Chessy
Van Geet Opening: Grünfeld Defense — Black to move
After 1.e4 d5 2.Nc3 dxe4 3.Nxe4 e5, you reach a sharp, practical position where White is to move and you are ready to answer. Stockfish rates this +0.47, a small edge for White. That means you are slightly worse here. The good news is that the position is still very playable, and the drill below will help you meet White’s most common choices with confidence.
Play the Van Geet Opening: Grünfeld Defense against the engine
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Create a free account →What Black is trying to achieve
Your setup is direct and active. You have opened the centre early and are aiming to keep the position simple enough to hold while staying alert to White’s lead in the move order. In this kind of position, piece activity matters a lot: develop quickly, stay coordinated, and do not waste time with slow moves. Because White has a small edge, your job is to meet each natural try accurately and avoid drifting into a passive game.
The move the engine likes most
The engine’s best move here is Bc4, and the line given continues Bc4 Nc6 Nf3 h6. That tells you a lot about the character of the position: White wants quick development and easy pressure, so your replies should be just as purposeful. In the drill, focus on what that bishop placement is trying to do and be ready to answer it without letting White build momentum.
What the database says
This exact position has been played in 180,148 games on Lichess, so it is a very useful practical tabiya. White wins 46.2%, draws 4.4%, and Black wins 49.4%. Those numbers show that the position is far from hopeless for you, even if the engine prefers White a little. The practical takeaway is simple: know your replies and you can score well here.
The common tries you must know
White does not have just one idea here, and the database makes that clear. The most-played continuations are Nf3 (83,314 games, White scores 46.8%), Bc4 (27,736 games, White scores 50.9%), d3 (21,916 games, White scores 42.8%), Nc3 (7,562 games, White scores 44.4%), Bb5+ (6,258 games, White scores 40.8%), and Ng3 (4,870 games, White scores 49.1%). In practice, Bc4 is the most important move to respect, since it is also the engine’s favourite and it leads the list of known mistakes.
Results across 180,148 Lichess games
| Most-played continuation | Games | White wins |
|---|---|---|
| Nf3 | 83,314 | 46.8% |
| Bc4 | 27,736 | 50.9% |
| d3 | 21,916 | 42.8% |
| Nc3 | 7,562 | 44.4% |
| Bb5+ | 6,258 | 40.8% |
| Ng3 | 4,870 | 49.1% |
Frequently asked questions
Is the Van Geet Opening: Grünfeld Defense good for Black?
It is playable for Black, but the engine gives White a small edge with +0.47. The database is still encouraging for Black overall, with 49.4% Black wins in this exact position. You should treat it as a sharp practical line rather than a fully equal one.
What is the best move for White in this position?
The engine’s best move is Bc4. The continuation given is Bc4 Nc6 Nf3 h6, so that is the main pattern to understand in the drill. White’s bishop move is also one of the most important practical tests for your setup.
Which White moves should I be especially ready for?
The most-played continuations are Nf3, Bc4, d3, Nc3, Bb5+, and Ng3. Among those, Bc4 is the engine’s choice and one of the key practical challenges. Nf3 is the most common by far, so it is worth being comfortable against that too.
What are the main mistakes to punish?
The known mistakes here are d3, Nc3, and Ng3. In each case, the better move was Bc4, and the losses are listed as roughly 1.0 pawns for d3 and Ng3, and roughly 0.8 pawns for Nc3. That makes Bc4 the move to compare against when you are choosing your plan.
How many games feature the Van Geet Opening: Grünfeld Defense?
Over 180K Lichess games have reached the Van Geet Opening: Grünfeld Defense position. White wins 46.2%, Black wins 49.4%, with 4.4% draws — based on real rated games.