Caissa Codex
D97

Grünfeld Defense: Russian Variation, Levenfish Variation

Chess diagram: Grünfeld Defense: Russian Variation, Levenfish Variation after 7…b6

Type a move and press Enter: e4, Nf3, O-O, or from and to squares like g1f3 (e7e8q to promote). The board is also played with the mouse.

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Statistics from Lichess

5,217 games: White 50.6% / Draw 5.2% / Black 44.1%

The moves played next. Pick one to see it on the board.
Next moveGamesWhite / Draw / BlackW / D / B
2,0872,087
931931
782782
500500
233233
230230
213213
9292

Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Nov 8, 2026

Engine evaluation

+1.99 White is clearly better

Even so, Black scores 46.8% here in practice: wins plus half the draws in rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500.

Best play: 8. e5 Nfd7 9. e6 fxe6 10. Qxe6+ Kh8 11. Qe4 c6 12. Bg5 Nf6

Stockfish 19, depth 30, after the line's last move. Scores are in pawns, from White's side.

Overview

Grünfeld Defense: Russian Variation, Levenfish 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 b6 (7 moves).

In 5,217 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 50.6%, Black 44.1% and 5.2% were drawn. White's most played move here is 8. e5, in 40% of those games.

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How to play against the Grünfeld Defense: Russian Variation, Levenfish Variation

The most played answer, 8. e5, also scores best for White: 60.7%, with White winning 58.4% and Black 37.0% of 2,087 games. Of the main answers, 8. Qb3 scores lowest: 49.3%. Stockfish's first choice is also 8. e5.

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

Other lines from the same position

Instead of 7…b6, the position after Grünfeld Defense: Russian Variation also goes on to:

Cite this page

Caissa Codex. “Grünfeld Defense: Russian Variation, Levenfish Variation (D97)”. Lichess data as of 8 Nov 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/grunfeld-defense-russian-variation-levenfish-variation

https://chesscodex.org/openings/grunfeld-defense-russian-variation-levenfish-variation