Anti-Grünfeld, Alekhine Variation

3. f3 is an Anti-Grünfeld move order popularized by Alekhine. Rather than 3. Nc3, which invites 3...d5 and a standard Grünfeld, White prepares e4 with a pawn so as to build a large center. The price is a weakened kingside and a further lag in development, which Black can try to exploit. The plans resemble those of the Sämisch King's Indian: White often castles queenside and then launches the kingside pawns.

Black has several ways to answer it. 3...Bg7 is by far the most common reply, and together with ...d6 it transposes to the Sämisch Variation of the King's Indian; 3...d6 leads there as well. 3...d5 keeps a Grünfeld-style approach and is cataloged as the Neo-Grünfeld Defense: Goglidze Attack. 3...c5 reaches a Benoni in which the early f3 has already removed some of White's usual choices, while 3...e5 is the Leko Gambit. A White player using this move order therefore needs to be comfortable in Sämisch and Benoni positions. Engines give White a slight edge, and results in online play are close to even.