D81

Grünfeld Defense: Russian Variation, Accelerated Variation

Key moves: 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bf4/Bg5

The Russian System and other sidelines where White avoids the main Exchange Variation. These lines lead to less theoretical but still rich positions.

History & Notable Players

Employed by many Russian grandmasters as a practical alternative to the Exchange Variation.

Best Games

Nakamura,Hi vs Caruana,F1/2-1/2
3rd Sinquefield Cup 2015 • 2015★ Notable
Topalov,V vs Kamsky,G1/2-1/2
World Chess Challenge • 2009★ Notable
Kramnik,V vs Dominguez Perez,L1/2-1/2
38th Olympiad • 2008★ Notable
Euwe, Max vs Alekhine, Alexander1-0
World Championship 16th • 1935★ Notable
Euwe, Max vs Alekhine, Alexander0-1
World Championship 16th • 1935★ Notable
Svidler,P vs Gelfand,B0-1
Gelfand-Svidler Rapid 2014 • 2014
Carlsen,M vs Ivanchuk,V1/2-1/2
XXVI SuperGM • 2009
Carlsen,M vs Dominguez Perez,L1-0
Corus A • 2009
Jakovenko,D vs Mamedyarov,S1/2-1/2
FIDE Grand Prix • 2008
Alekseev,Evgeny vs Kamsky,G1/2-1/2
Tal Memorial • 2008
Ivanchuk,V vs Svidler,P1/2-1/2
Aerosvit • 2007
Duda,J vs Iniyan,Pa1-0
Titled Tue 22nd Apr Early • 2025
Erigaisi,Arjun vs Vachier Lagrave,M1/2-1/2
Chennai GM 2024 • 2024
Vachier Lagrave,M vs Mekhitarian,K0-1
Titled Tue 8th Aug Late • 2023
Ivanchuk,V vs Pinheiro,I1-0
Titled Tue 6th Sep Early • 2022
Ivanchuk,V vs Semenukha,Nikita1/2-1/2
Oleg Kalinin Memorial Sim • 2020
Ivanchuk,V vs Durarbayli,V1-0
TCh-TUR Super League 2019 • 2019
Sivuk,V vs Firouzja,Alireza1/2-1/2
10th Nana Aleksandria Cup • 2015
Ponomariov,R vs Vachier Lagrave,M1/2-1/2
28th Leon GM 2015 • 2015
Meier,Geo vs Leko,P1/2-1/2
41st GM • 2013

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