The Gruenfeld Defense

The database for this opening can be found at:
http://www.bookup.com/ECO/chess_openings_ECO_-10144.htm

It is my intent to show an example of good play by Black when White avoids the main lines of play.

Event "Clan challenge"
Site "http://www.redhotpawn.com"
Date "2006.09.10"
White "stephenwale"
Black "Spacetime"
WhiteRating "1639"
BlackRating "1742"
Result "0-1"
Game 2482860
Analysis by "arrakis"

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5
Black is playing the Gruenfeld which is known as a hypermodern opening. The theory behind hypermodern openings works like this: Instead of fighting for the center Black gives White the center – then attacks it. Hypermodern Openings are still played by some of the top GM's. Since this style of play depends on active piece play by Black, I suggest that these kind of openings are recommended for the tactical player.

4.c5?!
This move gives White no advantage. The normal continuation for White is 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4 Nxc3 6.bxc3 Bg7 after which White will try to maintain his center and Black will castle, play c5 and Nc6 to put pressure on White's center.

4...Bg7
Black has to continue with his plan of developing the K-bishop to g7, otherwise the K-side would be weak on the dark squares.

5.Nf3 c6 6.e3 O-O 7.Bd3 Nbd7 8.O-O Re8!?
Black has found a good plan - to make his pieces more active with ...e5!

9.a3 e5 10.dxe5 Nxe5
An obvious continuation. 10...Ng4!? was also very good.

11.Nxe5 Rxe5 12.b4 Ne4 13.Bb2
After 13.Bxe4 Rxe4 14.Nxe4 Bxa1 15.Ng3 Be6 16.e4 a5!? The endgame favors Black.

13...Re8
Black has an interesting continuation here, but I'd never expect anyone to find it w/o a computer. Fritz recommends 13...Rh5! 14.Nxe4 (14.Bxe4 Qh4) 14...Qh4 15.h3 dxe4 16.Bxg7 exd3 17.Bd4 Bxh3 18.g3 Qe4 19.f3 Qd5 20.Rf2 Qg5 21.g4 Qh4 22.Rg2 Bxg2 23.gxh5 Qg3 24.Qe1 Qh3 25.Kf2 Qxf3+ 26.Kg1 Qg4

14.Bxe4 dxe4 15.Rb1 Qg5!?
Black finds a nice move. It keeps the queens on the board and threatens ...Bh3

16. Re1?!
White had to play 16.Ne2. The text move allows Black to force g3, which will weaken White's King position.

16…Bh3 17.g3 Rad8 18.Qe2 Qf5 19.Nd1 Rd2!! 20.f4
If 20.Qxd2 Qf3 gives Black Mate-in-1

20...Rxe2 21.Rxe2 Qg4 22.Rd2 Bxb2 23.Rdxb2 Rd8 24.Nf2 Qe6 25.Nxh3 Qxh3 26.a4 Rd3 27.Re1 Qd7 28.Rbb1 Rd2 29.Rf1 Qh3 0-1

No comments?

Originally posted by arrakis
No comments?

I havn't had a chance to play over the game, but thanks for the annotations.

White's position was ok out of the opening, but allowing 16...Bh3 was disastrous.

13...Bh5 seems like a very obvious try to me, I don't think you need to be Fritz to find it!

I like 18...Bg4 with 19...Bf3 better than 18...Qf5, although I could be completely wrong - White did collapse very quickly after 18...Qf5.

19.Nd1 lost immediately to the very clever 19...Rd2, but how about 19.Rd1. E.g. 19...Bg4 20.Qf1 (I don't think White can try to keep the exchange with 20.Rxd8 because Black gets the d-file).

Yeah, Rh5 seems to make sense to me now that it's been pointed out, I think at the time I wasn't sure what to do with the rook so I thought I'd just park it back at home.

Thanks for the comments

After 19b - Rd8d3 ..did you missed to play Qe2xd2?
Or am I missing a very simple point?

Yes I missed...blacks Qf3!!
Sorry for my earlier post.