The Grunfeld Defense – Set 1
GM Sam Shankland
Question 1.
White intends to protect his center by
pinning the knight, but he doesn’t
realize this horse is a mustang!
How does it show its wild nature?
Question 2.
In this variation of the Grunfeld with
Qb3, White has just taken the pawn
on b7 and Black’s rook is hanging.
What is the right way to protect it?
1
Question 3.
A similar position to the previous
problem but this time White has
played e3.
How should Black deal with the
threat to his rook?
Question 4.
In the Grunfeld we need to play
actively and get the most out of our
lead in development.
So are we going to let White to castle
and consolidate his center just like
that?
2
Question 5.
White has just played Ng5,
threatening to take our pawn on e4.
How should we react to White’s
provocation?
Question 6.
I bet you’re already nervous about
the attack of White’s Queen, knight
and e5 comrade.
But what do we normally do against
flank attacks?
3
Question 7.
In this position White has just played
b4 putting some resistance to Black’s
activity.
Should we back off or maybe
consider heavy artillery?
Question 8.
White has just played a4, trying to
open up the queenside.
Can you find a tactical resource for
Black?
4
Question 9.
White has just played e4 creating a
nice looking center… but once again
he’s behind in development.
How can we quickly punish his
tardiness and end up with a dominant
position?
Question 10.
In this position White is little behind
in development, but has better
activity.
What is Black’s best move in order to
stop White from consolidating?
5
Question 11.
Typical Grunfeld position, in which
Black has a dynamic advantage of
development and, on the other hand,
White has concrete strategy of central
play.
Can you find Black’s astonishing
move that prevents White’s plans?
Question 12.
In this position White has lost a
central pawn but has managed to
create a quick assault on Black
King’s residence.
How can White can make use of the
open h-file?
6
Question 13.
White is so proud of pushing Black’s
knight backwards with a5, again
underestimating development.
What should Black do?
Question 14.
White has just played Ne5 looking to
recapture on c4.
Should we directly protect that extra
pawn?
7
Question 15.
It looks like Black is ready to recover
material with …exd4.
How can White retain the advantage?
Question 16.
With a bishop hanging on d7, what
would you play?
8
Question 17.
How can White take advantage of
Black’s last move, …Nd7?
Question 18.
It looks like Black’s pieces have run
into trouble in the corner.
Can you save them?
9
Question 19.
White’s pieces look active and yet
their queen is somewhat limited.
How can Black take advantage?
Question 20.
Black to move and win.
10
Question 21a.
How can White take advantage of
Black’s offside knight?
Question 21b.
White has just got out of a check by
coming to g3, leaving his Monarch
with very little mobility.
How do we take advantage of the
weakened dark squares?
11
Question 22.
Black has a surprising way to win
material here.
Can you find it?
Question 23.
White’s center looks very solid.
What’s the best way for Black to hit
hard on White’s center?
12
Question 24.
The Grunfeld is one of those
defenses where very often we have to
break the rules in order to cash out
our dynamic advantages.
White threatens to take on e5.
How should Black proceed?
13
Solutions
1 Black plays …Nxe4! winning a pawn thanks to the counter-threat against White’s queen.
2 1…Qb6! 2.Qxa8 Nc6 wins the queen for 2 rooks and leaves White with a number of
weaknesses.
3 Again Black plays 1…Qb6 and traps the queen, with further threats on b2 and even …Qb4
followed by …Ne4.
4 1…b5! If 2.Nxb5 Nxe4 and 2.Bxb5 Nxe4! 3.Nxe4 Qa5+ 4.Nc3 Bxc3+ and Black regains
the piece.
5 1…e3 is an interference tactic, winning the knight on g5.
6 …c5 gains space and breaks up White’s center.
7 Black puts a ton of pressure on the center files with the surprising 1…Rd8! 2.bxc5 Qe6!
White is virtually in zugzwang and Black threatens Nf3+ among other moves.
8 Black found the great move 1…b4! 2.Qxb4 Nc6 and now if 3.Qb7 Na5 4.Qb3 Rb8 5.Qa3
Rb3 6.Qa2 Rxc3! with a discovered attack on the queen.
9 1…b5! 2.Nxb5 Nxe4 3.Nxc7 Nc6 4.Nxa8 Qa5+.
10 1…b4! 2.Qxb4 Nxd4! wins the pawn back and breaks up the center.
11 1…Na4!! Bobby Fischer’s stunning move. If 2.Nxa4 Nxe4 followed by …Bxf3/Nxg5.
12 1.Bxd4! Bxd4 2.Qh6 followed by 3.Rxd4 Qxd4 4.Qh7+ Kf7 5.Qh8+ Qxh8 6.Rxh8+ Kg7
7.Rxd8. If 1…Qxd4 2.Qe1! and Black’s queen and rook are skewered.
13 1…Nc4! 2.Bxc4 Qh4+ recoups the piece.
14 1…Ng4! challenges the knight and attacks d4.
15 White must play 1.Nxc6! Rxd2 2.Ne7+! Kd7 3.Rxd2+ and 3..Kxe7 isn’t possible because
of 4.Nd5+.
16 Not 1.Rxd7 because of …Qa4! attacking the rook and threatening …Rc2. Instead, 1.d6!
exd6 2.Rxd7! Qa4 3.Qxd6.
17 1.Nxh7! and if Kxh7 2.Qh3+ wins.
18 1…Nf3+ 2.Bxf3 Bxd4 and Black saves all their pieces.
19 Black wins the exchange with 1…Bxc3! 2.bxc3 b5! 3.Qxb5 Nxc3.
20 Black wins with 1…Nxd5! 2.Qxd5 Be6!
21a White cuts off escape squares for the knight with 1.Bf4 Ke8 2.Ra4 Nb8 3.Bxb8 Rxb8
4.Rxa7 winning a pawn. If 1.Bf4 b5 2.Rc6 Nb4 3.Bd6+ wins the knight.
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21b Black plays 1…e5! If the pawn isn’t taken, Black moves his bishop to f4 via h6. In either
case creating a mating net.
22 1…Qc5+ 2.Kh1 Rxf1+ 3.Rxf1 Bc3! traps the White queen.
23 1…Bxd4 2.exd4 Rxd4 3.f3 f5 and Black is winning material.
24 Black has the stunning idea of 1…0-0-0! 2.fxe4 Rxd4 3.Qb2 Rxe4 and White is in huge
trouble.
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