Grünfeld Defense: Exchange Variation, Nadanian Attack
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Statistics from Lichess
25,560 games: White 51.0% / Draw 7.1% / Black 41.9%
| Next move | Games | White / Draw / BlackW / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| 18,80319K | ||
| 1,2791,279 | ||
| 1,1981,198 | ||
| 804804 | ||
| 732732 | ||
| 476476 | ||
| 454454 | ||
| 439439 |
Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Oct 26, 2026
Engine evaluation
+0.03 The position is about equal
Best play: 5... Nb6 6. Nf3 Bg7 7. e4 O-O 8. Be2 Nxa4 9. Qxa4 e5 10. Bg5
Stockfish 19, depth 30, after the line's last move. Scores are in pawns, from White's side.
Overview
Grünfeld Defense: Exchange Variation, Nadanian Attack (ECO D85, Closed & Semi-Closed Games) is a variation of the Grünfeld Defense: Exchange Variation, reached after 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. Na4 (5 moves).
In 25,560 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 51.0%, Black 41.9% and 7.1% were drawn. Black's most played move here is 5…Bg7, in 74% of those games.
Written from the Lichess opening list and explorer. Know this line well? Write about it.
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How to play against the Grünfeld Defense: Exchange Variation, Nadanian Attack
5…Nb6 scores best for Black: 49.0%, with Black winning 45.0% and White 47.0% of 1,279 games. The most played answer, 5…Bg7, scores lowest: 46.8% in 19K games. Stockfish's first choice is also 5…Nb6.
Main answers: those played in at least 5% of these games. Score: Black's wins plus half the draws, in rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500. How to play against other popular openings
Cite this page
Caissa Codex. “Grünfeld Defense: Exchange Variation, Nadanian Attack (D85)”. Lichess data as of 26 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/grunfeld-defense-exchange-variation-nadanian-attack