D95 Grünfeld Defense: Three Knights Variation, Vienna Variation
D95 holds three named lines, all under the name Grünfeld Defense. It leaves D94 (Grünfeld Defense: Three Knights Variation, Burille Variation) with 5...O-O 6.Qb3. White’s pieces and pawns attack seven squares in Black’s half, the fifth-lowest count of the 20 Grünfeld Defense codes. Of all other reference positions, the board of D93 (Three Knights Variation, Hungarian Variation) comes closest, four squares apart.
| # | White | Black |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | d4 | Nf6 |
| 2 | c4 | g6 |
| 3 | Nc3 | d5 |
| 4 | Nf3 | Bg7 |
| 5 | e3 | O-O |
| 6 | Qb3 |
Moves only D95 plays
Same as D94 up to 5.e3, then:
- 5...O-O Black castles kingside, opening a line for the queen on d8, guarding the bishop on g7.
- 6.Qb3 The queen goes from d1 to b3.
Lines filed under D95
All three share the start 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 and then split two ways at White’s move 4.
| Name | After the shared start | Plies | At the end |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grünfeld Defense: Three Knights Variation, Vienna Variation | 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.e3 O-O 6.Qb3 | 11 | Black castled |
| Grünfeld Defense: Botvinnik Variation | 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.e3 O-O 6.Qb3 e6 | 12 | Black castled |
| Grünfeld Defense: Pachman Variation | 4.e3 Bg7 5.Qb3 dxc4 6.Bxc4 O-O 7.Nf3 Nbd7 8.Ng5 | 15 | Black castled |
Grünfeld Defense: Botvinnik Variation
- 4.Nf3 The knight leaves g1 for f3, opening a line for the rook on h1.
- 4...Bg7 The bishop leaves f8 for g7, opening a line for the rook on h8, guarding the rook on h8.
- 5.e3 The e-pawn advances to e3, covering d4 and f4, opening a line for the queen on d1 and the bishop on f1.
- 5...O-O Black castles kingside, opening a line for the queen on d8, guarding the bishop on g7.
- 6.Qb3 The queen goes from d1 to b3.
Grünfeld Defense: Pachman Variation
- 4.e3 The e-pawn advances to e3, covering d4 and f4, opening a line for the queen on d1 and the bishop on f1.
- 4...Bg7 The bishop leaves f8 for g7, opening a line for the rook on h8, guarding the rook on h8.
- 5.Qb3 The queen goes from d1 to b3.
- 5...dxc4 The d-pawn takes the pawn on c4, covering b3 and d3, opening a line for the queen on d8, attacking the queen on b3.
- 6.Bxc4 The bishop on f1 takes the pawn on c4.
The road to D95
- 1.d4 … 4.Nf3seven earlier stops: A40, A45, A50, D80, D90, E60, E61
- 4...Bg7D90 Three Knights Variation
- 5.e3D94 Burille Variation
- 6.Qb3D95
The position after 6.Qb3
White has brought out the knight on c3 and knight on f3; Black the knight on f6 and bishop on g7. Black could capture with dxc4. Black is to move and has 32 legal moves.
Closest boards in other codes
| Code | Line | Differs on |
|---|---|---|
| D97 | Grünfeld Defense: Russian Variation | five squares: b3, e3, c4, e4, d5 |
| D83 | Grünfeld Defense: Brinckmann Attack, Grünfeld Gambit | six squares: c1, d1, g1, b3, f3, f4 |
| D96 | Grünfeld Defense: Russian Variation | six squares: e2, e3, e8, f8, g8, h8 |
| D98 | Grünfeld Defense: Russian Variation, Smyslov Variation | seven squares: b3, e3, c4, e4, g4, d5, c8 |
| E51 | Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Ragozin Variation | seven squares: d1, b3, b4, e6, g6, e7, g7 |
| D55 | Queen’s Gambit Declined: Modern Variation, Normal Line | eight squares: c1, d1, b3, g5, e6, g6, e7, g7 |
| E91 | King’s Indian Defense: Orthodox Variation | eight squares: d1, f1, e2, b3, e3, e4, d5, d6 |