Grünfeld Defense: Exchange Variation, Simagin's Improved Variation

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4 Nxc3 6.bxc3 Bg7 7.Bc4 O-O 8.Ne2 Nc6

ECO D86

The Grünfeld Defense: Exchange Variation, Simagin's Improved Variation is a chess opening line in the Grünfeld Defense complex, reached after 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4 Nxc3 6.bxc3 Bg7 7.Bc4 O-O 8.Ne2 Nc6.

It is catalogued under code D86 in the Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings (ECO).

The defining move Nc6 is chosen by Black on move 8.

Study this line with a grandmaster

This position is covered in the Beat the Grunfeld course: a GM-authored repertoire you study move by move, then practice against a human-like AI opponent.

Every chess term used here is defined in the chess terms glossary. Browse all opening courses or the full ECO code index.