opening repertoire

the Grünfeld
defence
Nigel Davies

www.everymanchess.com
 About the Author

Nigel Davies is an International Grandmaster and respected coach. He’s the author of
numerous books and DVDs on the game and is known for the clarity of his explanations.

Also by the Author:

The Queen’s Gambit Declined: Move by Move

The Pirc: Move by Move
10 Great Ways to Get Better at Chess
Alekhine’s Defence
Gambiteer I
Gambiteer II
Play 1 e4 e5!
Play the Catalan
Starting Out: The Modern
Taming the Sicilian
The Dynamic Réti
The Grünfeld Defence
The Rules of Winning Chess
The Trompowsky
The Veresov
Contents

About the Author 3

Bibliography 5
Introduction 7

1 Exchange Variation: 7 Ìf3 11

2 Exchange Variation: Lines with 7 Íe3 and 8 Íe3 38
3 Exchange Variation: 7 Íc4 and Others 58
4 Exchange Variation: White Delays e2-e4 93
5 Russian System: 5 Ëb3 and 5 Ëa4+ 110
6 Lines with Íf4 136
7 Lines with Íg5 150
8 Closed Variation: White Plays e3 177
9 Miscellaneous Lines 193
10 Fianchetto Lines: White Plays g3 201
11 Anti-Grünfelds 226
12 Queen’s Pawn Games 234
13 Flank Opening Guidance 262

Index of Variations 280

Index of Complete Games 285
 Introduction

From Black’s counterattacking options against 1 d4, the Grünfeld Defence is the most
reputable. This can be most easily shown by the galaxy of stars who are playing it,
contemporary exponents including Magnus Carlsen, Fabiano Caruana, Ding Lirin, Wesley
So, Levon Aronian, Alexander Grischuk, Maxime Vachier Lagrave, Ian Nepomniachtchi,
Anish Giri, Peter Svidler, Alexander Morozevich, Boris Gelfand, Vassily Ivanchuk and many
others. Going back in time it can also be found in the repertoires of many world champions
including Garry Kasparov, Bobby Fischer, Vassily Smyslov, Mikhail Botvinnik and Alexander
Alekhine, not to mention the strongest player never to become World Champion, Viktor
Korchnoi.
What is the idea behind the Grünfeld? After 1 d4 Ìf6 2 c4 g6 3 Ìc3 it may at first look
strange to play 3...d5 because White can create a pawn center with 4 cxd5 Ìxd5 5 e4. Yet
this center is then immediately placed under attack with 5...Ìxc3 6 bxc3 Íg7 followed by
7...c5, and Black can intensify this pressure with a subsequent ...Ìc6. In other lines Black’s
g7 bishop also proves to be the most effective minor piece on the board, perhaps in part
because White’s 2 c4 made the d4-pawn just a tad more vulnerable.
The following famous game was hailed as the “Game of the Century” and provides a
good illustration of the Grünfeld’s counterattacking nature. Playing Black is the then 13-
year-old Bobby Fischer, White was Donald Byrne who had won the US Championship just
three years earlier.

Game 1
D.Byrne-R.Fischer
Rosenwald Memorial, New York 1956

1 Ìf3 Ìf6 2 c4 g6 3 Ìc3 Íg7

Fischer was evidently happy to play a King’s Indian Defence, which White could go into
after e2-e4 either here or on the next move.
4 d4 0-0 5 Íf4
Looking for an unusual line against the King’s Indian, for example after 5...d6, White
could play 6 e3. Fischer takes the opportunity to enter a line of the Grünfeld where White

7
Opening Repertoire: The Grünfeld Defence

has committed himself to Íf4.

5...d5 6 Ëb3 dxc4 7 Ëxc4 c6 8 e4 Ìbd7
A sensible move, but not a critical one. Black should play 8...b5! 9 Ëb3 Ëa5 intending
...b5-b4. For example 10 Íd3 Íe6 11 Ëd1 c5 12 d5 Íg4 13 0-0 c4 14 Íc2 Ìbd7 then sees
Black develop in a harmonious and active fashion.
9 Îd1 Ìb6 10 Ëc5 Íg4 11 Íg5?
W________W
[rDW1W4kD]
[0pDW0pgp]
[WhpDWhpD]
[DW!WDWGW]
[WDW)PDbD]
[DWHWDNDW]
[P)WDW)P)]
[DWDRIBDR]
W--------W
This loss of time has surprisingly serious consequences. After the simple 11 Íe2 Black
would struggle to find active counterplay because of his lack of readily available pawn
levers; now the counterplay arrives solely with piece play.
11...Ìa4!!
A bolt from the blue, exploiting the awkward placement of White’s pieces and his
uncastled king.
12 Ëa3
Accepting the sacrifice is just good for Black, for example 12 Ìxa4 Ìxe4 13 Ëc1 (or if 13
Ëxe7 then 13...Ëa5+ 14 b4 Ëxa4 15 Ëxe4 Îfe8 16 Íe7 Íxf3 17 gxf3 Íf8 wins) 13...Ëa5+
14 Ìc3 (14 Íd2 Ëxa4 leaves Black a pawn up with an overwhelming position) 14...Íxf3 15
gxf3 Ìxg5 would see Black recovering the sacrificed material with a winning position.
12...Ìxc3 13 bxc3 Ìxe4 14 Íxe7 Ëb6
14...Ëd5 was less spectacular but also very strong, for example 15 Íxf8 Íxf8 16 Ëb3
Ëxb3 17 axb3 Îe8 leaves White without any good moves.
15 Íc4
15 Íxf8 is good for Black after 15...Íxf8 16 Ëb3 Ëxb3 (16...Ìxc3!? is also good) 17 axb3
Îe8, for example 18 Íe2 Ìxc3 19 Îd2 Íb4 20 Êf1 Ìb1 21 Îc2 Íxf3 22 gxf3 Ìd2+ is
crushing.
15...Ìxc3!
This further sacrifice is overwhelming. 15...Íxf3 16 gxf3 Ìxc3 17 Íc5 Ìb5 is also good
for Black and does not require a later queen sacrifice.

8
 Introduction

16 Íc5
It usually needs cooperation by the loser to create a masterpiece. 16 Ëxc3 would have
lost rather prosaically after 16...Îae8. For example, after 17 Ëe3 there follows 17...Ëc7 18
Íxf8 Ëa5+! 19 Êe2 Êxf8, when the queen and pawn will outweigh the two rooks because
White’s position is disorganised and his king also weak.
16...Îfe8+ 17 Êf1
W________W
[rDWDrDkD]
[0pDWDpgp]
[W1pDWDpD]
[DWGWDWDW]
[WDB)WDbD]
[!WhWDNDW]
[PDWDW)P)]
[DWDRDKDR]
W--------W
17...Íe6!
This brilliant queen sacrifice is the only way. 17...Ìb5? would have let White off the
hook after 18 Íxf7+! Êh8 (not 18...Êxf7 because of 19 Ëb3+ Íe6 20 Ìg5+ etc.) 19 Íxb6
Ìxa3 20 Íc5, when suddenly Black is in an endgame with insufficient compensation.
18 Íxb6
Going down in flames, but other moves do not help. For example, White cannot play 18
Íxe6 as a well-known smothered mate pattern follows after 18...Ëb5+ 19 Êg1 Ìe2+ 20
Êf1 Ìg3+ 21 Êg1 Ëf1+! 22 Îxf1 Ìe2. Meanwhile 18 Ëxc3 is refuted by 18...Ëxc5! 19 dxc5
Íxc3 20 Íxe6 Îxe6 and 18 Íd3 is just good for Black after 18...Ìb5.
18...Íxc4+ 19 Êg1 Ìe2+ 20 Êf1 Ìxd4+ 21 Êg1
21 Îd3 axb6 22 Ëc3 Ìxf3 wins White’s queen because 23 Ëxc4 Îe1 is mate.

9
Opening Repertoire: The Grünfeld Defence

W________W
[rDWDrDkD]
[0pDWDpgp]
[WGpDWDpD]
[DWDWDWDW]
[WDbhWDWD]
[!WDWDNDW]
[PDWDW)P)]
[DWDRDWIR]
W--------W
21...Ìe2+ 22 Êf1 Ìc3+ 23 Êg1 axb6
Facing catastrophic material losses White could have saved himself the rest. Perhaps he
thought the kid he was playing might mess up.
24 Ëb4 Îa4 25 Ëxb6 Ìxd1 26 h3 Îxa2 27 Êh2 Ìxf2 28 Îe1 Îxe1 29 Ëd8+ Íf8 30 Ìxe1
Íd5 31 Ìf3 Ìe4 32 Ëb8 b5 33 h4 h5 34 Ìe5 Êg7 35 Êg1 Íc5+ 36 Êf1 Ìg3+ 37 Êe1
Íb4+ 38 Êd1 Íb3+ 39 Êc1 Ìe2+ 40 Êb1 Ìc3+ 41 Êc1 Îc2 0-1

One factor that scares many players away from the Grünfeld is that it has the
reputation of being highly theoretical and therefore difficult to learn and maintain. With
many of the sharpest lines this is a fair assessment, yet the Grünfeld is fundamentally
sound enough to permit Black a wide choice. This is reflected in my recommendations for
Black, assuming my target audience to be club level players rather than Grünfeld-toting
Grandmasters who are 2700+. I have chosen high quality but low maintenance lines in
which the outcome from the opening is a typical Grünfeld middlegame position. By doing
so I hope to have simplified the lines and plans sufficiently enough for the reader to be able
to remember them.
The way I suggest the reader approaches this book is to read through it quickly the first
time to get an overview of the material and how the lines fit together. After this I
recommend trying the Grünfeld in some games and then referring back to this book to
check your play against what I recommend. As your understanding grows you may want to
start adding your own notes and this is where the Everyman Chess ebook format is
invaluable – just import the games into your favourite chess database software and add
your own notes and any new games or lines that you want to incorporate.

Nigel Davies,
St. Helens, UK
December 2020

10
 Chapter Five
Russian System:
5 Ëb3 and 5 Ëa4+

1 d4 Ìf6 2 c4 g6 3 Ìc3 d5 4 Ìf3 Íg7 5 Ëb3

The so called Russian System with 5 Ëb3 is one of White’s traditional weapons against
the Grünfeld. By initiating pressure against d5 he almost forces Black to give up the centre
with ...dxc4. After 5...dxc4 6 Ëxc4 0-0 7 e4 the recommendation for Black is the equally
traditional Smyslov line with 7...Íg4 followed by ...Ìfd7, unveiling the Grünfeld bishop on
g7 which then targets d4.
5 Ëa4+ leads to very similar play and can transpose. One independent line is 5...Íd7 6
Ëb3 dxc4 7 Ëxc4 0-0 8 Íf4 (8 e4 Íg4 transposes back into the main line with both sides
having lost a tempo) 8...c6 9 e4 Ëa5 10 Íd2 b5 as in Rasmussen-Sutovsky (game 34).
5...dxc4 6 Ëxc4 0-0 7 e4
White has an important alternative in 7 Íf4 after which the recommended treatment
is 7...c6 8 e4 Ëa5 as covered in Radjabov-Morozevich (game 35).
7...Íg4
Smyslov’s line, which was one of Black’s early methods of combating the Russian
System and has retained its good reputation.

110
 Russian System: 5 Ëb3 and 5 Ëa4+

W________W
[rhW1W4kD]
[0p0W0pgp]
[WDWDWhpD]
[DWDWDWDW]
[WDQ)PDbD]
[DWHWDNDW]
[P)WDW)P)]
[$WGWIBDR]
W--------W
8 Íe3

Question: What happens after 8 Ìe5?

Answer: Black can meet that with 8...Íe6 after which 9 d5 Íc8 is covered in Zuger-
Birnboim (game 36) and 9 Ëb4 Ìfd7 10 Ìxd7 Ìc6 in Kulzinski-Gligoric (game 37). Despite
looking superficially attractive, the problem White has is that the knight is not stable on
the e5-square.

Question: Is 8 Íe2 an alternative for White, preventing the doubling of

his f-pawns?

Answer: Yes it is, though Black will not normally capture on f3 after 8 Íe3. The drawback of
Íe2 is that after 8...Ìfd7 9 Íe3 Ìb6 White has to play 10 Ëc5 to defend the d-pawn,
which isn’t an issue if he plays Îd1 instead of Íe2. Visakh-Mareco (game 38) then featured
10...e6 to restrain the further advance of White’s d-pawn. This is a plan that will be used
throughout the recommended repertoire against 5 Ëb3.
8...Ìfd7

Question: That looks like a strange move, what’s the idea?

Answer: Black is regrouping the knight to b6 where it will gain time by hitting the queen.
Moving the knight from f6 also unveils the bishop on g7 so that it can put pressure on
White’s d4-pawn.
9 Ëb3
9 Îd1 Ìb6 will normally transpose back into the main line after 10 Ëb3 e6, but White
played 10 Ëc5 in Arakelov-Yandemirov (game 39). Black then gained time on the queen

111
Opening Repertoire: The Grünfeld Defence

with 10...Ì8d7 11 Ëb5 c6 12 Ëb3 and freed his game with 12...e5.
9...Ìb6
W________W
[rhW1W4kD]
[0p0w0pgp]
[WhWDWdpD]
[DWDWDWDW]
[WDw)PDbD]
[DQHWGNDW]
[P)WDW)P)]
[$WdWIBDR]
W--------W
10 Îd1

Question: Can White also bring his king to safety with 10 0-0-0?

Answer: Yes that’s an alternative worth considering when the recommended formula is
again 10...e6 as in Ivanov-Shishkin (game 40). But note that White’s king will not be
particularly safe on the queenside where it has only two pawns as cover.
One other alternative for White is 10 a4 after which 10...a5 11 d5 was played in Furman-
Timman (game 41) and now Black undermined d5 with 11...e6.
10...e6

Question: What’s the point of this? Shouldn’t Black be using the time
to attack White’s center?

Answer: Before playing ...Ìb8-c6 Black first restrains White’s d-pawn so that he cannot
easily play d4-d5.
11 Íe2 Ìc6

112
 Russian System: 5 Ëb3 and 5 Ëa4+

W________W
[rDW1W4kD]
[0p0WDpgp]
[WhnDpDpD]
[DWDWDWDW]
[WDW)PDbD]
[DQHWGNDW]
[P)WDB)P)]
[DWDRIWDR]
W--------W
12 e5
White has a major alternative in 12 Ìg1 after which 12...Íxe2 13 Ìgxe2 Ëe7 14 0-0
Îfd8 15 e5 Ëb4 was about equal in Shankland-Rakhmanov (game 42).
12...Ìe7 13 h3 Íxf3 14 Íxf3 c6 15 0-0 Ëc7
A game of heavy manoeuvring is in prospect, with Black emerging victorious in
Radjabov-Ivanchuk (game 43).

Game 34
A.Rasmussen-E.Sutovsky
European Team Championship, Porto Carras 2011

1 d4 Ìf6 2 c4 g6 3 Ìc3 d5 4 Ìf3 Íg7 5 Ëa4+

W________W
[rhb1kDW4]
[0p0W0pgp]
[WDWDWhpD]
[DWDpDWDW]
[QDP)WDWD]
[DWHWDNDW]
[P)WDP)P)]
[$WGWIBDR]
W--------W
113
Opening Repertoire: The Grünfeld Defence

This leads to similar play to 5 Ëb3, but with Black having the extra move, 5...Íd7.
5...Íd7 6 Ëb3 dxc4 7 Ëxc4
7 Ëxb7 is strongly met by 7...Ìc6, for example 8 Íf4 Îb8 9 Ëxc7 Ëxc7 10 Íxc7 Îxb2
recovers the pawn with the better game.
7...0-0 8 Íf4
Giving the game a novel turn. 8 e4 Íg4 is a direct transposition into the 5 Ëb3 lines
considered later.
8...c6 9 e4 Ëa5 10 Íd2
As in the previous game, White has an alternative here in 10 b4, when it remains to be
seen whether Black’s extra ...Íc8-d7 will make much difference. I.Sokolov-D.Howell,
London 2009 continued 10...Ëd8 11 a4 Íe6 12 Ëd3 and now Black should play 12...a5
(rather than 12...Ìa6, as played in the game) 13 b5 Ìh5 14 Íe3 cxb5 15 axb5 (15 Ìxb5
Ìc6 followed by ...Ìb4 gives Black excellent counterplay) 15...Ìd7 16 d5 Îc8 is already
better for Black.
10...b5 11 Ëd3
11 Ëb3 b4 undermines the defender of the e4-pawn and after 12 e5 bxc3 13 Íxc3 Ëc7
14 exf6 exf6 Black gets an excellent position which is very similar to the note to White’s 9th
move in the next game, Radjabov-Morozevich.
11...b4 12 Ìd1 c5! 13 d5
Making a difficult situation worse as Black’s reply is very strong. However, Black stands
well after other moves too, for example 13 dxc5 Îd8 14 Ìe3 Íe6; or 13 e5 Ìd5 14 dxc5
Ëxc5. Yet either of these would have been better than the move played.
13...e6! 14 Ìe3

Question: Could White push on with 14 d6 here?

Answer: Black has a strong reply with 14...Íc6 15 e5 Ìg4, when White’s centre pawns are
in big trouble.
14...exd5 15 exd5 Îe8 16 Íe2 Ìg4
16...a6 17 Ìc4 Íb5 18 Íe3 Íxc4 19 Ëxc4 Ìbd7 20 0-0 Ìb6 wins a pawn, for example
21 Ëxc5 Ëxc5 22 Íxc5 Ìa4 23 Íe3 Ìxd5 attacks e3 and b2.
17 Ìc4 Ëa6 18 a4 Íf5 19 Ëb3

114
 Russian System: 5 Ëb3 and 5 Ëa4+

W________W
[rhWDrDkD]
[0WDWDpgp]
[qDWDWDpD]
[DW0PDbDW]
[P0NDWDnD]
[DQDWDNDW]
[W)WGB)P)]
[$WDWIWDR]
W--------W
With White’s king still in the centre, it should be no surprise that something bad now
happens.
19...Îxe2+! 20 Êxe2 Ìd7
This quiet follow-up leaves White without a good move.
21 Êe1
As an example of White’s woes, 21 Îhc1 is strongly met by 21...Ìde5, for example 22
Ìfxe5 Ìxe5 23 Êd1 Ìd3 24 Îc2 Îd8 25 d6 Ìxb2+ 26 Îxb2 Íxb2 27 Ìxb2 Ëf1+ 28 Íe1
Îxd6+ etc.
21...Íe4 22 h3 Íxd5 23 hxg4 Íxc4 24 Ëc2 Íd3 25 Ëb3 c4! 26 Ëxb4 Ëe6+ 27 Íe3 Îb8
Bringing further pieces into the attack with gain of tempo.
28 Ëa5 Íxb2 29 Îd1 Ía3
Threatening 30...Íb4+.
30 Ìd4 Ëxg4 31 Ëg5 Íb4+ 32 Îd2 Ëxg5 33 Íxg5 Ía5
Threatening mate on b1, and in fact there’s not a whole lot White can do about this.
34 Ìb5 a6 35 Ìa3 Îb3 36 Íe7 Îb2 0-1
A dashing game by Sutovsky.

Game 35
T.Radjabov-A.Morozevich
Sportaccord Rapidplay, Beijing 2012

1 d4 Ìf6 2 c4 g6 3 Ìc3 d5 4 Ìf3 Íg7 5 Ëb3 dxc4 6 Ëxc4 0-0 7 Íf4

This has become accepted as a serious alternative for White. The approach I will
recommend for Black is based on ...c6 and ...b5, gaining counterplay on the queenside.

115
Opening Repertoire: The Grünfeld Defence

W________W
[rhb1W4kD]
[0p0W0pgp]
[WDWDWhpD]
[DWDWDWDW]
[WDQ)WGWD]
[DWHWDNDW]
[P)WDP)P)]
[$WDWIBDR]
W--------W
7...c6 8 e4 Ëa5
Threatening the e4-pawn because of the pin on the knight on c3.
9 b4
It is certainly tempting to gain time on the queen like this, but pawns cannot move
backwards and this leaves White’s queenside look quite porous.
White’s alternative is the solid looking 9 Íd2, but then Black can play 9...b5, after which
10 Ëb3 (10 Ëc5 Ëb6 11 Ëxb6 axb6 is also fine for Black, who has counterplay on the a-file)
10...b4 11 Ìa4 (11 e5 bxc3 12 Íxc3 Ëc7 13 exf6 exf6! is fine for Black, who plans to put a
rook on e8 next) 11...Ìxe4 12 Íxb4 Ëh5 leaves him with an excellent position as Black has
eliminated one of White’s centre pawns.
9...Ëd8 10 Íe2 b5 11 Ëb3 a5
Gaining counterplay on the queenside, having first sealed White’s b-pawn with 10...b5.
12 e5
W________W
[rhb1W4kD]
[DWDW0pgp]
[WDpDWhpD]
[0pDW)WDW]
[W)W)WGWD]
[DQHWDNDW]
[PDWDB)P)]
[$WDWIWDR]
W--------W
116
 Russian System: 5 Ëb3 and 5 Ëa4+

After 12 a3 Black gets counterplay with 12...axb4 13 Ëxb4 Ìa6 14 Ëb2 c5, breaking
open the h8-a1 diagonal.
12...Ìd5
Not bad, but apparently not the best. The silicon servant suggests the amazing
12...Íe6! 13 exf6 Íxb3 14 fxg7 axb4!! 15 gxf8Ë+ Êxf8 16 0-0 Íc4! 17 Íxc4 bxc4 18 Ìe2
Ìd7, when Black’s advanced queenside pawns more than compensate him for the
sacrificed material.
13 Ìxd5 Íe6 14 Ëc3

Question: Shouldn’t White get a pawn for his knight with 14 Ìxe7+ ?

Answer: If Black plays this way Black will get the b4-pawn after 14...Ëxe7 15 Ëc2 axb4, and
in doing so gets an excellent game.
14...Íxd5 15 a3 axb4 16 axb4 Îxa1+ 17 Ëxa1 Ìd7 18 0-0 f6
With ...c6-c5 being unavailable Black relies on a different pawn lever. He already has a
slight edge due to his superior pawn structure.
19 exf6 exf6 20 Ëc3 g5 21 Íe3 Îe8 22 Îa1
22 Íd3 Ìb6 is also better for Black as he has fewer pawn islands and more space.
Whether he can then win is another matter entirely.
22...Ìf8
22...Ìb6 might have been better, targeting the c4-square.
23 Íd1 Ìe6 24 Íc2 Íf8 25 Ìd2 Ëe7 26 Ëd3 Ëf7 27 Îb1?!
Rather than this passive response, White should have considered 27 Ëf5 Íxb4 28 Ìe4,
with play for the pawn. After the move played Black takes control.
27...Ìc7 28 Ëf5 Íe6 29 Ëf3
W________W
[WDWDrgkD]
[DWhWDqDp]
[WDpDb0WD]
[DpDWDW0W]
[W)W)WDWD]
[DWDWGQDW]
[WDBHW)P)]
[DRDWDWIW]
W--------W
29...Ìd5
The b4-pawn is falling anyway but without White having compensation.

117
Opening Repertoire: The Grünfeld Defence

30 Ìe4 g4 31 Ëd1 Ìxb4 32 Íb3?!

32 Îc1 was relatively best, but then 32...Ìxc2 33 Ëxc2 Íc4 consolidates the extra
pawn.
32...Íxb3 33 Ëxg4+ Êh8 34 d5
Desperation, but there’s not much left for White. 34 Ìxf6 is equally forlorn after
34...Ëxf6 35 Îxb3 Ìd5 etc.
34...Íc2 35 Ìxf6 Îxe3 36 Îf1 Îe5 37 Ëf4 Îf5 0-1

Game 36
B.Zuger-N.Birnboim
Munich Zonal 1987

1 d4 Ìf6 2 c4 g6 3 Ìc3 d5 4 Ìf3 Íg7 5 Ëb3 dxc4 6 Ëxc4 0-0 7 e4 Íg4 8 Ìe5
W________W
[rhW1W4kD]
[0p0W0pgp]
[WDWDWhpD]
[DWDWHWDW]
[WDQ)PDbD]
[DWHWDWDW]
[P)WDW)P)]
[$WGWIBDR]
W--------W
Question: This looks like a good move, putting the knight on a strong square
and gaining time. Why is it not more popular?

Answer: Although this looks obvious and quite good optically, White’s knight will prove to
be far from stable on the e5-square.
8...Íe6 9 d5
9 Ëb4 will be examined in the next game, Kulzinski-Gligoric.
9...Íc8 10 Íg5
After the developing move, 10 Íe2, Black can play our typical 10...e6, for example 11
Íf4 (11 Íg5 exd5 12 Ìxd5 c6 13 Ìxf6+ Íxf6 14 Íxf6 Ëxf6 is fine for Black) 11...exd5 12
exd5 Ìe8 13 0-0 Ìd6 14 Ëd3 Îe8 15 Ìc4 Ìa6 16 Ìxd6 cxd6 17 Îfe1 Íf5 18 Ëd2 Ìc5 19
Íb5 (19 Îac1 Ëb6 20 Íe3 Ëb4 ½-½ was B.Kantsler-V.Mikhalevski, Rishon Le Ziyyon 1997)

118
 Russian System: 5 Ëb3 and 5 Ëa4+

19...Îxe1+ 20 Îxe1 Ëb6 21 Íe3 a6 22 Íf1 Íd7 gave Black good counterplay in B.Kantsler-
V.Ivanchuk, Panormo 2001.
10...c6 11 dxc6 bxc6
Black could also play 11...Ìxc6, when 12 Ìxc6 bxc6 13 Ëxc6 Îb8 gives Black more than
enough for his pawn.
12 Íe2 Ëa5 13 Íxf6
13 f4 is strongly met by 13...Ía6!, when play can continue 14 Ìxc6 Ëc7! 15 Ìd5 Ìxd5
16 Ìxe7+ Êh8 17 Ìxd5 (both 17 Ëxd5 f6 18 Íh4 Ëxe7 19 Ëxa8 Ëb4+ 20 Êf1 Íxe2+ 21
Êxe2 Ëxb2+ 22 Êf3 Ëc3+ 23 Êe2 Ìc6 and 17 Ëxc7 Ìxc7 win for Black) 17...Ëxc4 18 Íxc4
Íxc4 19 Ìc7 Ìd7 20 Ìxa8 Îxa8 is good for Black as his active minor pieces are stronger
than White’s rook and two pawns.
13...Íxf6 14 Ìd3 Ìa6 15 e5
15 Ëxc6 is good for Black after 15...Ìb4, for example 16 Ëxa8 Ìxd3+ 17 Íxd3 Íxc3+
18 Êf1 Ía6 hits both the queen and White’s bishop on d3.
15...Íxe5 16 Ìxe5 Ëxe5 17 0-0 Îb8 18 Ëxc6 Îxb2 19 Íxa6 Îb6 20 Ëf3 Îxa6
Black has emerged from the complications with a good extra pawn.
21 Îfe1 Ëc5 22 Îac1 Ëa3 23 Ëf4 Íe6 24 Ìe4 Íf5 25 Îc3?!
Having found himself a pawn down White tries to conjure up chances on the kingside.
Unfortunately for him it will not be enough and 25 Ìg3 should have been preferred.
25...Ëb2 26 Ëh6
A losing gamble but not much will help him now. 26 Îce3 Îxa2 27 Ìg3 Íe6 is just
hopeless for White.
26...Îxa2 27 Ëh4 Íxe4 28 Îh3 h5 29 Ëxe4 Ëxf2+ 30 Êh1 Îd8 31 Îg3 Ëf6
31...Îe2 would have won on the spot.
32 h3 Îa1 33 Îxa1 Ëxa1+ 34 Êh2 Ëf6 35 Ëb7 h4 36 Îf3 Ëe5+ 37 Êg1 Îd1+ 38 Îf1 Ëe3+
0-1

Game 37
N.Kulzinski-S.Gligoric
Yugoslav Championship, Belgrade 1948

1 d4 Ìf6 2 Ìf3 g6 3 c4 Íg7 4 Ìc3 d5 5 Ëb3 dxc4 6 Ëxc4 0-0 7 e4 Íg4 8 Ìe5 Íe6 9 Ëb4

119