The Neo-Grünfeld Defense: Delayed Exchange Variation (7...c5) begins with 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.g3 d5 4.Bg2 Bg7 5.Nf3 0-0 6.cxd5 Nxd5 7.0-0 c5 (ECO D75). Lichess records 39,885 games in this line, which gives us a reliable view of how it actually performs in practice.
History and Notable Players
It arises from the Neo-Grünfeld Defense: Delayed Exchange Variation. On the White side, Valery A Loginov (5 games), Carlos Enrique Guimard (4 games), Julio Bolbochan (4 games) top the database. Notable Black exponents: Miguel Najdorf (6 games), Vladas Mikenas (5 games), Zbigniew Jasnikowski (4 games).
Performance Across Rating Levels
Popularity and results vary sharply by rating level. At 1200 Elo, the opening shows up in 0.00% of games (196 samples). White scores 53.6%, Black 41.8%, draws 4.6%. By 1800, popularity is 0.00% and White's score is 49.4% to Black's 45%. At 2500, 0.01% of games go into this opening; draws sit at 9.7% — the line is well-mapped at this level. White's edge erodes by 5.2pp from 1200 to 2500 Elo, suggesting Black's counterplay is easier to find with experience.
Move Diversity and Theory Depth
Looking at move selection shows how forcing — or not — the position really is. At 1200 Elo (196 games), the top reply is dxc5, played 49.5% of the time. Three other moves each take at least 5% of games, and the top three moves account for 89.8% of games. Entropy: 1.95. By 2500 (1,667 games), e4 takes over as the top reply at 45.8%; only two other moves still reach 5% and the top three moves account for 99.5% of games. Entropy drops to 1.53.
Common Mistakes
- Playing outside main lines — At 1200 Elo, only 89.8% of games stay with the three most-played moves; at 2000 that climbs to 95.8%. Most of the gap is players who pick a reasonable-looking move over the best one, and the position quietly drifts.
- Neglecting development — Extra pawn moves in the opening are tempting, especially when you "know the moves". Developing a piece each turn is the simple correction.
- Letting White own the centre — Hypermodern openings concede central space on purpose, but only if you strike back in time. Delay the counter-blow and you end up squeezed.
Practice on Chessiverse
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