Go back
Kholmov's

Kholmov's "Grunfeld"

Only Chess

2 edits
Vote Up
Vote Down

Is it playable? 1. e4 Nc6 2. f4 b6 3. Nf3 e5 4. fxe5 Nxe5 5. Nxe5 Qh4+ 6. g3 Qxe4+ 7. Qe2 Qxh1 8.Ng6+ Be7 9.Nxh8.

1 edit
Vote Up
2
Vote Down

Originally posted by ChessPraxis
Is it playable? 1. e4 Nc6 2. f4 b6 3. Nf3 e5 4. fxe5 Nxe5 5. Nxe5 Qh4+ 6. g3 Qxe4+ 7. Qe2 Qxh1 8.Ng6+ Be7 9.Nxh8.

[pgn] 1. e4 Nc6 2. f4 b6 3. Nf3 e5 4. fxe5 Nxe5 5. Nxe5 Qh4+ 6. g3 Qxe4+ 7. Qe2 Qxh1 8.Ng6+ Be7 9.Nxh8[/pgn]
I recall him being drunk at the time. He said to his opponent "I've been playing the Grunfeld all my life and never seen positions like this." or something to that effect. 🙂

I'm not sure where I read this, but there are quite a few examples/stories of his drinking.

Vote Up
Vote Down

Houdini tells me that it's dead even (0.00) after a couple minutes, which leads me to suspect that White blundered in the course of the last few moves. Just from clicking through I'd think that it's very playable in blitz, though.

1 edit
Vote Up
Vote Down

1.e4 Nc6 is the Nimzovitch Defence which I used to play 30+ years ago.

2.f4? is a very weak move which allows black to more than equalise with d5 if my memory serves me correctly. I've looked at trending games over the last 18 months (TWIC 785-921) and 2 ... e5 tends to be preferred. (Only 1 game with d5)

2.Nf3 is probably the best move if you like standard open e5 games

2.d4 is probably playing into blacks hands but is slightly better. I used to play 2...f5 (on of my favourite moves) and gambit a pawn for wild positions