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Grunfeld Defense: My favorite answer to d4
BrandonE
19 Dec 2010, 14:00:05
#1
Grunfeld Defense:
1. d4 - Nf6
2. c4 - g6
3. Nc3 - d5
Some of the most famous games in chess have involved the Grunfeld. Many great players have chosen this defense to 1. d4 in their most important matches and has been employed by players such as Kasparov, Fischer, Korchnoi, Smyslov and Anand. In fact the game that was dubbed "The Game of the Century" between Fischer and Byrne, the Grunfeld was used by Fischer. If these legendary players have chosen the Grunfeld in their world championship matches to defend or win their respective titles, then why should I not employ it in my game against one of the most talented players I have ever seen on Caissa?...Here is the game which was a live 30/30 match in a NOVA event I'm pretty sure. Who knows? It might be that you may choose the Grunfeld in your next game to answer 1. d4.
1. d4 - Nf6
2. c4 - g6
3. Nc3 - d5
Some of the most famous games in chess have involved the Grunfeld. Many great players have chosen this defense to 1. d4 in their most important matches and has been employed by players such as Kasparov, Fischer, Korchnoi, Smyslov and Anand. In fact the game that was dubbed "The Game of the Century" between Fischer and Byrne, the Grunfeld was used by Fischer. If these legendary players have chosen the Grunfeld in their world championship matches to defend or win their respective titles, then why should I not employ it in my game against one of the most talented players I have ever seen on Caissa?...Here is the game which was a live 30/30 match in a NOVA event I'm pretty sure. Who knows? It might be that you may choose the Grunfeld in your next game to answer 1. d4.
[Event "?"]
[Site "Caissa"]
[Date "2003.6.17"]
[Round "?"]
[White "BrandonE"]
[Black "WizardNo1"]
[Result "0-1"]
[WhiteELO "2637"]
[BlackELO "2999"]
%Created by Caissa's Web PGN Editor
%Orient=B
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. Qb3 dxc4 6. Qxc4 O-O 7. e4 a6 8.
e5 Nfd7 9. Be3 Nb6 10. Qd3 Bf5 11. Qd1 Nc6 12. Be2 Nb4 13. O-O N4d5 14. Bd3
Qd7 15. Ne4 Bxe4 16. Bxe4 f5 17. Bc2 e6 18. Re1 Nxe3 19. fxe3 a5 20. Rc1 a4
21. Bd3 Bh6 22. Bc4 Rfc8 23. Qe2 Qe7 24. Qf2 Kh8 25. a3 c6 26. Qd2 c5 27. Ba2
c4 28. Qf2 Rc6 29. Rc3 Rac8 30. Nd2 R6c7 31. Re2 Qd7 32. Rc2 Bg7 33. Qh4 h6
34. Qe1 Kh7 35. g3 h5 36. h3 Bh6 37. g4 hxg4 38. hxg4 Qd8 39. gxf5 gxf5 40.
Rh2 Rg7+ 41. Kf1 Rg4 42. Bxc4 Kg7 43. Rc3 Nxc4 44. Nxc4 Qd5 45. Qe2 Rxc4 46.
Rxc4 Qe4 47. Rc7+ Kg6 48. Rg2 Qb1+ 49. Kf2 Bxe3+ 50. Qxe3 Qxb2+ 51. Qe2 Rxg2+
{White resigns, Queen is lost} 0-1
Edited on 19 Dec 2010 at 19:09:44
Would you rather use the Grunfeld or the Modern Benoni defense against d4? I'm not very well versed in using the Benoni nor do I have alot of experience playing against it. In fact I am in the middle of a game in which the Benoni was used against me and it seems quite effective. I hear that is a favorite these days against 1.d4. Anyone here that likes to play the Benoni or has met with success using it on more than a few occasions?
Modern Benoni Defense
1.d4-Nf6 2.c4-e6 3.Nc3-(or Nf3/g3)c5 4.d5-exd5 5.cxd5-d6
or
1.d4-Nf6 2.c4-c5 3.d5-e6 4.Nc3-exd5 5.cxd5-d6 6.e4-g6.
Modern Benoni Defense
1.d4-Nf6 2.c4-e6 3.Nc3-(or Nf3/g3)c5 4.d5-exd5 5.cxd5-d6
or
1.d4-Nf6 2.c4-c5 3.d5-e6 4.Nc3-exd5 5.cxd5-d6 6.e4-g6.
[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Modern Benoni"]
[Black "1.d4"]
[Result "*"]
[WhiteELO "?"]
[BlackELO "?"]
%Created by Caissa's Web PGN Editor
%Orient=B
%Display=999
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c5 4. d5 exd5 5. cxd5 d6
Edited on 20 Dec 2010 at 03:09:48
Here is the game I just played against the Modern Benoni. I agreed to a draw.
[Event "Challenge"]
[Site "Caissa's Web"]
[Date "2010.12.12"]
[White "BrandonE"]
[Black "Shah"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[TimeControl "20/720"]
[WhiteELO "2199"]
[BlackELO "2372"]
[ECO "A61"]
[Opening "Modern Benoni defense"]
1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. c4 c5 4. d5 d6 5. Nc3 exd5 6. cxd5 g6 7. Bf4 a6 8. a4 Bg7
9. h3 O-O 10. e3 Qb6 11. Ra3 Nbd7 12. Be2 Nh5 13. Rb3 Qc7 14. Bh2 Nhf6 15. Nd2 Ne8
16. Nc4 Be5 17. O-O Bxh2+ 18. Kxh2 f5 19. f4 Rb8 20. g4 fxg4 21. hxg4 Ndf6 22. g5
b5 23. axb5 axb5 24. Rxb5 Rxb5 25. Nxb5 Qd7 26. Kg1 Qh3 27. Rf2 Ng4 28. Bxg4 Bxg4
29. Qf1 Qh4 30. Qg2 Bh3 31. Qf3 h6 32. gxh6 g5 33. Nc3 g4 34. Qe4 Qg3+ 35. Rg2 Bxg2
36. Qxg2 Qe1+ 37. Qf1 Qh4 38. Qe2 Nf6 39. Qh2 Qe1+ 40. Kg2 Kh7 41. Qg1 Qxg1+ 42.
Kxg1 Rd8
I wonder if your opponent was Tal Shaked. I think he played here years ago. These games are great examples. I'm trying to get my game back (or at least better) and I find playing through these helpful. Thanks for the posts.
It depends upon which style fits your personality best. Play defenses which lead to an open position if that is what you prefer. Or play openings which lead to closed positions if you do better at those. Some GMs avoid openings which play to the strengths of their opponents. So I would say that neither opening is objectively "better". Look up Krasnekow v. Svidler in the 2000 Rubenstein Memorial. By playing 4. cxd5 instead of
4. Nf3 Krasnekow took the Grunfeld apart. Different strokes for different folks. Don't adopt defenses based on faddish popularity.
The aforementioned game may be found at Chessgames.com
4. Nf3 Krasnekow took the Grunfeld apart. Different strokes for different folks. Don't adopt defenses based on faddish popularity.
The aforementioned game may be found at Chessgames.com
Edited on 15 Jan 2011 at 11:57:54
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