Grunfeld Defence
MICOS Opening Group E16.GR – Grünfeld Defence begins with 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5. Black follows hypermodern principles by allowing White to establish a strong pawn centre while preparing to challenge it with active piece play. The dark-squared bishop is typically developed to g7, placing pressure on the centre, while pawn breaks such as …c5 can be used to undermine White’s central structure.
The Grünfeld Defence often produces dynamic and strategically complex positions where White’s central space is balanced against Black’s active pieces and pressure on the centre. Accurate timing of pawn breaks and coordinated piece activity are important for both sides as they compete for the initiative. Use the searchable table below to find openings by opening name, chess notation or MICOS code and train individual openings interactively with MICOS CAP.
Search by Opening Name, Chess Notation or MICOS Code. MICOS classifies each opening by its exact move order.
| Opening Name | Chess Notation | MICOS Code | MICOS CAP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Neo Grunfeld Defence | 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.g3 d5 | E16.001.GR | |
| Neo Grunfeld Defence: Exchange Defence | 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.g3 d5 4.Bg2 Bg7 5.cxd5 Nxd5 | E16.002.GR | Explore ▶ |
| Neo Grunfeld Defence: Exchange Defence: 7.Ne2 | 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.g3 d5 4.Bg2 Bg7 5.cxd5 Nxd5 6.e4 Nb6 7.Ne2 | E16.003.GR | Explore ▶ |
| Neo Grunfeld Defence: 5.Nf3 | 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.g3 d5 4.Bg2 Bg7 5.Nf3 | E16.004.GR | Explore ▶ |
| Neo Grunfeld Defence: Classical Defence | 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.g3 d5 4.Bg2 Bg7 5.Nf3 O-O 6.O-O | E16.005.GR | Explore ▶ |
| Neo Grunfeld Defence: Classical Defence: 6…c6 | 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.g3 d5 4.Bg2 Bg7 5.Nf3 O-O 6.O-O c6 | E16.006.GR | Explore ▶ |
| Neo Grunfeld Defence: Ultra-Delayed Exchange Defence | 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.g3 d5 4.Bg2 Bg7 5.Nf3 O-O 6.O-O c6 7.cxd5 cxd5 | E16.007.GR | Explore ▶ |
| Neo Grunfeld Defence: Classical Defence: 6…dxc4 | 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.g3 d5 4.Bg2 Bg7 5.Nf3 O-O 6.O-O dxc4 | E16.008.GR | Explore ▶ |
| Neo Grunfeld Defence: Classical Polgar Defence | 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.g3 d5 4.Bg2 Bg7 5.Nf3 O-O 6.O-O Nc6 | E16.009.GR | Explore ▶ |
| Neo Grunfeld Defence: Delayed Exchange | 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.g3 d5 4.Bg2 Bg7 5.Nf3 O-O 6.cxd5 Nxd5 7.O-O | E16.010.GR | Explore ▶ |
| Neo Grunfeld Defence: Delayed Exchange: 8.dxc5 | 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.g3 d5 4.Bg2 Bg7 5.Nf3 O-O 6.cxd5 Nxd5 7.O-O c5 8.dxc5 | E16.011.GR | Explore ▶ |
| Neo Grunfeld Defence: Delayed Exchange: 8.Nc3 | 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.g3 d5 4.Bg2 Bg7 5.Nf3 O-O 6.cxd5 Nxd5 7.O-O c5 8.Nc3 | E16.012.GR | Explore ▶ |
| Neo Grunfeld Defence: Delayed Exchange: 7…Nb6 | 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.g3 d5 4.Bg2 Bg7 5.Nf3 O-O 6.cxd5 Nxd5 7.O-O Nb6 | E16.013.GR | Explore ▶ |
| Grunfeld Defence | 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 | E16.014.GR | Explore ▶ |
| Brinckmann Attack | 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bf4 | E16.015.GR | Explore ▶ |
| Brinckmann Attack: Grunfeld Gambit | 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bf4 Bg7 5.e3 O-O | E16.016.GR | Explore ▶ |
| Brinckmann Attack: Grunfeld Gambit Accepted | 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bf4 Bg7 5.e3 O-O 6.cxd5 Nxd5 7.Nxd5 Qxd5 8.Bxc7 | E16.017.GR | Explore ▶ |
| Brinckmann Attack: Grunfeld Gambit - Capablanca Attack | 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bf4 Bg7 5.e3 O-O 6.Rc1 | E16.018.GR | Explore ▶ |
| Brinckmann Attack: Grunfeld Gambit - Botvinnik Defence | 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bf4 Bg7 5.e3 O-O 6.Rc1 c5 7.dxc5 Be6 | E16.019.GR | Explore ▶ |
| Brinckmann Attack: Reshevsky Gambit | 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bf4 Bg7 5.e3 O-O 6.Rc1 c5 7.dxc5 Qa5 | E16.020.GR | Explore ▶ |
| Stockholm Attack | 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bg5 | E16.021.GR | Explore ▶ |
| Lundin Defence | 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bg5 Ne4 5.Nxe4 dxe4 6.Qd2 c5 | E16.022.GR | Explore ▶ |
| Exchange Defence Declined: Modern Exchange Attack | 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Bg7 5.Nf3 Nxd5 6.e4 Nxc3 7.bxc3 c5 8.Rb1 | E16.023.GR | Explore ▶ |
| Exchange Defence | 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 | E16.024.GR | Explore ▶ |
| Exchange Defence: Grunfeld Attack | 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4 Nxc3 6.bxc3 | E16.025.GR | Explore ▶ |
| Exchange Defence: Classical Attack | 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4 Nxc3 6.bxc3 Bg7 7.Bc4 | E16.026.GR | Explore ▶ |
| Exchange Defence: Simagin's Lesser Defence | 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4 Nxc3 6.bxc3 Bg7 7.Bc4 O-O 8.Ne2 b6 | E16.027.GR | Explore ▶ |
| Exchange Defence: Simagin's Grunfeld Defence | 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4 Nxc3 6.bxc3 Bg7 7.Bc4 O-O 8.Ne2 b6 9.h4 Ba6 | E16.028.GR | Explore ▶ |
| Exchange Defence: Spassky Defence | 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4 Nxc3 6.bxc3 Bg7 7.Bc4 O-O 8.Ne2 c5 | E16.029.GR | Explore ▶ |
| Exchange Defence: Seville Attack | 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4 Nxc3 6.bxc3 Bg7 7.Bc4 O-O 8.Ne2 c5 9.O-O Nc6 10.Be3 Bg4 11.f3 Na5 12.Bxf7+ | E16.030.GR | Explore ▶ |
| Exchange Defence: Spassky Opening | 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4 Nxc3 6.bxc3 Bg7 7.Bc4 O-O 8.Ne2 c5 9.O-O Nc6 10.Be3 cxd4 11.cxd4 | E16.031.GR | Explore ▶ |
| Exchange Defence: Spassky Opening 13.Bd3 | 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4 Nxc3 6.bxc3 Bg7 7.Bc4 O-O 8.Ne2 c5 9.O-O Nc6 10.Be3 cxd4 11.cxd4 Bg4 12.f3 Na5 13.Bd3 | E16.032.GR | Explore ▶ |
| Exchange Defence: Spassky Opening 13…Be6 | 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4 Nxc3 6.bxc3 Bg7 7.Bc4 O-O 8.Ne2 c5 9.O-O Nc6 10.Be3 cxd4 11.cxd4 Bg4 12.f3 Na5 13.Bd3 Be6 | E16.033.GR | Explore ▶ |
| Exchange Defence: Spassky Opening - Sokolsky Attack | 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4 Nxc3 6.bxc3 Bg7 7.Bc4 O-O 8.Ne2 c5 9.O-O Nc6 10.Be3 cxd4 11.cxd4 Bg4 12.f3 Na5 13.Bd3 Be6 14.d5 | E16.034.GR | Explore ▶ |
| Exchange Defence: Simagin's Improved Defence | 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4 Nxc3 6.bxc3 Bg7 7.Bc4 O-O 8.Ne2 Nc6 | E16.035.GR | Explore ▶ |
| Exchange Defence: Larsen Defence | 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4 Nxc3 6.bxc3 Bg7 7.Bc4 O-O 8.Ne2 Qd7 | E16.036.GR | Explore ▶ |
| Exchange Defence: Larsen Defence: 9…b6 | 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4 Nxc3 6.bxc3 Bg7 7.Bc4 O-O 8.Ne2 Qd7 9.O-O b6 | E16.037.GR | Explore ▶ |
| Modern Exchange Attack | 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4 Nxc3 6.bxc3 Bg7 7.Nf3 | E16.038.GR | Explore ▶ |
| Modern Exchange Defence | 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4 Nxc3 6.bxc3 Bg7 7.Nf3 c5 | E16.039.GR | Explore ▶ |
| Modern Exchange Defence: Kramnik Attack | 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4 Nxc3 6.bxc3 Bg7 7.Nf3 c5 8.h3 | E16.040.GR | Explore ▶ |
| Modern Exchange Defence: Pawn Grab Defence | 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4 Nxc3 6.bxc3 Bg7 7.Nf3 c5 8.Rb1 O-O 9.Be2 Nc6 10.d5 Bxc3+ | E16.041.GR | Explore ▶ |
| Exchange Defence: Kemeri Grunfeld Attack | 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.g3 | E16.042.GR | Explore ▶ |
| Exchange Defence: Nadanian Attack | 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.Na4 | E16.043.GR | Explore ▶ |
| Makogonov Attack | 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.e3 Bg7 5.Nf3 O-O 6.b4 | E16.044.GR | Explore ▶ |
| Opocensky Attack | 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.e3 Bg7 5.Nf3 O-O 6.Bd2 | E16.045.GR | Explore ▶ |
| Paris Grunfeld Attack | 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.e3 Bg7 5.Nf3 O-O 6.Bd3 | E16.046.GR | Explore ▶ |
| Flohr Defence | 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.e3 Bg7 5.Nf3 O-O 6.Bd3 c6 7.O-O Bf5 | E16.047.GR | Explore ▶ |
| Smyslov Defence | 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.e3 Bg7 5.Nf3 O-O 6.Bd3 c6 7.O-O Bg4 | E16.048.GR | Explore ▶ |
| Vienna Attack | 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.e3 Bg7 5.Nf3 O-O 6.Qb3 | E16.049.GR | Explore ▶ |
| Pachman Attack | 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.e3 Bg7 5.Nf3 O-O 6.Qb3 dxc4 7.Bxc4 Nbd7 8.Ng5 | E16.050.GR | Explore ▶ |
| Botvinnik Defence | 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.e3 Bg7 5.Nf3 O-O 6.Qb3 e6 | E16.051.GR | Explore ▶ |
| Schlechter Defence | 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.e3 c6 | E16.052.GR | Explore ▶ |
| Lutikov Attack | 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.f3 | E16.053.GR | Explore ▶ |
| Lutikov Attack: Murey Attack | 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.f3 c5 5.cxd5 Nxd5 6.Na4 | E16.054.GR | Explore ▶ |
| Kemeri Attack | 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.g3 | E16.055.GR | Explore ▶ |
| Gibbon Gambit | 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.g4 | E16.056.GR | Explore ▶ |
| Zaitsev Gambit | 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.h4 | E16.057.GR | Explore ▶ |
| Three Knights Attack | 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Nf3 | E16.058.GR | Explore ▶ |
| Three Knights Attack: 4…Bg7 | 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Nf3 Bg7 | E16.059.GR | Explore ▶ |
| Three Knights Attack: Hungarian Attack | 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.Bf4 | E16.060.GR | Explore ▶ |
| Three Knights Attack: Hungarian Attack: 6.e3 | 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.Bf4 O-O 6.e3 | E16.061.GR | Explore ▶ |
| Three Knights Attack: Petrosian System | 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.Bg5 | E16.062.GR | Explore ▶ |
| Three Knights Attack: Burille Attack | 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.e3 | E16.063.GR | Explore ▶ |
| Three Knights Attack: Opocensky Attack | 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.e3 O-O 6.Bd2 | E16.064.GR | Explore ▶ |
| Three Knights Attack: Paris Attack | 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.e3 O-O 6.Bd3 | E16.065.GR | Explore ▶ |
| Three Knights Attack: Vienna Attack | 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.e3 O-O 6.Qb3 | E16.066.GR | Explore ▶ |
| Three Knights Attack: Burille Reversed - Tarrasch Defence | 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.e3 c5 6.Be2 cxd4 7.exd4 Nc6 8.O-O O-O | E16.067.GR | Explore ▶ |
| Three Knights Attack: Flohr Attack | 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.Qa4+ | E16.068.GR | Explore ▶ |
| Russian Game | 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.Qb3 | E16.069.GR | Explore ▶ |
| Russian Game: 7.e4 | 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.Qb3 dxc4 6.Qxc4 O-O 7.e4 | E16.070.GR | Explore ▶ |
| Russian Game: Hungarian Defence | 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.Qb3 dxc4 6.Qxc4 O-O 7.e4 a6 | E16.071.GR | Explore ▶ |
| Russian Game: Levenfish Defence | 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.Qb3 dxc4 6.Qxc4 O-O 7.e4 b6 | E16.072.GR | Explore ▶ |
| Russian Game: Smyslov Defence | 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.Qb3 dxc4 6.Qxc4 O-O 7.e4 Bg4 | E16.073.GR | Explore ▶ |
| Russian Game: Keres Attack | 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.Qb3 dxc4 6.Qxc4 O-O 7.e4 Bg4 8.Be3 Nfd7 9.Be2 Nb6 10.Qd3 Nc6 11.O-O-O | E16.074.GR | Explore ▶ |
| Russian Game: Keres Defence | 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.Qb3 dxc4 6.Qxc4 O-O 7.e4 Bg4 8.Be3 Nfd7 9.Be2 Nb6 10.Qd3 Nc6 11.O-O-O Qc8 | E16.075.GR | Explore ▶ |
| Russian Game: Smyslov Attack | 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.Qb3 dxc4 6.Qxc4 O-O 7.e4 Bg4 8.Be3 Nfd7 9.Qb3 | E16.076.GR | Explore ▶ |
| Russian Game: Yugoslav Defence | 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.Qb3 dxc4 6.Qxc4 O-O 7.e4 Bg4 8.Be3 Nfd7 9.Qb3 c5 | E16.077.GR | Explore ▶ |
| Russian Game: Szabo Boleslavsky Defence | 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.Qb3 dxc4 6.Qxc4 O-O 7.e4 c6 | E16.078.GR | Explore ▶ |
| Russian Game: Prins Defence | 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.Qb3 dxc4 6.Qxc4 O-O 7.e4 Na6 | E16.079.GR | Explore ▶ |
| Russian Game: Byrne Simagin Defence | 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.Qb3 dxc4 6.Qxc4 O-O 7.e4 Nc6 | E16.080.GR | Explore ▶ |
| Three Knights Attack: Schlechter Defence | 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Nf3 c6 | E16.081.GR | Explore ▶ |
| Russian Accelerated Attack | 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Qb3 | E16.082.GR | Explore ▶ |
| Sub Groups | Chess Notation | MICOS CAP |
|---|---|---|
| Grunfeld Defence (E16.GR) | ||
| 161. Neo Grunfeld Defence | 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.g3 d5 | E16.001.GR 🖥️ |
| 162. Brinckmann Attack | 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bf4 | E16.015.GR 🖥️ |
| 163. Exchange Defence | 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 | E16.023.GR 🖥️ |
| 164. Modern Exchange Attack | 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4 Nxc3 6.bxc3 Bg7 7.Nf3 | E16.038.GR 🖥️ |
| 165. Three Knights Attack | 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Nf3 | E16.058.GR 🖥️ |
| 166. Russian Game | 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.Qb3 | E16.069.GR 🖥️ |
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