D96

Grünfeld Defense: Russian 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

Smyslov, Vassily vs Botvinnik, Mikhail1/2-1/2
World Championship 18th • 1948★ Notable
Ivanchuk,V vs Abdusattorov,Nodirbek1/2-1/2
Chess.com Rapid Wk1 Swiss • 2022
Radjabov,T vs Morozevich,A0-1
SportAccord Rapid Men 2012 • 2012
Georgiev,Vl vs Kamsky,G0-1
40th Olympiad Open • 2012
Kasimdzhanov,R vs Shirov,A0-1
Bundesliga 2003-4 • 2004
Piket, Jeroen vs Kamsky, Gata1-0
Amber-blind 4th • 1995
Azmaiparashvili, Zurab vs Ivanchuk, Vassily1/2-1/2
Tilburg rapid20 • 1994
Piket, Jeroen vs Kamsky, Gata1/2-1/2
Amber-rapid 3rd • 1994
Portisch, Lajos vs Botvinnik, Mikhail1/2-1/2
Hoogovens • 1969
Keres, Paul vs Smyslov, Vassily1/2-1/2
Leningrad/Moscow • 1941
Euwe, Max vs Botvinnik, Mikhail1-0
AVRO • 1938
Ebrahimi Herab,Hamidreza vs Grischuk,A1/2-1/2
Titled Tue 28th Oct 2025 • 2025
Vetokhin,Savva vs Grischuk,A0-1
ch-RUS Rapid 2025 • 2025
Yu Yangyi vs Svidler,P1/2-1/2
TechM GCL 2024 • 2024
Giri,A vs Xiong,Jeffery1/2-1/2
Chessable Masters Div 2 W • 2024
Shankland,S vs Mamedyarov,S1/2-1/2
8th Gashimov Mem Blitz • 2022
Esipenko,Andrey vs Abdusattorov,Nodirbek1-0
Chess.com RCC Wk11 Swiss • 2022
Maghsoodloo,Parham vs Abdusattorov,Nodirbek1-0
Chess.com Rapid Wk8 KO • 2022
Maghsoodloo,Parham vs Abdusattorov,Nodirbek1-0
Chess.com Rapid Wk8 Swiss • 2022
Firouzja,Alireza vs Sindarov,Javokhir1/2-1/2
FIDE World Cup 2021 • 2021

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