Grunfeld Defense

Play as BlackDefence

Let White take the center, then attack it immediately with pieces and the c-pawn.

The main line, move by move

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 cxd4 10. cxd4 Qa5+ 11. Bd2 Qxa2 12. O-O Bg4

1. d4 — Claim the center with the queen pawn and open lines for the queen and bishop.
1... Nf6 — Develop a knight and control e4.
2. c4 — White gains more space in the center.
2... g6 — Prepare to fianchetto the bishop.
3. Nc3 — White develops a knight.
3... d5 — Strike at White's center immediately.
4. cxd5 — Exchange pawns to build a strong center.
4... Nxd5 — Take the pawn with the knight.
5. e4 — Kick the knight away and build a big center.
5... Nxc3 — Trade the knight to attack the center.
6. bxc3 — Recapture and keep the center pawns.
6... Bg7 — The bishop attacks the center from the long diagonal.
7. Nf3 — Develop the knight toward the center.
7... c5 — Hit the d4 pawn.
8. Rb1 — Protect the b2 pawn against ...Qa5.
8... O-O — Castle: your king gets safe and a rook joins the game.
9. Be2 — Develop and get ready to castle.
9... cxd4 — Take the pawn and open the c-file.
10. cxd4 — Takes the pawn on d4.
10... Qa5+ — Check, attacking c3 and a2.
11. Bd2 — Block the check and develop.
11... Qxa2 — Grab a pawn.
12. O-O — Castle: your king gets safe and a rook joins the game.
12... Bg4 — Develop the bishop and pressure the knight on f3.