Play the Gruenfeld

4 votes:+++++/-
  • Edition: Paperback
  • Author: Yelena Dembo
  • Skill Range: All levels
  • Publisher: Everyman Chess
  • Year Published: 2007
  • # of Pages: 192 pages
  • ISBN: 9781857445213
Description:

The Grünfeld is an exciting and dynamic answer to 1 d4, and has become very popular at all levels of chess. A major reason for this is that it has been a long-time favourite of the World's strongest-ever chess player, Garry Kasparov, who used it many times in his numerous World Championship battles. The Grünfeld very much relies on the principles of the hypermodern school of chess: Black allows White to erect an impressive-looking centre on the assumption that in the long run it could prove to be more of a liability than an asset. Play often becomes very complex and tactical, one of the reasons the Grünfeld appeals to ambitious players.

Despite its attractions, some prospective Grünfeld players are discouraged by the necessity of needing to learn numerous different variations in such a complex opening. In Play the Grünfeld, however, opening expert Yelena Dembo circumvents this problem by producing a comprehensive and yet workable repertoire for Black, offering a solution against each of White's tries, whether it's a critical main line or a tricky sideline. After reading this book, you will have the required knowledge and confidence to begin playing the Grünfeld in your own games.

  • Written by a renowned Grünfeld expert
  • Covers all of White's main tries
  • Reveals the tactical and positional ideas for both sides

Contents

Part One - The Exchange Variation (1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 g6 3 N c3 d5 4 cxd5 N xd5 5 e4 Nxc3 6 bxc3 Bg7)

1 Introducing 7 Nf3 c5

3 Be3 Systems

4 The Fashionable 7 Bc4

5 White's 7th Move Alternatives

6 4 cxd5 Nxd5 without 5 e4

Part Two - 3 Nc3 Without The Exchange

7 The Russian System

8 Qa4+ Systems

9 Bf4 Systems

10 Bg5 Systems

11 The Solid 4 e3

12 Offbeat 4th Move Alternatives

Part Three - White Postpones Nc3

13 The Fianchetto System

14 Angling for a Sämisch: 3 f3

Index of variations

Reviews:

by erik - 2 months ago
Menlo Park, CA United States
Member Since: May 2007
Member Points: 1857
go Yelena!
by Phobetor - 2 months ago
Veldhoven, NB Netherlands
Member Since: Aug 2007
Member Points: 242
Now that's an informational review you wrote there Erik! That really convinced me to buy this book! Tongue out (I actually didn't buy this one but bought the Grunfeld classic "Understanding the Grunfeld" Smile)
by Chessman22 - 40 days ago
Los Angeles, CA United States
Member Since: Aug 2007
Member Points: 92
Logical.
by amntony - 33 days ago
GuangDong, Jiang Men City China
Member Since: Jun 2007
Member Points: 63

In fact, the 7.Bc4 classical exchange continues like this: 7... 0-0  8.Ne2 c5 (piling on the d4 pawn)Embarassed  9.Be3 Nc6 (again!)  10.0-0 Bg4 (trys to take the Knight off its protecting the d4-pawn) 11.f3 (unpin the Knight at e2) Na5 (goes around the centered pawn, trying to get a firm-hold at c4!  This is in accordance with the Nimzowitsch hyper-modern theory.  Knight should try to get a firm hold at the center or the "outer-center"! )

Anthony

by Puppaz - 22 days ago
UK United Kingdom
Member Since: Aug 2007
Member Points: 50
by tanmay_chakrabarti - 16 days ago
Kolkata India
Member Since: Jul 2007
Member Points: 80

Rating:++++-

Thanks for your book on this topic alone.
by anatolymolotov - 12 days ago
Grimsby, NE Lincs United Kingdom
Member Since: Aug 2007
Member Points: 3

A sound opening book strategy - but not for the beginner or the faint of heart.  The Grunfeld is a highly tactical game and unless you are playing black the position of whites pieces is static - black would have to be inexperienced in order for white to prevail.  What makes this strategy yet more intense is the number of variations and the consequences of move order.

 On the plus side one mistake from either player can cause a calamitous change of advantage so I would advise the reader to learn the basics before trying such a professional approach to chess.  The amount of foresight needed to play this tactical game and concentration level is exhausting.  One of my favourite openings all the same.


by Redwall - 10 days ago
Uppsala Sweden
Member Since: Aug 2007
Member Points: 34

Rating:++++-

iv read half the bock, using 3 chesbords, testing and memorising moves, I´ll rekomend it for experienst players (1400+) Iv lernd loads!
by WGM YelenaDembo - 4 days ago
Athens Greece
Member Since: Jul 2007
Member Points: 102

Hello everyone!

Here is the review of Jeremy Silman!

http://www.jeremysilman.com/book_reviews_js/Play_the_Grunfeld.html

Enjoy!



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