The Russian Variation, Szabo Variation is a variation of the Grünfeld Defense, catalogued as ECO D97. The line runs 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. Qb3 dxc4 6. Qxc4 O-O 7. e4 c6, reaching the position shown below after 14 half-moves.
White holds the centre with pawns on d4 and e4. Development is level at two minor pieces each. It is White to move after seven 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.
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The Russian Variation, Szabo Variation goes 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. Qb3 dxc4 6. Qxc4 O-O 7. e4 c6. It is a variation of the Grünfeld Defense and is catalogued as ECO D97.
The Russian Variation, Szabo Variation is ECO D97. 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. Nf3 Bg7 5. Qb3 dxc4 6. Qxc4 O-O 7. e4 c6 at +0.60 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. Development is level at two minor pieces each. It is White to move. Black has castled while White’s king is still uncommitted.