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Neo-Grünfeld 7...Nb6 8.Nc3 Nc6 9.e3 Re8 10.Nd2 [D76]
In game 1, Sonis, Francesco - Marchesich, Giovanni , 55th Italian Teams GpA Vasto ITA, after the initial moves 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.g3 Bg7 4.Bg2 d5 5.cxd5 Nxd5 6.Nf3 Nb6 7.Nc3 Nc6 8.e3 0-0 9.0-0 Re8 White opted for the less played idea 10.Nd2:
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Black should not worry too much about this line, but there are some interesting points here for both players that are worth analysing.
Neo-Grünfeld 6...dxc4 7.Na3 c5 8.Nxc4 Be6 [D77]
In Aryan, C - Girel, Joseph, III Menorca Open 2024 Ciutadella de Menorca ESP, we saw 5.Nf3 0-0 6.0-0 dxc4 7.Na3 c5 8.Nxc4 Be6:
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White now played 9.b3 and although the position looks OK it is more about the respective strength in conducting the typical middlegame positions.
Neo-Grünfeld 6...c6 7.b3 dxc4 8.bxc4 c5 [D78]
In Pultinevicius, Paulius - Colpe, M, GRENKE Chess Open 2024 Karlsruhe GER, the move 6...c6 is a solid option and after 7.b3, which is another very solid try, Black opted for the more dynamic idea 7..dxc4 8.bxc4 c5 9.Bb2 cxd4 10.Nxd4 Qb6:
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Black is hoping to create some fast pressure, and by liquidating the pawn centre to be able to gain fast counterplay, but things are not quite that simple.
Neo-Grünfeld 6...c6 7.Ne5 [D78]
7.Ne5 was the preferred option in Meier, Geo - Baum, Jonasz, GRENKE Chess Open 2024 Karlsruhe GER, another interesting modern line:
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Black replied with 7...Be6, which is the standard reply, although another one that I also analyzed in the notes is 7...dxc4. It is not simple at all, and although Black managed to make some early exchanges in the game it didn’t help him much to ease his position.
Exchange Grünfeld 8.Bb5+ Nc6 9.0-0 0-0 10.d5 [D85]
Here we deal with various sharp systems that arrive from the usual move order: 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5
In Yankelevich, L - Garcia Blanco, O, 16th Montalvo Mem 2024 Vecindario ESP, we have a not much popular but very interesting line that comes after the following moves 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4 Nxc3 6.bxc3 Bg7 7.Nf3 c5 8.Bb5+ Nc6 9.0-0 0-0 10.d5!?:
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An interesting idea, perhaps slightly underestimated, we will see what the future will bring.
Exchange Grünfeld 8.Bb5+ Nc6 9.0-0 0-0 10.Bxc6 bxc6 11.Qc2 [D85]
Ali Marandi, C - Woodward, Andy, St Louis Spring B Saint Louis USA, is yet another game in probably the most dangerous line for Black at the moment: After the same initial moves of game 5 we have 10.Bxc6 bxc6 11.Qc2 cxd4 12.cxd4 Bg4 13.Ne5 Qxd4 14.Bb2 Qb6 15.Rab1 Bxe5 16.Bxe5 Qa5 17.Bc3 Qa6!?, an Interesting idea, first forcing the bishop to come to c3.
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In any case Black didn’t manage to equalize in this game and again we have difficulties finding a clear antidote for this line.
Exchange Grünfeld 7.Bc4 with 10...b6 11.Rc1 e6 12.Qd2 Bb7 [D87]
The Classical line is still popular. I have already covered some ideas in the Karpov line (from the Karpov-Kasparov match) and this time, in Eljanov, P - Moroni, L, 55th Italian Teams GpA Vasto ITA, we have probably the most popular approach for Black today. After 7.Bc4 c5 8.Ne2 Nc6 9.Be3 0-0 10.0-0 b6 (Karpov-Kasparov went 10...Bg4 11.f3 Na5 12.Bxf7+) 11.Rc1 Bb7 12.Qd2 e6 13.Rfd1 Rc8:
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White didn’t manage to create any serious problems although at one point I think he missed a clear plan that is very typical here.
Grünfeld Defence 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.h4 0-0 6.cxd5 Nxd5 7.h5 [D90]
I analysed this line in the previous column and here Black came up with a new idea. So, after the initial moves 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.h4 0-0 6.cxd5 Nxd5 7.h5 c5 8.hxg6 hxg6 9.Bh6 Bxh6 10.Rxh6 Nxc3 11.bxc3 Kg7 12.Qd2 cxd4 13.Rh4 Rh8 14.Rxh8 Qxh8 15.cxd4 Nd7 16.e4 Nf6 17.Qf4, Black played the new idea 17...Bd7:
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Salimova, Nurgyul - Vaishali, Rameshbabu was very interesting with lots of tactical possibilities, White had a winning endgame but at one point blundered and even managed to lose the game. In any case it seems that Black doesn’t have any problems in this line.
Till next month, Best wishes Milos.
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