Grünfeld Defense: Russian Variation, Prins Variation
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Statistics from Lichess
12,670 games: White 47.0% / Draw 6.8% / Black 46.1%
| Next move | Games | White / Draw / BlackW / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| 8,0118,011 | ||
| 1,8841,884 | ||
| 1,0621,062 | ||
| 568568 | ||
| 432432 | ||
| 219219 | ||
| 171171 | ||
| 119119 |
Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Nov 6, 2026
Engine evaluation
+0.47 White is slightly better
Best play: 8. Be2 c5 9. d5 e6 10. O-O exd5 11. exd5 Bf5 12. Rd1 Re8
Stockfish 19, depth 30, after the line's last move. Scores are in pawns, from White's side.
Overview
Grünfeld Defense: Russian Variation, Prins 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 Na6 (7 moves).
In 12,670 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 47.0%, Black 46.1% and 6.8% were drawn. White's most played move here is 8. Be2, in 63% 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, Prins Variation
The most played answer, 8. Be2, also scores best for White: 52.2%, with White winning 48.8% and Black 44.4% of 8,011 games. Of the main answers, 8. Be3 scores lowest: 46.3%. Stockfish's first choice is also 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, Prins Variation (D97)”. Lichess data as of 6 Nov 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/grunfeld-defense-russian-variation-prins-variation