Gruenfeld Defense: Exchange Variation

VISWANATHAN ANAND vs. IAN NEPOMNIACHTCHI
FIDE Chess.com Online Nations Cup
May 2020

1.d4, Nf6
2. c4, g6
3. Nc3, d5
4. cxd5, Nxd5
5. Bd2, Bg7
6. e4, Nxc3
7. Bxc3, c5
8. d5! ...

Anand opts to neutralize immediately Black's g7 Bishop.  This is part of his overall strategy.

8. ... Bxc3
9. bxc3, Qd6

Black hopes to control the c7-h2 diagonal.

10. Qd2, 0-0
11. f4! ...

Most common chess engines regard this as White's best move, in preparation for a center advance.

11. ... e6
12. Nf3, exd5
13. Bc4 ...

If the d5 pawn is taken, White's King would be in danger.

13. ... Be6
14. 0-0, d4
15. f5! ...

 An unexpected move.  White sacrifices a Bishop for a great pawn advance.

15. ... Bxc4

Black should have sacrificed this Bishop to neutralize White's impending attack.  Best move is Bxf5.

If 15...gxf5 then 16. Qg5+ Kh8, 17. Qf6+ Kg8, 18. exf5! pinning the Bishop.

16. e5!, Qd7
17. f6!,  Resigns

Mate cannot be prevented at g7.

Gruenfeld Defense, Classical Exchange Variation

BORIS SPASSKY vs. JAN TIMMAN
Amsterdam, 1977

1. d4, Nf6
2. c4, g6
3. Nc3, d5
4. cxd5 ....

The starting point of the Exchange Variation.

4. .... Nxd5
5. e4, Nxc3
6. bxc3, Bg7
7. Bc4, 0-0
8. Ne2, b3
9. h4!, Nc6
10. Bd5, Qd7
11. h5! ...

The move signals an attack on Black's kingside.

11. .... Ba6
12. hxg6, hxg6
13. Nf4, e6
14. Qg4! ....

Black cannot capture the d5 Bishop because the pawn is pinned.

14. .... Rfd8
15. Bxe6!! ....

The sacrifice is necessary to break apart the defender-pawns.

 15. .... fxe6
16. Qxg6, Bc4
17. Qh7+, Kf7
18. Nh5, Rg8
19. Rh3!, Raf8
20. Nxg7!!, Rh8

If 20....Rxg7, then 21. Rf3+ Ke7, 22, Qxg7+ Kd8, 23. Rxf8+ and White wins the exchange.

21. Rf3+, Ke7
22. Ba3+, Nb4
23. Bxb4+, c5
24. dxc5!!, Rxh7

To keep the pressure, White sacrifices his Queen.

25. cxb6+, Resigns

If 25....Kd8, then 26. Rxf8+ Qe8, 27. Rxe8+ Kd7, 28. Rd1+ Kc6, 29. bxa7.  The soon-to-be-resurrected Queen would be too much for Black to handle.

Material Exchange

Chess pieces have inherent values, and during material exchange, the captured pieces must be more or less equal in worth. However, in certain cases, material may be exchanged for quality game, facilitated attack, or speedy development.  In the following game, the Queen is exchanged for 3 minor pieces, an exemplary demonstration of such theory.

KMOCH vs. PRINS
Amsterdam, 1940

Gruenfeld Defense

1. d4, Nf6
2. c4, g6
3. Nc3, d5
4. Nf3, Bg7
5. Qb3, dxc4
6. Qxc4, 0-0
7. e4, b6
8. e5, Be6

Black attacks the Queen in order to plant his Knight at d5.  But White refuses to be driven away.

9. exf6!! ....

White has correctly calculated that his Queen is worth the exchange.

9. .... Bxc4
10. fxg7, Kxg7
11. Bxc4 ....

The smoke has cleared and Black now realizes that he exchanged a Knight and two Bishops for the opponent's Queen.  A bad bargain.

11. .... Nc6
12. Be3, Nb4

A wasteful maneuver on the part of Black. Now White gains time.

13. 0-0, Nc2
14. Rad1, Nxe3
15. fxe3, c5
16. Ng5!! ....

White suddenly threatens 17. Rxf7 Rxf7, 18. Ne6+ etc.

16. .... e6

If 16....Qe8, a likely continuation could be 17. dxc5 bxc5, 18. Bb5 Qc8, 19. Rd7 and the pressure would be too much for Black.

17. Rxf7  Resigns

White threatens Nxe6 double-check!

All is lost for Black.  If 17.....Kh6, then 18. Rxh7+ Kxg5, 19. h4+ Kg4, 20. Be2+ Kg3, 21. Ne4 mate.  Superb play!