Download PGN of July ’24 Daring Defences games
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English Defence 3.Nf3 Bb7 4.g3 Bb4+ 5.Bd2 Bxf3 6.exf3 Bxd2+ [A40]
In Stefansson, Vignir Vatnar - Van Foreest, Jorden Canadian Open 2024 Laval Quebec, after 3.Nf3 Bb7 4.g3 Bb4+ 5.Bd2 Bxf3 6.exf3 Bxd2+ 7.Qd2 we came to this position so typical for this opening:
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Black has weakened White's structure with the doubled pawns and is seeking counterplay with some interesting methods that we will see in this game. The game was Ok for Black, but White has better options.
English Defence 3.e4 Bb4+ 4.Bd2 Bxd2 5.Qxd2 d5 6.Qe3 [A40]
In Sarana, A - Alekseenko, K, CrunchLabs Masters PlayIn, after 3.e4 Bb4+ 4.Bd2 Bxd2 5.Qxd2 d5 White went for the interesting 6.Qe3 and at some point, decided to sacrifice a pawn to create an attack which he did eventually obtain and he got the better chances.
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This is an important game because such aggressive play is a real test for Black.
Anti-Grünfeld 3.f3, 7.Be3 0-0 8.Qd2 Nc6 9.0-0-0 Qd6 10.Kb1 [D70]
In the next 6 games we will deal with a mix of Grünfeld lines.
This game, Aronian, L - Vachier Lagrave, M SuperUnited CRO Rapid 2024 Zagreb, is in a very sharp line 3.f3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4 Nb6 6.Nc3 Bg7 7.Be3 0-0 8.Qd2 Nc6 9.0-0-0 Qd6 10.Kb1:
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A very interesting game and very sharp, also it's important from a theoretical point of view.
Neo-Grünfeld Defence with ...c6, 7.Qb3 Qb6 [D78]
We have here, in Svane, R - Pakleza, Z CrunchLabs Masters PlayIn, one of the main lines in the Fianchetto Grunfeld, after 3.g3 c6 4.Bg2 d5 5.Qb3 Bg7 6.Nf3 0-0 7.0-0 Qb6 8.Nc3 Rd8 9.Bd2:
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We have come to this critical position in which, well, it seems like a balanced game and also solid rather than sharp, but even some small mistakes can shift the game to either side.
Exchange Grünfeld 7.Nf3 Bg4 [D85]
In Koelle, Tobias - Mamedyarov, S TCh-TUR Super League 2024 Ankara, after 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4 Nxc3 6.bxc3 Bg7 7.Nf3 the move 7...Bg4!? is an unusual reaction and something that theory considered premature:
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However, the latest games show that this may not be the case. Here Black played extraordinarily strong chess and very soon gained an edge - remarkably interesting stuff.
Exchange Grünfeld 8.Bb5+ Nc6 9.0-0 0-0 10.Bxc6 bxc6 11.Qc2 Qa5 [D85]
Again, I must once again add a line that is particularly important against the Grunfeld in modern chess, 7...c5 8. Bb5+ Nc6 9.0-0 0-0 10.Bxc6 bxc6 11.Qc2 now, in Lobanov, Sergei - Ragger, M CrunchLabs Masters PlayIn, we will focus on 11...Qa5 12.a4 Rd8:
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It seems that Black was doing OK but only with precise moves, also I added a few more recent ideas. It seems that Black is able to find play against this dangerous line.
Exchange Grünfeld Defence 5.Bd2 c5 6.e4 [D85]
Yoo, Christopher Woojin - Woodward, Andy ch-USA Junior 2024 Saint Louis features 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.Bd2 c5 and now this time we will see how the positions are when the endgame is reached after 6.e4 Nxc3 7.Bxc3 cxd4:
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White has two options here and I have analysed them both.
Grünfeld Exchange 7.Bc4 c5 8.Ne2 Nc6 9.Be3 0-0 10.h4 [D87]
In Nesterov, Arseniy - Holzke, F 57th Biel Master Open Biel, we now have the classical main line, 5.e4 Nxc3 6.bxc3 Bg7 7.Bc4 c5 8.Ne2 Nc6 9.Be3 0-0 10.h4 cxd4 11.cxd4 Qa5+ 12.Kf1 Qa3:
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I have already analysed 12...h5, and this time we have another important idea for Black. Black has counterplay, but it is not so simple and straightforward.
Till next month, Best wishes Milos.
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