The Pachman Variation is a variation of the Grünfeld Defense, catalogued as ECO D95. The line runs 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. e3 Bg7 5. Qb3 dxc4 6. Bxc4 O-O 7. Nf3 Nbd7 8. Ng5, reaching the position shown below after 15 half-moves.
White holds the centre with pawns on d4. Development is level at three minor pieces each. It is Black to move after eight moves. Black has castled while White’s king is still uncommitted.
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 Pachman Variation goes 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. e3 Bg7 5. Qb3 dxc4 6. Bxc4 O-O 7. Nf3 Nbd7 8. Ng5. It is a variation of the Grünfeld Defense and is catalogued as ECO D95.
The Pachman Variation is ECO D95. 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. e3 Bg7 5. Qb3 dxc4 6. Bxc4 O-O 7. Nf3 Nbd7 8. Ng5 at +0.57 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. Development is level at three minor pieces each. It is Black to move. Black has castled while White’s king is still uncommitted.