Grünfeld: 5.Bg5 c6 – Smyslov Variation

Grünfeld Defense: 5.Bg5 c6 (Smyslov Variation)

Definition

In the Grünfeld Defense the move sequence 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. Bg5 c6 leads to the line usually called the Smyslov Variation with the specific sub-line 5…c6. White pins the knight on f6, delaying the usual central thrust cxd5 or e4, while Black replies with the flexible pawn move …c6 instead of the sharper 5…Ne4. The position combines Grünfeld and Slav structures, providing both sides with rich strategic possibilities.

Typical Move Order

The most common path is:
From here the middlegame may branch into:

• 6. e3 Ne4 entering IQP structures after …Nxg5 or …Nxc3.
• 6. e3 h6 7. Bh4 where Black can strike with …dxc4 or …g5.
• 6. e3 O-O 7. Rc1 aiming for the typical Grünfeld break e4.

Strategic Ideas

• Black
  • Uses …c6 to restrain White’s center and prepare the thematic breaks …dxc4, …Ne4 or even …e5.
  • Can transpose into a solid Slav-like setup with …Nbd7 and …dxc4, avoiding the sharper open positions of the main Grünfeld.
  • Often places the queen on a5 or b6 to pressure c4 and d4 simultaneously.
• White
  • Keeps tension in the center, hoping to push e4 or capture on d5 under favorable circumstances.
  • The pin on f6 may provoke weaknesses such as …h6 and …g5, giving White targets on the kingside.
  • After exchanges on c3/d4 White sometimes obtains an isolated queen’s pawn (IQP) with active piece play.

Historical Notes

The variation is named after former World Champion Vasily Smyslov, who employed Bg5 ideas against the Grünfeld in the late 1940s and 1950s. Although overshadowed by the main line 5. Bf4 and the ultra-theoretical 7. Bc4 Exchange Variation, 5. Bg5 has always been a respected sideline, championed by positional players who prefer to keep the pawn structure fluid.

In modern times grandmasters such as Sergey Karjakin, Peter Svidler and Vishy Anand have used 5.Bg5 c6 as Black to sidestep heavy preparation.

Illustrative Game

Smyslov’s original idea can be seen in the classic:

Vasily Smyslov – Paul Keres, USSR Championship, Moscow 1950
[[Pgn| d4|Nf6|c4|g6|Nc3|d5|Nf3|Bg7|Bg5|c6| e3|Ne4|Bh4|Nxc3|bxc3|Qa5|Qd2|Nd7|cxd5|cxd5|c4|Qxd2+|Kxd2|dxc4|Bxc4|Nb6|Bb3|Bf6|Bg3|& ]]

Smyslov demonstrated how the Bg5-h4 bishop can later swing to g3 and f4, exerting long-term pressure on Black’s queenside pawns.

Key Ideas for Both Sides

1. Pawn Breaks – White: e4, cxd5; Black: …c5, …dxc4, …e5.
2. Minor-Piece Pressure – The pin on f6 and the manoeuvre Bf1-e2-f3 can be annoying for Black.
3. Queen Activity – The typical …Qa5 puts immediate tactical pressure on c3 and d4.
4. Transpositions – Depending on move order the game can transpose to the Slav, Semi-Slav or even King’s Indian structures.

Interesting Facts & Anecdotes

• Smyslov first played 5.Bg5 against Efim Geller in 1949, winning a model game that popularised the idea.
• Because Black’s setup resembles the Slav Defense, some beginners mistake the position for a completely different opening after only five moves!
• The move …c6 earned the tongue-in-cheek nickname “the Grün-Slav” among Soviet analysts, merging both openings’ names.
• Computer engines today rate the line as fully playable for both sides, but practical tests show that the side unfamiliar with its subtleties often drifts into an inferior IQP endgame.

Summary

The 5.Bg5 c6 line offers a strategically rich alternative to the highly theoretical main lines of the Grünfeld. It balances solidity and dynamism, giving both players a chance to outplay the opponent in a less-charted territory. Whether you adopt it to dodge preparation or to explore fresh middlegame structures, understanding its key pawn breaks and piece manoeuvres is essential for exploiting its full potential.