Library/Openings/Grünfeld Defense/Exchange Variation/Modern Exchange Variation/Pawn Grab Line ECO D85
Opening· 20 plies

Grünfeld Defense: Exchange Variation, Modern Exchange Variation, Pawn Grab Line

An entry in the Encyclopedia of Chess Openings (ECO D85), reached after 20 half-moves: 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+.

Grünfeld Defense: Exchange Variation, Modern Exchange Variation, Pawn Grab Line ECO D85
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Black rook
Black bishop
Black queen
Black rook
Black king
Black pawn
Black pawn
Black pawn
Black pawn
Black pawn
Black knight
Black pawn
Black pawn
White pawn
White pawn
Black bishop
White knight
White pawn
White bishop
White pawn
White pawn
White pawn
White rook
White bishop
White queen
White king
White rook
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End of this line

No further variations branch from this position in our database. To explore neighbouring ideas:

About this opening

Grünfeld Defense: Exchange Variation, Modern Exchange Variation, Pawn Grab Line is an opening in the Encyclopedia of Chess Openings, classified under code D85. ECO group D (D00–D99) covers closed games and semi-closed games beginning 1.d4 d5, covering the Queen's Gambit, Slav, Grünfeld and related queen-pawn structures. This particular variation is reached after 20 half-moves from the starting position, with the move sequence 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+.

It belongs to the Grünfeld Defense family. Within that family this is a level-3 branch (the Exchange Variation → Modern Exchange Variation → Pawn Grab Line line). The immediate parent line is Grünfeld Defense: Exchange Variation, Modern Exchange Variation, transitioned via 10…Bxc3+.

The opening sequence in prose form: 1.d4 Nf6, 2.c4 g6, 3.Nc3 d5, 4.cxd5 Nxd5, 5.e4 Nxc3, 6.bxc3 Bg7. From this position the encyclopaedia records no further canonical continuations — practical play branches into unnamed transpositions or returns to the parent line for alternative ideas.