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.

Best Games

Aronian,L vs Shirov,A1/2-1/2
WCh Candidates Finals • 2007★ Notable
Jussupow,A vs Leko,P1/2-1/2
34th Olympiad • 2000★ Notable
Kramnik, Vladimir vs Shirov, Alexei1/2-1/2
WCC cand • 1998★ Notable
Kramnik, Vladimir vs Shirov, Alexei1/2-1/2
WCC cand • 1998★ Notable
Larsen, Bent vs Soderborg, Berndt0-1
WchT U26 • 1957★ Notable
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
Beliavsky, Alexander G vs Kasparov, Gary1/2-1/2
URS-ch55 • 1988
Jussupow, Artur vs Timman, Jan H1/2-1/2
EUCup f • 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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