Library/Openings/Grünfeld Defense/Exchange Variation/Simagin's Lesser Variation ECO D86
Opening· 16 plies

Grünfeld Defense: Exchange Variation, Simagin's Lesser Variation

An entry in the Encyclopedia of Chess Openings (ECO D86), reached after 16 half-moves: 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.

Grünfeld Defense: Exchange Variation, Simagin's Lesser Variation ECO D86
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Black rook
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Black queen
Black rook
Black king
Black pawn
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Black bishop
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White bishop
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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, Simagin's Lesser Variation is an opening in the Encyclopedia of Chess Openings, classified under code D86. 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 16 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. Bc4 O-O 8. Ne2 b6.

It belongs to the Grünfeld Defense family. Within that family this is a level-2 branch (the Exchange Variation → Simagin's Lesser Variation line). The immediate parent line is Grünfeld Defense: Exchange Variation, transitioned via 8…b6.

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.