D99 Grünfeld Defense: Russian Variation, Smyslov Variation
D99 holds two named lines, all under the name Grünfeld Defense. It leaves D98, a position of the same name, with 8.Be3 Nfd7 9.Qb3. Black’s pieces and pawns attack three squares in White’s half, level for the fewest of the 20 Grünfeld Defense codes. At 17 plies, its reference line is the third-longest of the 20 Grünfeld Defense codes.
| # | White | Black |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | d4 | Nf6 |
| 2 | c4 | g6 |
| 3 | Nc3 | d5 |
| 4 | Nf3 | Bg7 |
| 5 | Qb3 | dxc4 |
| 6 | Qxc4 | O-O |
| 7 | e4 | Bg4 |
| 8 | Be3 | Nfd7 |
| 9 | Qb3 |
Moves only D99 plays
Same as D98 up to 7...Bg4, then:
- 8.Be3 The bishop leaves c1 for e3, opening a line for the rook on a1.
- 8...Nfd7 The knight goes from f6 to d7, opening a line for the bishop on g7.
- 9.Qb3 The queen goes from c4 to b3, opening a line for the bishop on f1, guarding the pawn on b2, pinning the pawn on f7 to its king.
Lines filed under D99
Both share their first 17 plies, the whole reference line.
| Name | After the shared start | Plies | At the end |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grünfeld Defense: Russian Variation, Smyslov Variation | (the shared start itself) | 17 | Black castled |
| Grünfeld Defense: Russian Variation, Yugoslav Variation | 9...c5 | 18 | Black castled |
Grünfeld Defense: Russian Variation, Yugoslav Variation
- 9...c5 The c-pawn advances two squares to c5, covering b4 and d4, opening a line for the queen on d8.
The road to D99
- 1.d4 … 6...O-Onine earlier stops: A40, A45, A50, D80, D90, D96, E60, E61
- 7.e4D97 Russian Variation
- 7...Bg4D98 Smyslov Variation
- 9.Qb3D99
The position after 9.Qb3
White has brought out the knight on c3, knight on f3 and bishop on e3; Black the knight on d7, bishop on g4 and bishop on g7. White has a half-open c-file; Black a half-open d-file. Black could capture with Bxd4, Bxf3. Black is to move and has 31 legal moves.
Closest boards in other codes
| Code | Line | Differs on |
|---|---|---|
| D97 | Grünfeld Defense: Russian Variation | eight squares: c1, b3, e3, c4, g4, f6, d7, c8 |
| D95 | Grünfeld Defense: Three Knights Variation, Vienna Variation | nine squares: c1, e3, c4, e4, g4, d5, f6, d7 … |
| D93 | Grünfeld Defense: Three Knights Variation, Hungarian Variation | 11 squares: d1, b3, e3, c4, e4, f4, g4, d5 … |
| B76 | Sicilian Defense: Dragon Variation, Yugoslav Attack | 12 squares: d1, c2, f2, b3, f3, d4, g4, d6 … |
| E91 | King’s Indian Defense: Orthodox Variation | 12 squares: c1, d1, f1, e2, b3, e3, c4, g4 … |
| D83 | Grünfeld Defense: Brinckmann Attack, Grünfeld Gambit | 13 squares: d1, g1, b3, e3, f3, c4, e4, f4 … |
| D84 | Grünfeld Defense: Brinckmann Attack, Grünfeld Gambit Accepted | 13 squares: d1, g1, b3, c3, e3, f3, e4, g4 … |