13 Sep 11
An opening set up with a king's side fianchetto and d2-d4 is a very mainstream and solid way to play. How you class it depends on black's response, I suppose it only counts as a reversed Grunfeld if Black is bold enough to play d7-d5 and c7-c5 very early on. If black is content with just d7-d5, leaving white to play d2-d4 and c2-c4, then we have the Catalan, of course.
26 Sep 11
Originally posted by plopzillaSorry about the delay in this- Keene had this game as being played in 1958, but it is listed as a 1957 game in my database, so it was harder to find.
After 1.Ng3, b3, Bg2, 0-0, then d4! (instead of d3 aiming for a KIA) is this a reveresed grunfeld? Does anyone play this? .. seems quite solid for white.
Thanks.
Keene considers this to be an excellent example of the reversed Gruenfeld in its purest form.
The Catalan is essentially a reversed Gruenfeld where the extra tempo allows white to get in the thematic c4 (...c5 reversed), but it can be a useful arrow in the quiver of a Reti/KIA player.