Grünfeld Defense: Russian Variation, Smyslov Variation
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Statistics from Lichess
10,318 games: White 49.3% / Draw 6.6% / Black 44.2%
| Next move | Games | White / Draw / BlackW / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| 4,7514,751 | ||
| 3,3163,316 | ||
| 1,2511,251 | ||
| 683683 | ||
| 218218 | ||
| 4444 | ||
| 1919 | ||
| 77 |
Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Oct 31, 2026
Engine evaluation
+0.46 White is slightly better
Best play: 8. Be3 Nfd7 9. Rd1 Nc6 10. Qb5 e5 11. dxe5 Ncxe5 12. Nxe5 Bxe5
Stockfish 19, depth 30, after the line's last move. Scores are in pawns, from White's side.
Overview
Grünfeld Defense: Russian Variation, Smyslov Variation (ECO D98, 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 Bg4 (7 moves).
In 10,318 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 49.3%, Black 44.2% and 6.6% were drawn. White's most played move here is 8. Be2, in 46% of those games.
It branches into 2 named variations; the most played is Grünfeld Defense: Russian Variation, Keres Variation. In all, 3 named lines continue from it.
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, Smyslov Variation
8. Be3 scores best for White: 54.5%, with White winning 51.1% and Black 42.0% of 3,316 games. The most played, 8. Be2, scores 52.1% in 4,751 games, and 8. e5 scores lowest: 48.5%. Stockfish's first choice is also 8. Be3.
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
Variations (2)
All 3 named lines that continue from here
Cite this page
Caissa Codex. “Grünfeld Defense: Russian Variation, Smyslov Variation (D98)”. Lichess data as of 31 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/grunfeld-defense-russian-variation-smyslov-variation