Reversed Grünfeld

The Zukertort Opening: Reversed Grünfeld arises after 1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 c5 3. Bg2 Nc6 4. d4. Black has set up a broad pawn pair on c5 and d5, and White, instead of building a King's Indian Attack with d3 and e4, strikes at it at once in the manner of a Grünfeld Defense played with an extra tempo. The d-pawn challenges c5 directly, while the fianchettoed bishop bears down the long diagonal on d5 and the knight on c6. The position can quickly become sharp, and Black must decide immediately how to handle the tension.

On Lichess the most frequent reply is 4...cxd4, giving up the c-pawn's central role in what amounts to a reversed Exchange Grünfeld. The developing 4...Nf6 is the second choice and gives Black the best practical results of the main options, while 4...e6 shores up d5 and frees the dark-squared bishop to support the c5-pawn. The engine rates the position as roughly balanced, though White scores well in online play.