The Grunfeld 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 Grunfeld 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 Grunfeld appeals to ambitious players.

Despite its attractions, some prospective Grunfeld players are discouraged by the necessity of needing to learn numerous different variations in such a complex opening. In Play the Grunfeld, 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 Grunfeld in your own games.

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

Content:

004 Bibliography

007 Introduction

Part One - The Exchange Variation

(1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 g6 3 Nc3 d5 4 cxd5 Nxd5 5 e4 Nxc3 6 bxc3 Bg7)

012 1 Introducing 7 Nf3 c5

018 2 The Critical 8 Rb1

035 3 Be3 Systems

052 4 The Fashionable 7 Bc4

071 5 White's 7th Move Alternatives

081 6 4 cxd5 Nxd5 without 5 e4

Part Two - 3 Nc3 Without The Exchange

092 7 The Russian System

102 8 Qa4+ Systems

106 9 Bf4 Systems

127 10 Bg5 Systems

149 11 The Solid 4 e3

159 12 Offbeat 4th Move Alternatives

Part Three - White Postpones Nc3

164 13 The Fianchetto System

184 14 Angling for a Sämisch: 3 f3

159 Index of Variations