D98

Grünfeld Defense: Russian Variation, Keres Variation

Key moves: 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5

The Grünfeld Defence is a hypermodern opening where Black allows White to build a big pawn centre, then attacks it with pieces and the ...c5 break. The central tension creates exciting, tactical positions.

History & Notable Players

Introduced by Ernst Grünfeld in 1922. It became a world-class weapon through Vasily Smyslov and Bobby Fischer, and was later used extensively by Garry Kasparov in his World Championship matches.

Best Games

Anand,V vs Leko,P1-0
Amber Rapidplay • 2001★ Notable
Karpov, Anatoly vs Kamsky, Gata1-0
FIDE-Wch • 1996★ Notable
Karpov, Anatoly vs Timman, Jan H1/2-1/2
Tilburg • 1986★ Notable
Karpov, Anatoly vs Kasparov, Gary1-0
World Championship 33th-KK3 • 1986★ Notable
Karpov, Anatoly vs Kasparov, Gary1/2-1/2
World Championship 33th-KK3 • 1986★ Notable
Botvinnik, Mikhail vs Smyslov, Vassily1/2-1/2
World Championship 22th • 1958★ Notable
Smyslov, Vassily vs Botvinnik, Mikhail1-0
World Championship 21th • 1957★ Notable
Botvinnik, Mikhail vs Smyslov, Vassily1/2-1/2
World Championship 18th • 1948★ Notable
Wojtaszek,R vs Navara,D1/2-1/2
48th Biel GM 2015 • 2015
Pasku,L vs Wei Yi0-1
41st Olympiad Open 2014 • 2014
Morozevich,A vs Kamsky,G1-0
FIDE GP Beijing • 2013
Ivanchuk,V vs Ponomariov,R1/2-1/2
FIDE World Cup 2011 • 2011
Aronian,L vs Morozevich,A1/2-1/2
Corus A • 2009
Ivanchuk,V vs Ftacnik,L1/2-1/2
34th Olympiad • 2000
Kasimdzhanov,R vs Rowson,J1-0
34th Olympiad • 2000
Piket, Jeroen vs Shirov, Alexei1/2-1/2
Amber-rapid 5th • 1996
Piket, Jeroen vs Ljubojevic, Ljubomir1/2-1/2
Amber-blind 3rd • 1994
Beliavsky, Alexander G vs Chiburdanidze, Maia1-0
Linares • 1988
Sosonko, Gennadi vs Smyslov, Vassily1/2-1/2
Biel Interzonal • 1976
Portisch, Lajos vs Hort, Vlastimil1-0
Palma de Mallorca Interzonal • 1970

Explore More

All OpeningsAll Players