D74

Neo-Grünfeld Defense: Delayed Exchange 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

Topalov, Veselin vs Polgar, Judit0-1
Dortmund • 1997★ Notable
Botvinnik, Mikhail vs Bronstein, David I1-0
World Championship 19th • 1951★ Notable
Praggnanandhaa,R vs Aronian,L1/2-1/2
Superbet POL Rapid 2025 • 2025
Caruana,F vs Nepomniachtchi,I0-1
SuperUnited CRO Blitz 2024 • 2024
Svidler,P vs Firouzja,Alireza1-0
World Rapid 2019 • 2019
Moravec,V vs Praggnanandhaa,R1/2-1/2
London Classic Open 2016 • 2016
Ivanchuk,V vs Dominguez Perez,L1-0
5th MTel Masters • 2009
Schwartzman, Gabriel vs Leko, Peter1-0
Dortmund-D • 1991
Najdorf, Miguel vs Kotov, Alexander1/2-1/2
Saltsjobaden Interzonal • 1948
Najdorf, Miguel vs Boleslavsky, Isaak1-0
Saltsjobaden Interzonal • 1948
Rustemov,A vs Duda,J0-1
Titled Tue 30th Apr Early • 2024
Kucuksari,Kaan vs Duda,J0-1
Titled Tue 23rd Apr Early • 2024
Narayanan,SL vs Erigaisi,Arjun1-0
Vidit Tour KO 2021 • 2021
Abasov,N vs Firouzja,Alireza1/2-1/2
12th World Teams 2019 • 2019
Jianu,V vs Nepomniachtchi,I1/2-1/2
14th Euro Indiv 2013 • 2013
Khismatullin,D vs Nepomniachtchi,I0-1
63rd ch-RUS • 2010
Harikrishna,P vs So,W1-0
16th Asian Games Team Final Men • 2010
Vachier Lagrave,M vs Nepomniachtchi,I1/2-1/2
VI World Blitz • 2010
Khalifman,A vs Baekelant,E1-0
14th OIBM • 2010
Tkachiev,V vs Polgar,Ju1/2-1/2
World Blitz • 2009

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