D86

Grünfeld Defense: Exchange Variation, Larsen 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

Ding Liren vs Rapport,R1/2-1/2
FIDE Candidates 2022 • 2022★ Notable
Nakamura,Hi vs Caruana,F1/2-1/2
74th Tata Steel GMA • 2012★ Notable
Carlsen,M vs Svidler,P1/2-1/2
6th Tal Memorial • 2011★ Notable
Nakamura,Hi vs Svidler,P0-1
6th Tal Memorial • 2011★ Notable
Aronian,L vs Grischuk,A1/2-1/2
WCh Candidates • 2011★ Notable
Topalov,V vs So,W1/2-1/2
39th Olympiad Men • 2010★ Notable
Topalov,V vs Anand,V1/2-1/2
WCh • 2010★ Notable
Topalov,V vs Anand,V1-0
WCh • 2010★ Notable
Ponomariov,R vs Carlsen,M0-1
19th Amber Rapid • 2010★ Notable
Ponomariov,R vs Dominguez Perez,L1/2-1/2
19th Amber Rapid • 2010★ Notable
Topalov,V vs Kamsky,G1/2-1/2
World Chess Challenge • 2009★ Notable
Kramnik, Vladimir vs Svidler, Peter1/2-1/2
Tilburg Fontys • 1998★ Notable
Kramnik, Vladimir vs Svidler, Peter1-0
Dortmund • 1998★ Notable
Botvinnik, Mikhail vs Smyslov, Vassily1/2-1/2
World Championship 20th • 1954★ Notable
Caruana,F vs Aronian,L1/2-1/2
American Cup Champ • 2024
Caruana,F vs Nakamura,Hi0-1
chess.com SpeedChess 2023 • 2023
Salem,AR vs Abdusattorov,Nodirbek0-1
55th Biel GM Blitz 2022 • 2022
Duda,J vs Abdusattorov,Nodirbek1/2-1/2
Airthings Masters Prelim • 2022
Gukesh,D vs Svidler,P1/2-1/2
36th ECC Open 2021 • 2021
Carlsen,M vs Aronian,L1-0
Chess24 Banter Final 2020 • 2020

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