Download PGN of March ’24 Daring Defences games
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Grünfeld Defence 4.Bf4 Bg7 5.e3 0-0 6.cxd5 Nxd5 7.Nxd5 Qxd5 8.Bxc7 Nc6 [D84]
In Baldauf, M- Ragger, M, TCh-AUT 2023-24, we have a traditional bishop to f4 line, so after 4.Bf4 Bg7 5.e3 0-0 White decided to take a pawn with 6.cxd5 Nxd5 7.Nxd5 Qxd5 8.Bxc7 Nc6 9.Ne2 Bg4 10.f3 Bf5!?:
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A rare but interesting line. It is too early to tell how to evaluate this attempt but in the game Black didn’t have any problems.
Grünfeld Exchange 7.Qa4+ Nd7 [D85]
In the game Shevchenko, Kirill - Vachier Lagrave, M, Bundesliga 2023-24, White opted for a less forced but interesting line 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4 Nxc3 6.bxc3 Bg7 7.Qa4+:
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MVL launched an interesting novelty, easily solving his problems.
Exchange Grünfeld 8.Bb5+ Nc6 9.0-0 0-0 10.Bxc6 bxc6 11.Qc2 [D85]
Dubov, Daniil - Giri, A, 5th Shenzhen Longgang Shenzhen, was like game 2 till move 7, but now White opted for 7.Nf3 c5 8.Bb5+ Nc6 9.0-0 0-0 10.Bxc6 bxc6 11.Qc2 cxd4 12.cxd4 Bg4 13.Ne5 Qxd4 14.Bb2 Qb6 15.Rab1 Bxe5 16.Bxe5 Qa5 17.Bc3 Qc5:
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This is one of the main positions here and, again, in a few moves another novelty was played, Black didn’t cope well and lost easily.
I have covered this line in almost every update and I think for good reason as it's not at all easy to find a clear antidote to this line, and in tournament practice it is even worse.
Exchange Grünfeld 8.Be3 Bg4 9.Qa4+ Nd7 [D85]
Now, Donchenko, Alexa - Ragger, M, TCh-AUT 2023-24, was the same opening in game 3 till move 8 when White went for 9.Be3 Bg4:
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This is not a usual response but it is known. White introduced a novelty on move 14, Black didn’t react well and lost convincingly.
Exchange Grünfeld 7.Be3 c5 8.Nf3 Qa5 9.Qd2 Nc6 [D85]
Once again, Sevian, Samuel - Aronian, L, American Cup Champ Saint Louis, featured the same line as in the previous game, but here Black opted for 9...Qa5 10.Qd2 Nc6 11.Rb1 a6 12.Rc1 cxd4 13.cxd4 Qxd2+ 14.Kxd2 e6:
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This endgame is perhaps a bit overestimated; it is true that White has some initial pressure, but if Black can regroup as in this game, then we will have balanced play. A very interesting game.
Exchange Grünfeld 7.Bc4 a6 [D86]
After 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4 Nxc3 6.bxc3 Bg7 7.Bc4 in Robson, R - Aronian, L, American Cup Champ Saint Louis, and the next game, Aronian faced this position and in this game tried a not new, but surely completely forgotten possibility 7...a6!?:
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In the game Black didn’t face any problems from a theoretical point of view, but it is impossible to draw an early conclusion.
Exchange Grünfeld 7.Bc4 0-0 8.Ne2 Nc6 [D86]
Caruana, F - Aronian, L, American Cup Champ Saint Louis, started as in game 6 till move 7, but now Black went for the standard 7...0-0 8.Ne2 Nc6:
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An old line but a very interesting one. The game was very gripping and sharp with lots of possibilities.
Grünfeld Defence 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.h4 0-0 6.cxd5 Nxd5 7.h5 [D90]
Here, in Caruana, F - Aronian, L, American Cup Champ Saint Louis, we have another game with sharp h2-h4 type of play and an improvement for Black compared to my coverage in the November update. After 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.h4 0-0 6.cxd5 Nxd5 7.h5 Nxc3 8.bxc3 c5 9.hxg6 hxg6 10.Bh6 Bxh6 11.Rxh6 Kg7 12.Qd2:
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Now Black found a different route for his knight and achieved good play. After the further 12...cxd4 13.cxd4 Black introduced the novelty 13...Nd7!?, achieving counterplay.
Till next month, Best wishes Milos.
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