Exchange Variation, Seville Variation
- 1.d4Nf6
- 2.c4g6
- 3.Nc3d5
- 4.cxd5Nxd5
- 5.e4Nxc3
- 6.bxc3Bg7
- 7.Bc4c5
- 8.Ne2Nc6
- 9.Be3O-O
- 10.O-OBg4
- 11.f3Na5
- 12.Bxf7+
122 games
Grünfeld Exchange line in which White grabs a pawn with 12. Bxf7+, accepting dark-square weaknesses; named for Karpov–Kasparov, Seville 1987.
Train it in TheoriaAbout the Seville Variation
In this Classical Exchange line, White answers 11...Na5 by taking a pawn with 12. Bxf7+, and 12...Rxf7 is the standard recapture. Theory long rejected the capture, judging that the weakened dark squares gave Black ample compensation. Karpov nevertheless adopted it in four games against Kasparov in their 1987 world championship match in Seville, which gave the line its name. Engines regard the position as roughly balanced, and Black scores somewhat better in online games.