Theoria
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Grünfeld Defense

Exchange Variation, Modern Exchange Variation, Kramnik's Line

D85positional

  1. 1.d4Nf6
  2. 2.Nf3g6
  3. 3.c4Bg7
  4. 4.Nc3d5
  5. 5.cxd5Nxd5
  6. 6.e4Nxc3
  7. 7.bxc3c5
  8. 8.h3
373 games46%45%

A Modern Exchange Grünfeld line in which White plays 8. h3 to stop ...Bg4 before finishing development; the position is balanced and flexible.

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About the Kramnik's Line

Kramnik's Line, 8. h3, spends a tempo to rule out ...Bg4, so the f3-knight cannot be pinned against d4 and the light-squared bishop is no longer tied to e2. Black most often answers 8...O-O or 8...Nc6. The knight move adds pressure on d4 and scores well for Black on Lichess. 8...Qa5 is a rarer try. The engine rates the position as balanced, and overall results are close to even.

Popular continuations