The Grünfeld Defense (ECO codes D70–D99) is a chess opening characterized by the moves 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5. It is named after the 20th century Austrian grandmaster Ernst Grünfeld.
Questions tagged [grunfeld-defense]
25 questions
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Anand - Carlsen Game 1 WCh 2014, why not 12.Qc3+?
In game 1 of the World Championship 2014 between Carlsen and Anand, Anand chose 12.gxf3. Why not play 12.Qc3+ instead? It takes control over the a1-h8 diagonal and prevents the black Nc6 to jump to d4 or e5. In addition, it gives white the option to…
Rauan Sagit
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Annotated games in the Makogonov Grünfeld?
I would appreciate references to sources, be they books or any other sort of media, that contain annotated games in the Makogonov Variation of the Grünfeld Defense (two possible move-orders for which are given below):
[FEN ""]
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6…
ETD
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Mysterious rook move in the Grunfeld
[FEN "rnbqkbnr/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/RNBQKBNR w KQkq - 0 1"]
1. c4 g6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. e4 Nxc3 7. bxc3 c5 8. Be3 Qa5 9. Qd2 Nc6 10. Rb1 a6 11. Rc1
In this line of the Grunfeld, White has played 10. Rb1 followed by…
Allure
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A Consistent Grunfeld Repertoire
I'm starting to play against stronger competition who know how to play their openings, so I'm trying to figure out my repertoire. I have recently decided to stick to playing the Grunfeld against 1.d4, and prepared some responses against those who…
Pomacanthidae
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What are the main strategic concepts in the Grunfeld?
I recently picked up on the Grunfeld and I am quite pleased with this opening. To improve my skill at playing this opening;
What are the most important strategic/thematic concepts that I should learn?
What other, less important, concepts should I…
Rafiek
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Why doesn't white take after 8..c5 in the Grünfeld, Spassky variation?
I was looking through the titular variation and am confused why there are no master games with 9.dxc5. Is it simply because white doesn't want to give up the central pawn, even if they can gain a material advantage? Is that pawn that valuable in…
Derek Allums
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Move-order issue in the Grunfeld: ...Nc6-a5 vs ...Nc6-e7
My question relates to certain lines given by Avrukh (2018).
[FEN "..."]
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. g3 Bg7 4. Bg2 d5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. Nf3 Nb6 7. Nc3 Nc6 8. e3 e5 9. d5
Here 9...Ne7 is the most popular move (88 games in the Chessbase Live database),…
user1205901 - Слава Україні
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Is this line of the Grunfeld playable for White?
So, I was playing this line of the exchange variation of the Grunfeld: 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Bc4 c5 8. Ne2 O-O 9. Be3 Nc6.
[Fen "r1bq1rk1/pp2ppbp/2n3p1/2p5/2BPP3/2P1B3/P3NPPP/R2QK2R w KQ - 0 10"]
In my…
user1108
6
votes
1 answer
Black's reply against anti-Grünfeld (3.d5)
This is not the most famous anti-Grünfeld out there, but the move 3. d5 is a bit unconfortable for a Grünfeld player, at least for me.
Main moves are 3...Bg7 and 3...c6 challenging the d5 pawn right away. But I don't see a clear follow-up in either…
loukios
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Which variation of the Grunfeld Defense for White will lead to the most strategic and least sharp position?
[fen ""]
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5
After 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5, which variation of the Grunfeld Defense leads to the most solid and strategic position? If possible, I prefer a variation with possibilities for a minority attack. The…
limits
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Is this continuation of D85, Gruenfeld Defence, Exchange Variation, tenable?
I am watching some commentary on the World Championship Games. This is from Game 1:
[FEN "rnbq1rk1/ppp1ppbp/6p1/8/3PP3/2B5/PP1Q1PPP/R3KBNR b KQ - 0 8"]
[White "Anand"]
[Black "Carlsen"]
The commentator states that Carlsen has several moves…
user4307
5
votes
1 answer
Pawn structure in king's indian or grünfeld
I'm trying out kings indian against d4 openings but there is one problem... I get mated.
I can't defend after castling under the h7 g6 f7 pawn structure. Somehow it works as an opening with an opening for infiltrating enemy attackers. I.e. the a1-h8…
AWE
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Why not e3 instead of e4 in Grunfeld Russian system?
In the position below White continues with e4 after, say, Black castles. grunfeld-defense:
[FEN ""]
[StartPly "10"]
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. Qb3 dxc4 6.Qxc4
Question: How about e3 instead? Is there an outright refutation, or is…
user13438
4
votes
1 answer
Ideas behind the Grünfeld defense
I started a game (with the black pieces) where I have the possibilty to play the Grünfeld that I never played before.
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5
I want to know what's the main idea behind it, especially for black, since I heard that it could lead…
Koblenz
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How should I play against the Grunfeld defense as white?
What is the best defense as white against the Grunfeld Defense?
I have been playing the Blackmar-Diemer Gambit over and over again, I suspect some opponents notice this, and open up with 1... Nf6, so this gets me off guard. I usually try to…
xaisoft
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