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Chess Opening Theory/1. d4/1...Nf6/2. c4/2...g6/3. Nc3/3...d5/4. cxd5/4...Nxd5/5. e4

< Chess Opening Theory | 1. d4 | 1...Nf6 | 2. c4 | 2...g6 | 3. Nc3 | 3...d5 | 4. cxd5 | 4...Nxd5
Grünfeld Defence
a b c d e f g h
8a8 black rookb8 black knightc8 black bishopd8 black queene8 black kingf8 black bishopg8 black kingh8 black rook8
7a7 black pawnb7 black pawnc7 black pawnd7 black kinge7 black pawnf7 black pawng7 black kingh7 black pawn7
6a6 black kingb6 black kingc6 black kingd6 black kinge6 black kingf6 black kingg6 black pawnh6 black king6
5a5 black kingb5 black kingc5 black kingd5 black knighte5 black kingf5 black kingg5 black kingh5 black king5
4a4 black kingb4 black kingc4 black kingd4 white pawne4 white pawnf4 black kingg4 black kingh4 black king4
3a3 black kingb3 black kingc3 white knightd3 black kinge3 black kingf3 black kingg3 black kingh3 black king3
2a2 white pawnb2 white pawnc2 black kingd2 black kinge2 black kingf2 white pawng2 white pawnh2 white pawn2
1a1 white rookb1 black kingc1 white bishopd1 white queene1 white kingf1 white bishopg1 white knighth1 white rook1
a b c d e f g h
Position in Forsyth-Edwards Notation (FEN)

rnbqkb1r/ppp1pp1p/6p1/3n4/3PP3/2N5/PP3PPP/R1BQKBNR b

Moves: 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4

5.e4

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This move greedily grabs central space. Since Nf6 or Nb6 would leave black without enough pressure in the center, Nb4 misplaces the knight only to create the obvious threat of Qxd4 followed by Nc2, Nxc3 is forced. Although d4 is strengthened, the queenside weakens, and the a1-h8 diagonal loosens up. That is why g6 and Bg7 is played in the Gruenfeld Defence. Black will now play to dismantle white's central ambitions. Usually, Black advances the c-pawn, and then he uses his e-pawn to dismantle white's center. Also, Nb4?? loses to Qa4+ Nc6 d5.

After e4, White has a dangerous center. Black must pressure it or risk a cramped, passive game. The only good move is Nxc3, else play resembles the dubious Marshall defence.

Theory table

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5 6 7
e4

Nxc3

bxc3

Bg7

Nf3

c5

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