Theoria
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Grünfeld Defense

Exchange Variation, Simagin's Improved Variation

D86positionaloffbeat

  1. 1.d4Nf6
  2. 2.c4g6
  3. 3.Nc3d5
  4. 4.cxd5Nxd5
  5. 5.e4Nxc3
  6. 6.bxc3Bg7
  7. 7.Bc4O-O
  8. 8.Ne2Nc6
55 games60%40%

A rare Classical Exchange Grünfeld line in which Black plays 8...Nc6, hitting d4 with the knight before committing the c-pawn; roughly balanced.

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About the Simagin's Improved Variation

Simagin's Improved Variation arises in the Classical Exchange line after 7. Bc4 O-O 8. Ne2. Here Black answers with 8...Nc6, developing the knight straight onto the d4-pawn instead of first striking with ...c5. The common replies are 9. O-O and 9. Be3, both of which keep the center intact, while 9. h4 is a rare attacking try. The line is seldom played, and the engine rates the position as roughly balanced.

Popular continuations