Gruenfeld introduction
The Gruenfeld opening is described after the moves:
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5
That modern opening has the name of the GM who first used it as a whole part of his repertoire and revealed some of its critical lines. After Botwinnik used it several "Gruenfeld schools" opened and enhanced the theory of it.
The Gruenfeld opening is not always coming on the board for it requires white to play Nc3. Of course, that move can be delayed from white and suggested after c4 and d4 moves by Bb4+. It is not uncommon to see Bb4+ coming after c4 and d4, provoking Nc3, then retraeting to f8 from where it will take place on g7.
The idea is quite the same as in the accelerated dragon variation of the sicilian: gain a tempo to contest whilte's centre. Because after 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 black can play Bg7, it was recognized that Bg7 is not a move that must absolutely be made at this stage of the opening. Contesting white centre with d5 seemed a more valuable approach to fight for an advantage. The clear winnings of Kasparov on an unprepared Karpov in their world championship matches made a lot to hold the popularity of the opening.
From that point, came a lot of variations, always with the idea to prove that 3. ... d5 is a valuable move after having played g6, instead of Bg7. The Gruenfeld, as extensive weapon of a lot of top-50 players has been developped and is today with the kings indian or the english opening one of the most complicated system in chess. The positions that occurs seems for the adventurous beginner somhow dull ... however these are not and Gruenfeld is an opening owing for precision.
That opening can be played after 1. c4, 1. d4 and 1. Nf3 in a lot of cases.
Among all the variations, the mostly played must be the classical exchange variation that occurs after: 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5
That modern opening has the name of the GM who first used it as a whole part of his repertoire and revealed some of its critical lines. After Botwinnik used it several "Gruenfeld schools" opened and enhanced the theory of it.
The Gruenfeld opening is not always coming on the board for it requires white to play Nc3. Of course, that move can be delayed from white and suggested after c4 and d4 moves by Bb4+. It is not uncommon to see Bb4+ coming after c4 and d4, provoking Nc3, then retraeting to f8 from where it will take place on g7.
The idea is quite the same as in the accelerated dragon variation of the sicilian: gain a tempo to contest whilte's centre. Because after 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 black can play Bg7, it was recognized that Bg7 is not a move that must absolutely be made at this stage of the opening. Contesting white centre with d5 seemed a more valuable approach to fight for an advantage. The clear winnings of Kasparov on an unprepared Karpov in their world championship matches made a lot to hold the popularity of the opening.
From that point, came a lot of variations, always with the idea to prove that 3. ... d5 is a valuable move after having played g6, instead of Bg7. The Gruenfeld, as extensive weapon of a lot of top-50 players has been developped and is today with the kings indian or the english opening one of the most complicated system in chess. The positions that occurs seems for the adventurous beginner somhow dull ... however these are not and Gruenfeld is an opening owing for precision.
That opening can be played after 1. c4, 1. d4 and 1. Nf3 in a lot of cases.
Among all the variations, the mostly played must be the classical exchange variation that occurs after: 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3
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