Download PGN of March ’25 Daring Defences games
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English Defence 3.e4 Bb4+ 4.Nd2 [A40]
First, in Pham, K - Xu, X we look at 3.e4 Bb4+ 4 Nd2 Bb7 5.Qc2 c5 6.d5 Qe7:
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when I think that the game's 7.a3! is good.
English Defence 3 Nc3 Bb4 4 e4 Bb7 5 Qc2 Qg4 6 Bd3 [A40]
We now look at another key variation in the English Defence, in some ways similar to our last game with White relying on Qc2 to defend the centre:
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This does seem like a pretty good way for White to play, particularly in Mamedyarov, S - Meier, G where I show how White can can get a big advantage following 6...f5?!.
English Defence 3 Nf3 Bb7 4 g3 Bb4+ 5 Bd2 Bxf3 [A40]
The following variation in the English Defence has always bothered me in the past. White avoids playing e4 and in doing so, stops Black from getting a target to attack on that square:
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Saying all of the above I like the way that Lenderman plays in the game, Le, Q - Lenderman, A where he demonstrates a good approach for Black.
English Defence 3 e4 Bb7 4 f3 f5 [A40]
To conclude this month's coverage of the English Defence I have decided to share one of my own games, Muniz, F - Williams, S. A very bad blitz game, true, but at least it shows the power of Black's pieces in one of my favourite variations.
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In the above position Black should play Tony Miles' move 7...Bd6!
Grünfeld Defence [D85]
In the second half of this update I wanted to take a look at some surprising ways that White could try and meet the Grünfeld opening. Most of the following ideas have been seen in the archives before, but I wanted to update some of the theoretical variations here.
The Grünfeld is a heavily analysed opening, so it is not a bad idea for White to come prepared with an idea that might confuse Black.
Exchange Grünfeld 5.Na4 e5 [D85]
The weird thing here is that White would rather have his knight back on b1 in the Exchange Grünfeld. As we know, after e2-e4 ...Nxc3 gains Black a nice tempo. White would love to play e4 without allowing ...Nxc3, hence the idea of 5.Na4. Following 5...e5 6.dxe5 Bb4+ 7.Bd2, Black can play the flashy 7...Ne3:
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However, as I show in Zubarev, A - Akhayan, R, with correct play White can gain a decent advantage.
Grünfeld Defence 5.h4 h6 [D90]
Next up we look at an idea that I have used regularly, surprisingly enough it involves pushing the h-pawn!
Yoo, C - Misailovic, N went 5.h4 h6:
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I am not sure if this is a very good idea, but in the game they soon reached a 'standard' Exchange Grünfeld position but with the inclusion of h5 and ...g5.
Grünfeld Defence 5.h4 c6 6.cxd5 cxd5 7.Bf4 0-0 8.e3 [D90]
Xu, X - Mekhitarian, K went for the current mainline up to 12.Qa3:
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Following the most common 12...Bf5 13.Be2 a6 White gained a plus by 14.Ne5!
Grünfeld Exchange 5.Bd2 Bg7 6.e4 Nxc3 7.Bxc3 0-0 8.Qd2 c5 9.d5 [D85]
In the last game for this month's update we take a look at a very decent idea for White, 5 Bd2. With this move White aims to enter a slightly different structure for the Grünfeld, one where there is a piece on c3 and not a pawn:
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This combined with Queenside castling and h4-h5 can lead to some very lively play, see Duda, J - To, N.
Till next month, Simon.
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