page 1 of 7; games 1-25 of 153  Game   Result Moves Year Event/Locale Opening 1. Kotov vs Smyslov 1-0 90 1945 Moscow URS ch D98 Grunfeld, Russian 2. G Goldberg vs I Rudakovsky   0-1 28 1945 URS-ch14 D98 Grunfeld, Russian 3. Botvinnik vs Smyslov 1-0 50 1946 Netherlands D98 Grunfeld, Russian 4. Lilienthal vs Smyslov 1-0 60 1946 Moscow D98 Grunfeld, Russian 5. Pachman vs Keres   ½-½ 33 1947 Moskva Chigorin-mem (08.12.47) D98 Grunfeld, Russian 6. Kotov vs Smyslov   ½-½ 31 1947 Parnu D98 Grunfeld, Russian 7. P Dubinin vs Smyslov   ½-½ 43 1947 9, Leningrad URS ch D98 Grunfeld, Russian 8. Novoltelnov vs Smyslov   ½-½ 18 1947 Moscow-ch D98 Grunfeld, Russian 9. K Plater vs Smyslov 0-1 70 1947 it, Warsaw (Poland) D98 Grunfeld, Russian 10. G Ilivitsky vs Suetin   0-1 41 1947 URS D98 Grunfeld, Russian 11. Kotov vs Lilienthal   ½-½ 42 1947 Parnu it D98 Grunfeld, Russian 12. Pirc vs B Milic   ½-½ 73 1947 Ljubljana ch-YUG D98 Grunfeld, Russian 13. Pirc vs Gligoric   0-1 52 1947 Ljubljana ch-YUG D98 Grunfeld, Russian 14. C Kottnauer vs Novotelnov 0-1 26 1947 Chigorin mem D98 Grunfeld, Russian 15. Tsvetkov vs Novotelnov   0-1 38 1947 Chigorin mem D98 Grunfeld, Russian 16. S Nedeljkovic vs Milic   1-0 28 1947 Yugoslavia D98 Grunfeld, Russian 17. Botvinnik vs Smyslov ½-½ 79 1948 FIDE World Championship Tournament D98 Grunfeld, Russian 18. Lilienthal vs Bronstein ½-½ 25 1948 Izt D98 Grunfeld, Russian 19. Kotov vs Lilienthal   ½-½ 23 1948 Izt D98 Grunfeld, Russian 20. Najdorf vs Ragozin 0-1 43 1948 Saltsjobaden D98 Grunfeld, Russian 21. D Djaja vs Gligoric   0-1 35 1948 YUG-ch D98 Grunfeld, Russian 22. D Djaja vs A Bozic   ½-½ 52 1948 YUG-ch D98 Grunfeld, Russian 23. Radulescu vs Gligoric   0-1 63 1948 Budapest D98 Grunfeld, Russian 24. N Kulzinski vs Gligoric   0-1 38 1948 YUG-ch D98 Grunfeld, Russian 25. Levenfish vs Smyslov 1-0 34 1949 Ch URS D98 Grunfeld, Russian  page 1 of 7; games 1-25 of 153    REFINE SEARCH:   White wins (1-0) | Black wins (0-1) | Draws (1/2-1/2)

Sep-18-06    Bobak Zahmat: This variation of the Grunfeld isn't played for years now. Is this a bit old fashioned? Or is the current theory has more advantages for White? Sep-18-06    Bobak Zahmat: Pretty incredible that all the notable games where White wins are from the WC matches between Botvinnik and Smyslov. Sep-18-06    wharfrat: <Bobak Zahmat> Please keep in mind that there are only 404,000 games in this database and only 126 games in this line over a 61 year period, so you cannot draw any definite conclusions from what's on this site. My recollection is that Karpov's games against Kasparov in this line left such a bad impression with Gruenfeld devotees that the vast majority switched to other lines (7...Na6, 7...Nc6, and 7...a6 in particular). Sep-18-06    Bobak Zahmat: Are there on this website only 404,000 games? It looks far more. Anyhow, this variatio looked a bit weird to me, seeing the Queen on c4 instead of the light bishop. Sep-19-06    wharfrat: <Bobok Zahmat> The number of games in the database is always going up, but it is listed near the top of the home page. In addition, some games in this line are listed under D99, most notably the important game Euwe-Smyslov from the 1948 World Championship tournament. The system with 5.Qb3 was developed by Soviet players in the early 1930s, led by Botvinnik. The idea is to force Black to exchange on c4, allowing White to set up the ideal pawn duo on e4 and d4. The queen is somewhat exposed on c4, but White hopes to consolidate his position and then use the pawn center to his advantage. 7...Bg4 was a system developed by Smyslov during World War II, and it became the primary response at the GM level for decades. While it's possible for White to get this type of position with his bishop on c4 instead of the queen, it takes considerable cooperation from Black.

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