Grünfeld Defense: Three Knights Variation, Vienna Variation
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Statistics from Lichess
57,188 games: White 50.2% / Draw 6.4% / Black 43.4%
| Next move | Games | White / Draw / BlackW / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| 27,37027K | ||
| 16,88517K | ||
| Grünfeld Defense: Botvinnik Variation | 5,8785,878 | |
| 4,2004,200 | ||
| 872872 | ||
| 540540 | ||
| 439439 | ||
| 348348 |
Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Oct 28, 2026
Engine evaluation
−0.11 The position is about equal
Best play: 6... e6 7. Be2 b6 8. O-O dxc4 9. Qxc4 Ba6 10. Qa4 Bxe2 11. Nxe2
Stockfish 19, depth 30, after the line's last move. Scores are in pawns, from White's side.
Overview
Grünfeld Defense: Three Knights Variation, Vienna Variation (ECO D95, Closed & Semi-Closed Games) is a variation of the Grünfeld Defense: Three Knights Variation, Burille Variation, reached after 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. e3 O-O 6. Qb3 (6 moves).
In 57,188 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 50.2%, Black 43.4% and 6.4% were drawn. Black's most played move here is 6…dxc4, in 48% of those games.
It continues into one named variation, Grünfeld Defense: Botvinnik Variation.
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How to play against the Grünfeld Defense: Three Knights Variation, Vienna Variation
6…e6 (Grünfeld Defense: Botvinnik Variation) scores best for Black: 50.4%, with Black winning 46.6% and White 45.8% of 5,878 games. The most played, 6…dxc4, scores 46.7% in 27K games, and 6…c5 scores lowest: 46.1%. Stockfish's first choice is also 6…e6.
Main answers: those played in at least 5% of these games. Score: Black's wins plus half the draws, in rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500. How to play against other popular openings
Variations (1)
Cite this page
Caissa Codex. “Grünfeld Defense: Three Knights Variation, Vienna Variation (D95)”. Lichess data as of 28 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/grunfeld-defense-three-knights-variation-vienna-variation