Learn the Grünfeld Defense

D80-D97 · a repertoire for black · 6 chapters · 47 annotated lines

"Let them build the center — then burn it down"

The Grünfeld (1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5) is the most principled counterattack in chess: Black INVITES White to build the big pawn center, then spends the whole game proving it's a target, not a strength. It's the defense of Fischer, Kasparov and Carlsen — and it works at club level because the plans are crystal clear: hit d4 with ...c5, ...Nc6 and the g7 bishop, and let White's proud center collapse under its own weight. This course covers the Exchange Variation both ways White plays it, the Russian System, and every common sideline — with the concrete move orders that make the counterattack tick.

What's inside

• Chapter 1: The Exchange — Classical 7.Bc4
  Lines: The Classical Setup: ...Qc7, ...Rd8, ...b6, The Bc4+Nf3 Hybrid: ...Bg4 at the Right Moment, The Classical Tabiya: Meeting 11.Qe1
• Chapter 2: The Exchange with Nf3 & Rb1
  Lines: The Modern 8.Rb1: Take the Pawn, The Quiet 8.Be2: Blockade on e5, The Prophylactic 8.h3: Same Siege, No ...Bg4, The Nf3 Move Order Meets 8.dxc5, The Check 8.Bb5+: Block with the Knight
• Chapter 3: The Russian System — 5.Qb3
  Lines: The Hungarian 7...a6: Counterattack the Queen, The 8.e5 Lunge: Give Back, Take Over, 8.Bf4: Break the Centre with ...b5 and ...Nd5, 8.Bg5: Kick, Undermine, Collect, 8.Be3: Fianchetto, then ...c5, 7.Bf4 First: The ...Bf5 Setup, 8.Be2: The ...c5 Break and Queen Trade, 8.a4: Switch Plans to ...Nc6 and ...Na5
• Chapter 4: Bf4, Bg5 & Quiet Systems
  Lines: 4.Bf4: The ...c5 Break and the a2 Pawn, 5.Bg5: Trade and Equalize on the Spot, The Quiet e3 Center: Target c4 and d4, 4.Bg5: The ...Ne4 Equalizer, 4.Bf4 with Nf3: Trade Queens, Regain the Pawns, 5.Bg5 Ne4 6.Bh4: Win the Bishop's Time, 5.Bg5 Ne4 6.Bf4: Solid and Simple, 4.Bf4 c5: Meeting 7.Qb3 Instead of Rc1, The Quiet e3 with cxd5: Trade and Target d4
• Chapter 5: The Modern Exchange — 8.Be3 & ...Qa5
  Lines: 8.Be3 Qa5 9.Qd2: The Main-Line Endgame, 8.Be3 Qa5 9.Rc1: Take the a-pawn, 8.Be3 Qa5 9.Rb1: Calm Development, 8.Be3 Qa5 9.Nd2: The ...Bd7-a4 Maneuver, 8.Be3 Qa5 9.Qb3: Trade the c-file Knight, The Early 7.Be3: Rook First, Same Trade
• Chapter 6: The Fianchetto & Early Sidelines
  Lines: The Fianchetto 5.g3: Grab c4 and Keep It, Fianchetto 7.Qa4: Chase the Queen, Fianchetto 7.Ne5: Challenge the Intruder, The Fianchetto 6.Qa4+: Regain Immediately, The Early 4.Qb3: Harass the Grabber, The Exchange 7.Bb5+: Block and Expand, The Lunge 4.h4: Answer in the Centre, The Nadanian 5.Na4: Punish with ...e5!, The Sly 5.Bd2: Take the Whole Centre Down, The Exchange 7.Qa4+: A Check into Thin Air

Free sample: the main line, move by move

• 1. d4 — 1.d4.
• 1... Nf6 — 1...Nf6 — flexible development first.
• 2. c4 — 2.c4.
• 2... g6 — 2...g6 — the kingside fianchetto: the g7 bishop will aim at White's center (and queenside) for the entire game.
• 3. Nc3 — 3.Nc3 — White defends... nothing yet, but prepares e4. This is the moment.
• 3... d5 — 3...d5! The Grünfeld. Instead of blocking with ...d6 (the King's Indian way), Black strikes at c4 and offers White the chance to 'win' the center. It's a trap on a strategic scale.
• 4. cxd5 — 4.cxd5 — the Exchange Variation, White's most popular and most principled try.
• 4... Nxd5 — 4...Nxd5.
• 5. e4 — 5.e4 — the point: the knight is hit and the big center appears.
• 5... Nxc3 — 5...Nxc3 — trade! Never retreat. The recapture gives White a broad center — and Black the half-open c- and d-files to attack it.
• 6. bxc3 — 6.bxc3 — now White has pawns on c3, d4, e4. Impressive. Also: a fixed target with an address.
• 6... Bg7 — 6...Bg7 — the monster takes its diagonal. Every Grünfeld plan flows through this bishop: it hits d4 now and b2/a1 later.
• 7. Bc4 — 7.Bc4 — the classical system: the bishop takes the strong diagonal and White plans Ne2 (not Nf3 — White wants f3 free and avoids ...Bg4 pins).
• 7... c5 — 7...c5! The signature strike. From here on, d4 is never comfortable again.
• 8. Ne2 — 8.Ne2 — defending d4 the classical way.
• 8... Nc6 — 8...Nc6 — third hit on d4.
• 9. Be3 — 9.Be3 — third defender.
• 9... O-O — 9...O-O — king safe; the pressure doesn't run away.
• 10. O-O — 10.O-O.
• 10... Qc7 — 10...Qc7 — the classical square: the queen supports ...cxd4 recaptures, eyes e5-breaks, and clears d8 for the rook.
• 11. Rc1 — 11.Rc1 — sidestepping the g7 bishop's x-ray.
• 11... Rd8 — 11...Rd8 — the rook stares at d4 through the queen. White's center now needs constant supervision.
• 12. h3 — 12.h3 — a useful waiting move, stopping ...Ng4 or ...Bg4 ideas.
• 12... b6 — 12...b6 — the second bishop gets its diagonal: b7 will hit e4 and support ...f5 breaks.
• 13. f4 — 13.f4 — White plays the standard space-gaining lunge... which also loosens e4 and e3 forever.
• 13... e6 — 13...e6! Quietly essential: d5 is covered, so White's f4-f5 or d4-d5 breaks lose their sting.
• 14. Qe1 — 14.Qe1 — heading for the kingside; White dreams of f5 and mate.
• 14... Bb7 — 14...Bb7 — dream noted, e4 attacked.
• 15. Qf2 — 15.Qf2 — connecting to d4, because Black's pressure never stopped.
• 15... Na5 — 15...Na5! — the thematic hook: hitting the c4 bishop, winning the c4 square, preparing ...Nc4 or ...cxd4 at the right moment.
• 16. Bd3 — 16.Bd3.
• 16... f5 — 16...f5! The counter-break that defines the whole system: e4 is challenged, the g7-a1 diagonal opens another notch, and White's 'attacking' pawns turn into weaknesses. This is the classical Grünfeld promise, delivered: White got the center, Black got the game.

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