Grünfeld Defense: Russian Variation, Hungarian Variation
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Statistics from Lichess
29,605 games: White 46.6% / Draw 6.9% / Black 46.5%
| Next move | Games | White / Draw / BlackW / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| 13,21413K | ||
| 7,6387,638 | ||
| 2,0522,052 | ||
| 2,0092,009 | ||
| 1,7031,703 | ||
| 1,4151,415 | ||
| 567567 | ||
| 238238 |
Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Oct 31, 2026
Engine evaluation
+0.20 The position is about equal
Best play: 8. Be2 b5 9. Qb3 c5 10. dxc5 Be6 11. Qc2 Nbd7 12. Be3 Rc8
Stockfish 19, depth 30, after the line's last move. Scores are in pawns, from White's side.
Overview
Grünfeld Defense: Russian Variation, Hungarian Variation (ECO D97, Closed & Semi-Closed Games) is a variation of the Grünfeld Defense: Russian Variation, reached after 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. Qb3 dxc4 6. Qxc4 O-O 7. e4 a6 (7 moves).
In 29,605 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 46.6%, Black 46.5% and 6.9% were drawn. White's most played move here is 8. Be2, in 45% 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: Russian Variation, Hungarian Variation
8. e5 scores best for White: 54.4%, with White winning 51.4% and Black 42.5% of 7,638 games. The most played, 8. Be2, scores 50.6% in 13K games, and 8. a4 scores lowest: 42.7%. Stockfish's first choice is 8. Be2.
Main answers: those played in at least 5% of these games. Score: White'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: Russian Variation, Hungarian Variation (D97)”. Lichess data as of 31 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/grunfeld-defense-russian-variation-hungarian-variation