Eric Schiller

Gruenfeld Defense Russian Variations: a Chess Works Publication Eric Schiller

The Gruenfeld Defense is one of the most reliable chess defenses for Black these days, and the evaluation of the Exchange Variation (4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3) keeps changing all the time. There is another system for white, however, which has maintained its vitality over many years. This is the Russian System, which involves placement of the white queen at b3, where it puts pressure on the light squares. The move Qdl-b3 can be played at the fourth or fifth turn, although, as we will see, it is more advantageously employed after the g1 knight has been developed at f3. The Russian Variations are becoming more and more popular, however, as players tire of pitting home analysis against home analysis. There is every reason to believe that White can secure a small advantage by deploying his queen at b3. Many great prayers have employed this strategy, and some of their play is exhibited in the Games section of this book. This little book is designed to give you all you need to pray the white side of the Russian Variations. It includes only those lines which are best for White.