Grünfeld Defense: Smyslov Defense

An entry in the Encyclopedia of Chess Openings (ECO D94), reached after 14 half-moves: 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3 g6 5. Nf3 Bg7 6. Bd3 O-O 7. O-O Bg4.

Black rook — Use ← → arrows or click moves to step through.

Black knight — Use ← → arrows or click moves to step through.

End of this line

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

About this opening

Grünfeld Defense: Smyslov Defense is an opening in the Encyclopedia of Chess Openings, classified under code D94. 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 14 half-moves from the starting position, with the move sequence 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3 g6 5. Nf3 Bg7 6. Bd3 O-O 7. O-O Bg4.

It belongs to the Grünfeld Defense family. Within that family this is a sub-variation (the Smyslov Defense line).

The opening sequence in prose form: 1.d4 d5, 2.c4 c6, 3.Nc3 Nf6, 4.e3 g6, 5.Nf3 Bg7, 6.Bd3 O-O. 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.