Download PGN of September ’24 Daring Defences games
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Dutch Stonewall 6...Bd6 7.Qc2 0-0 8.Nc3 [A90]
Zuferi, E - Vaganian, R, Dortmund 2024, featured a line that is considered a dangerous setup for Black in the Stonewall. After 8...Ne4 9.Rb1 a5 10.a3 Qe7 11.b4 axb4 12.axb4 Bxb4 (rarely seen) 13.Nxe4 dxe4 14.Bg5 Qd7 15.Rxb4 exf3:
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On the next move Black snatched the pawn on d4. Interesting, although White missed some much stronger opportunities.
Grünfeld 4.Bf4 Bg7 5.e3 c5 6.dxc5 Qa5 7.Qa4+ [D82]
Here, in Sarana, A - Shankland, S, 60th Rubinstein Mem Polanica Zdroj 2024, we have a solid line known for a long time after 4.Bf4 Bg7 5.e3 c5 6.dxc5 Qa5 7.Qa4+ Qxa4 8.Nxa4 and now Black replied with the less played but interesting 8...Be6:
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Black didn’t face any problems although there are certain nuances here, especially by transposition.
Grünfeld Defence 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e3 Bg7 6.Bc4 Nb6 7.Bb3 0-0 8.Nf3 [D94]
In this game, Martirosyan, Haik M - Nepomniachtchi, I FIDE World Bl Team Final Almaty 2024, we have one of the oldest setups against the Grünfeld, it is a kind of Reversed Tarrasch with a bishop on c4, after 4.e3 Bg7 5.cxd5 Nxd5 6.Bc4 Nb6 7.Bb3 0-0 8.Nf3 c5 9.0-0 cxd4 10.exd4 Nc6 11.d5 Na5:
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Besides the game I also analysed various ideas that Black is using here in this system. It seems that there are various interesting ideas, but it is not that Black can do just anything, White also has his own ideas.
Exchange Grünfeld 7.Qa4+ Nd7 8.Nf3 0-0 9.Qa3 [D85]
In the game Fedoseev,Vl3 - Duda, J, 60th Rubinstein Mem Polanica Zdroj 2024, White opted for the early queen check 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4 Nxc3 6.bxc3 Bg7 7.Qa4+ so after the further 7...Nd7 8.Nf3 0-0 9.Qa3 c5 10.Be2 cxd4 11.cxd4 Nf6 12.Qe3 b6:
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There is a mixture of various ideas, and similarities to the Petrosian Queen's Indian or other Grünfeld systems are obvious. Still, in this game White produced a good plan worth studying.
Exchange Grünfeld 7.Nf3 Bg4 [D85]
In Bluebaum , M - Mamedyarov, S, Titled Tue 27th Aug Early 2024, already after 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4 Nxc3 6.bxc3 Bg7 7.Nf3 we see 7...Bg4!? It seems that this move was designed to confuse players, especially those who are counting on the Bb5+ motives that are so popular today.
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Black gained the upper hand rather quickly. White must come up with something convincing otherwise this line will soon establish itself as a viable option.
Grünfeld Exchange 7.Be3 c5 8.Qd2 Qa5 9.Rc1 [D85]
Here, in Sarana, A - Navara, D, 60th Rubinstein Mem Polanica Zdroj 2024, we have one of the traditional lines after 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4 Nxc3 6.bxc3 Bg7 7.Be3 c5 8.Qd2 Qa5 9.Rc1 cxd4 10.cxd4 Qxd2+ 11.Bxd2 0-0 12.Nf3 Bg4:
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Black showed very good theoretical preparation, and it seems the tactics worked well for him.
Grünfeld Exchange 8.Be3 Qa5 9.Qd2 0-0 10.Rc1 Nd7 [D85]
In Navara, D - Shankland, S, 60th Rubinstein Mem Polanica Zdroj 2024, was similar to the previous game but Black played another interesting line with 10...Nd7:
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Soon the game reached an endgame which I like for White, but he didn’t find a way to get an initiative. In any case an interesting game.
Grünfeld Defence 5.Bg5 Ne4 6.Bf4 0-0 [D91]
In this game, So, W - Firouzja, Alireza, 11th Sinquefield Cup Saint Louis 2024, White tried another popular line, but this time in the following system after 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.Bg5 Ne4 6.Bf4 0-0 7.e3 c5 8.cxd5 Bf5!?:
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Black was fine in the game, but in my opinion some other options that I analyzed are more critical.
Till next month, best wishes Milos.
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