Neo-Grünfeld Defense: Delayed Exchange Variation
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nf3 Bg7 4.g3 O-O 5.Bg2 d5 6.cxd5 Nxd5 7.O-O
Delayed Exchange Variation
1.2.3.4.5.6.7.
What Is The Delayed Exchange Variation?
White trades on d5 before committing the queen's knight, so Black recaptures with the knight and no piece contests it. That removes the point of the Exchange Grünfeld: White never builds the c3, d4, e4 pawn mass, and the d4 pawn stands alone against the g7 bishop. White claims the centre later with Nc3 and e4, gaining time on the knight, so Black steps back to b6 or trades on c3 first.
The game turns on d4. Black strikes with ...c5 and ...Nc6. White pushes d5, gaining space and driving the knight to a5. Liquidating d4 or advancing it decides everything: Black equalises the moment that pawn falls, and White holds an edge only while it advances.