange Variation, Modern Exchange Variation, Pawn Grab Line (ECO D85, Closed & Semi-Closed Games) is a variation of the Grünfeld Defense: Exchange Variation, Modern Exchange Variation, reached after 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Nf3 c5 8. Rb1 O-O 9. Be2 Nc6 10. d5 Bxc3+ (10 moves).
In 23,248 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 64.4%, Black 28.7% and 6.9% were drawn. White's most played move here is 11. Bd2, in 100% of those games.
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Cite this page
Caissa Codex. “Grünfeld Defense: Exchange Variation, Modern Exchange Variation, Pawn Grab Line (D85)”. Lichess data as of 1 Nov 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/grunfeld-defense-exchange-variation-modern-exchange-variation-pawn-grab-line