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  3. /Grünfeld Defense: Exchange Variation, Spassky Variation (D89)
D89

Grünfeld Defense: Exchange Variation, Spassky 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.

Top Players in this Opening

Jussupow, Artur5 gamesShirov,A4 gamesTimman, Jan H4 gamesGeller, Efim P3 gamesKasparov, Gary3 gamesBeliavsky, Alexander G2 gamesShirov, Alexei2 gamesKramnik, Vladimir2 gamesIvanchuk, Vassily2 gamesBronstein, David I2 games

Related Openings

D80 - Grünfeld Defense258D81 - Grünfeld Defense: Russian Variation, Accelerated Variation40D82 - Grünfeld Defense: Brinckmann Attack97D83 - Grünfeld Defense: Brinckmann Attack, Grünfeld Gambit64D84 - Grünfeld Defense: Brinckmann Attack, Grünfeld Gambit Accepted28D85 - Grünfeld Defense: Exchange Variation1329D86 - Grünfeld Defense: Exchange Variation, Larsen Variation237D87 - Grünfeld Defense: Exchange Variation, Seville Variation220D88 - Grünfeld Defense: Exchange Variation, Spassky Variation30

Best Games

Aronian,L vs Shirov,A1/2-1/2
WCh Candidates Finals 2007Notable
Jussupow,A vs Leko,P1/2-1/2
34th Olympiad 2000Notable
Kramnik, Vladimir vs Shirov, Alexei1/2-1/2
WCC cand 1998Notable
Kramnik, Vladimir vs Shirov, Alexei1/2-1/2
WCC cand 1998Notable
Larsen, Bent vs Soderborg, Berndt0-1
WchT U26 1957Notable
Topalov,V vs Shirov,A1-0
XXV SuperGM 2008
Topalov,V vs Shirov,A1-0
Corus A 2007
Gulko,B vs Khalifman,A1/2-1/2
36th Olympiad 2004
Jussupow, Artur vs Leko, Peter1/2-1/2
Ubeda 1997
Jussupow, Artur vs Anand, Viswanathan0-1
Candidats FIDE m2 1994
Jussupow, Artur vs Timman, Jan H1/2-1/2
EUCup f 1988
Beliavsky, Alexander G vs Kasparov, Gary1/2-1/2
URS-ch55 1988
Jussupow, Artur vs Kasparov, Gary1/2-1/2
URS-ch55 1988
Christiansen, Larry Mark vs Kortschnoj, Viktor0-1
Reggio Emilia8788 1987
Caruana,F vs Vachier Lagrave,M1/2-1/2
GM 2009
Carlsen,M vs L'Ami,E0-1
GM Classic 2004
Kharlov,A vs Mamedyarov,S1/2-1/2
3rd IECC 2002
Cramling,P vs Shirov,A1/2-1/2
TCh-ESP 2000
Mock, Stefan vs Navara, David1/2-1/2
Regionalliga NW9798 1998
Timman, Jan H vs Hellers, Ferdinand0-1
Sigeman & Co 1997

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