Chess lessons › Chess openings
The Grünfeld Defence
Black lets White build a pawn centre on purpose, then attacks it at once.
The idea
Black lets White build a big pawn centre, then attacks it with pieces.
- White already has pawns on c4 and d4, a head start in the centre.
- Instead of d6 and Bg7 as in the King’s Indian, Black strikes with d5.
- This invites an even bigger centre, in exchange for pressure on it.
In a game: Spot it when Black meets 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 with 3...d5.
How the lesson begins
After 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3, Black usually plays 3...Bg7, the King’s Indian Defence: among players rated 2000 and above on Lichess, 67% of games went that way. There is a sharper choice.
- 1. d4 White takes the centre.
- 1... Nf6 Black develops and watches e4.
- 2. c4 White takes more space.
- 2... g6 Black opens a diagonal for the bishop on f8.
- 3. Nc3 White develops the knight.
Find the move
Black to move. Rather than ...Bg7 and ...d6 as in the King’s Indian, strike at White’s pawn on c4 at once.
A hint
The pawn on d7 moves two squares.
Show the answer
3... d5
d5 challenges the centre at once. This is the Grünfeld Defence: Black lets White build an even bigger centre, in exchange for quick pressure on it. Among players rated 2000 and above on Lichess, 29% of games went this way.
In numbers
How often it is played
| Rating | Value |
|---|---|
| Under 800 | Too few games |
| 800 to 1199 | Too few games |
| 1200 to 1599 | Too few games |
| 1600 to 1999 | 0.5 |
| 2000 and up | 3 |
How the games ended
White won 46%, 9% were drawn and Black won 46%, over 1,020 games that start this way, in a sample of rated Lichess games from 2026.