The Grunfeld Defense – Set 4

GM Sam Shankland

Question 1.

Black’s queen has come out to

party too early!

Can White do something about

this?

Question 2.

White is asking our bishop to

make a decision.

What should we do?

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Question 3.

A lot of central tension here.

How can we get ahead?

Question 4.

White’s pieces are being kept in

quarantine.

Let’s use that to create some

weaknesses on the dark squares.

How?

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Question 5.

While White spends time pushing

kingside pawns, Black has
something else in mind.

What should Black do here?

Question 6.

Can you spot the decisive blow in

this position?

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Question 7.

The pin on our f6 knight is

annoying… isn’t it?

What next for Black?

Question 8.

The combo of White queen and

knight looks aggressive.

What should Black do about these

invaders?

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Question 9.

Our rooks need to guard against

back rank mate and both our
knight and bishop are hanging.

How can we solve all these

problems?

Question 10.

How can Black take advantage of

that pinned rook and vulnerable
back rank?

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Question 11.

Here we have a typical situation of

“you take here (f3), I take there
(c6)”

But what has White overlooked?

Question 12.

Unprotected piece on the board!

Black to play.

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Question 13.

Our mustang is being kicked from

his outpost.

How should we deal with the f3

kick?

Question 14.

In this situation, both armies have

a hostage.

How can we free our bishop

without having to make any sort of
agreement with the enemy?

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Question 15.

The enemy is tied to defense and

it’s time to reap the rewards.

Can you find a decisive blow for

Black?

Question 16.

White threatens to eliminate our

sniper on d4.

What’s the best way to deal with

this?

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Question 17.

White just played cxb4.

What’s the best continuation for

Black?

Question 18.

Both sides have open lines for

attack but Black has the move.

What should Black play?

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Question 19.

It looks like White has everything

covered to prevent promotion.

Can you prove him wrong?

Question 20.

White just played e4 trying to kick

out our beast.

Well, he might succeed but where

should the knight go according to
Grunfeld dynamic play?

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 Solutions

1 1…Rc1 2.Qf5 Nd4 followed by Nb5 and Nc7 winning a rook.

2 1…Nxe5! 2.hxg4 Nxc4 with dynamic play.

3 1…cxd4 2.cxd4 Nxd4! eliminates a central pawn.
4 1…Ng4 2.Bxg7 Nxe3 3.fxe3 Qxe3+ followed by Kxg7 with an extra pawn and
winning position.
5 1…Qxb3! 2.Qxb3 c2 winning.
6 1…Rxf3 2.Kxf3 Nd2+ wins a piece.
7 1…Nxg4 2.Bxd8 Nxe3 3.fxe3 Rexd8 with the better endgame.

8 1…Bd5! 2.Bf3 Rxf6 3.Bxe4 Bxe4 wins a piece.

9 1…Rxc5 2.Rxc5 Nxe4+ forks king and rook.

10 1….Bxb3 removing the defender 2.axb3 Qe3! with Rc1+ to follow.

11 1…Qxc3+! clearly winning.
12 1…Qc3! hitting the bishop and g3.
13 1…Rd2 wins the queen.
14 1…Bc5 2.Re5 Bd6 3.Bc6 Rc8 4.Bb7 Rb8 5.Rb5 Rxb7! 6.Rxb7 Be4+ wins a piece.
15 1…Rxa3 taking advantage of the pin along the b-file.
16 1…Rbb3 2.Bxd4 Rbd3+ 3.Kc1 Re1 mate!
17 1…c3 2.Bc1 Nxb4 3.Bxa3 Nxc2 winning a piece.
18 1…Qf4 2.Bxf7+ Rxf7 and White will lose a lot of material preventing the mate.
19 1…Qb6+ 2.Kf1 Qb1+ and the d-pawn promotes!
20 1… Ne3! 2.Bxe3 (2.fxe3 Rxd2) Qxa5 with a strong initiative due to the pressure on
a2 and threatened discovered attack along the b-file.

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