Tree path 7 levels Grünfeld Defense › Three Knights Variation › Grünfeld Defense: Three Knights Variation › Grünfeld Defense: Russian Variation › Grünfeld Defense: Russian Variation › Smyslov Variation › Grünfeld Defense: Russian Variation, Smyslov Variation
- Chess Codex
- Grünfeld Defense D80
- Three Knights Variation D90
- Grünfeld Defense: Three Knights Variation D90
- Grünfeld Defense: Russian Variation D96
- Grünfeld Defense: Russian Variation D97
- Smyslov Variation D98
- Grünfeld Defense: Russian Variation, Smyslov Variation D99 you are here
Grünfeld Defense: Russian Variation, Smyslov Variation
Overview
Grünfeld Defense: Russian Variation, Smyslov Variation is a variation within the Closed & Semi-Closed Games family, indexed as ECO D99.
The Closed & Semi-Closed Games group covers closed and semi-closed games — 1.d4 systems characterised by long strategic manoeuvring rather than early tactics.
It is reached after 17 plies of play, with the move sequence 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. Qb3 dxc4 6. Qxc4 O-O 7. e4 Bg4 8. Be3 Nfd7 9. Qb3.
It is a variation of Grünfeld Defense: Russian Variation, Smyslov Variation, which itself descends from the root opening Grünfeld Defense.
It continues primarily into one named line, Grünfeld Defense: Russian Variation, Yugoslav Variation.
Step through the moves on the interactive board below, review the live Lichess statistics, or play this position against Stockfish at one of six difficulty levels.
- ECO code
- D99
- Group
- Closed & Semi-Closed Games (D)
- Plies
- 17
- Direct variations
- 1
This overview is generated automatically from the opening's metadata. Know this line well? Write a description — submissions are reviewed before publishing.
Statistics from Lichess
196 games · White 53.1% / Draw 9.2% / Black 37.8%
| Moves | Games | W / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| Nb6 | 160 | |
| Bxf3 | 15 | |
| Nc6 | 9 | |
| c5 | 7 | |
| b6 | 2 | |
| e6 | 2 | |
| Na6 | 1 |
Source: Lichess Opening Explorer · cached 2026-09-26 03:17:27
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