Gruenfeld - Chess Defense

The Gruenfeld-Indian chess defense belongs to the closed games and is named after grandmaster Ernst Gruenfeld who was a professional player 1919.

The Gruenfeld begins with 1.d2-d4 Sg8-f6 2.c2-c4 g7-g6 3.Sb1-c3 d7-d5

White creates a mighty pawn formation in the center and has space advantage. Black has to attack and undermine this white pawn structure. On the queenside black has a pawn majority of two pawns against one white pawn and could create a passed pawn in the endgame. This opening leads to a game with lots of tactical chances for both sides.

The Gruenfeld Defense is still popular and was played by many famous players like Viktor Korchnoi, Vasily Smyslov, Bobby Fischer and Garry Kasparov.

The famous game of Donald Byrne - Bobby Fischer, called - the game of the century - was played with the Gruenfeld Defense. Game of the Century!

The Main Variation is the Exchange Variation 1.d2-d4 Sg8-f6 2.c2-c4 g7-g6 3.Sb1-c3 d7-d5 4.c4xd5 Sf6xd5 5.e2-e4 Sd5xc3 6.b2xc3 Lf8-g7

The Modern Variation continues 7. Sg1-f3 c7-c5 8. Ta1-b1
Classical Variation 7. Lf1-c4 c7-c5 8. Sg1-e2 c5xd4 9. c3xd4 Sb8-c6 10. Lc1-e3 0-0 11. 0-0
or 7. Lf1-c4 c7-c5 8. Sg1-e2 0-0 9. 0-0 Sc6 10. Lc1-e3 Lg4 11. f2-f3 Sc6-a5 12. Lc4xf7+ match Karpow-Kasparow 1987

Bobby Fischer played a different set up where he puts his queen to c7 and the rook to d8. (from Smyslow) 10. Lc1-e3 Dd8-c7 11. Ta1-c1 Tf8-d8

Replay Games of the Gruenfeld Defense

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