The Exchange Variation, Spassky Variation is a variation of the Grünfeld Defense, catalogued as ECO D87. The line runs 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Bc4 c5 8. Ne2 O-O, reaching the position shown below after 16 half-moves.
White holds the centre with pawns on d4 and e4, and one pawn capture is available, so the structure has not settled yet. Development is level at three minor pieces each. It is White to move after eight 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.
See all 48 Grünfeld Defense variations →
The Exchange Variation, Spassky Variation goes 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Bc4 c5 8. Ne2 O-O. It is a variation of the Grünfeld Defense and is catalogued as ECO D87.
The Exchange Variation, Spassky Variation is ECO D87. 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. Bc4 c5 8. Ne2 O-O at +0.36 at depth 18, which is a slight pull for White, within normal opening margins. 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 d4 and e4, and one pawn capture is available, so the structure has not settled yet. Development is level at three minor pieces each. It is White to move. Black has castled while White’s king is still uncommitted; White’s a-file pawn is isolated.