The Exchange Variation, Modern Exchange Variation, Pawn Grab Line is a variation of the Grünfeld Defense, catalogued as ECO D85. The line runs 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+, reaching the position shown below after 20 half-moves.
White holds the centre with pawns on d5 and e4. Development is level at three minor pieces each, and Black is up a pawn of material. It is White to move after ten moves. Black has castled while White’s king is still uncommitted; White’s a-file pawn is isolated.
On the Grünfeld Defense generally: A hypermodern defense where Black allows White a big center then undermines it with ...d5.
You can play through this variation move by move in your browser — Learn mode walks the line with an explanation at each step, and Drill mode replays it from memory so you find out whether you actually know it. No account is required.
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The Exchange Variation, Modern Exchange Variation, Pawn Grab Line goes 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 is a variation of the Grünfeld Defense and is catalogued as ECO D85.
The Exchange Variation, Modern Exchange Variation, Pawn Grab Line is ECO D85. ECO codes group openings by their move order, so nearby codes cover closely related lines of the Grünfeld Defense.
Stockfish evaluates the position after 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+ at +0.76 at depth 18, which is a small but real edge for White. Engine evaluation is only a starting point — at club level the practical value of a line is mostly about whether you know its plans better than your opponent does.
White holds the centre with pawns on d5 and e4. Development is level at three minor pieces each, and Black is up a pawn of material. It is White to move. Black has castled while White’s king is still uncommitted; White’s a-file pawn is isolated.