Grunfeld Defense Burille Vienna Variation
Grünfeld Defense
Definition
The Grünfeld Defense is a hyper-modern response to 1.d4 that begins with the moves 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5. Instead of occupying the center with pawns in the classical style, Black allows White to build a broad pawn front and then proceeds to challenge it with piece play and pawn pressure—especially the advance …c5 and the fianchettoed bishop on g7 attacking the center from afar.
Typical Move Order & Main Ideas
- 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5
- 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4 Nxc3 6.bxc3 Bg7 — “Exchange Variation,” the traditional main line.
- Black strikes with …c5, …Qa5, or …Bg4, putting immediate pressure on the pawn wedge d4–e4–c3.
Strategic Themes
- Piece Activity over Pawn Structure: Black accepts a space deficit but relies on swift piece development.
- Central Counterplay: The moves …c5 or …e5 undermine White’s center; the g7-bishop is a key attacker.
- Minority Play: In many endgames Black’s queenside majority (a-, b- and sometimes c-pawns) can create a passed pawn.
Historical Significance
Introduced to master play by Ernst Grünfeld in 1922 (versus Alekhine at Vienna), the opening quickly became a favorite of aggressive counter-punchers. It was adopted by World Champions such as Smyslov, Fischer, Kasparov, and Carlsen. Kasparov, in particular, used the Grünfeld as a main drawing-weapon against Anatoly Karpov in their title matches of the 1980s.
Illustrative Game
Kortchnoi – Kasparov, Lucerne Olympiad 1982: Kasparov’s energetic …c5 and …Qa5 show the Grünfeld’s dynamic counterplay.
Interesting Facts
- Because the bishop on g7 is so important, Grünfeld specialists joke that “the bishop is worth a rook” in many positions.
- Many engines initially evaluate White’s center favorably, but long computer lines often tilt back toward equality or even Black’s advantage—an early example of humans trusting activity over material.
Burille Variation (Grünfeld Defense)
Definition
The Burille Variation is a solid, less-theoretical sideline of the Grünfeld that arises after
- 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.e3
With the quiet move 4.e3, White shores up the d4-pawn and keeps options flexible, aiming for an eventual cxd5 or c4-c5 while avoiding the immense Grünfeld theory in the Exchange lines.
Strategic Purpose
- Flexible Pawn Chain: By supporting d4, White may later play Nf3, Nf3–e5, or even f2-f4.
- Delayed Confrontation: White does not reveal whether the light-squared bishop will go to g2, d3, or e2.
- Solid but Modest: Black equalizes comfortably if prepared, yet unprepared Grünfeld players can be dragged into unfamiliar Queen’s Gambit-type structures.
Typical Continuations
- 4…Bg7 5.Nf3 O-O 6.Bd2 (developing harmoniously before committing the c-pawn)
- 4…Bg7 5.Nf3 O-O 6.b4 (Kosten–Korchnoi idea: a queenside space-grab)
Historical Notes
The line is named for Xavier Burille (1866-1911), a French master who employed systems with an early e2-e3 during the Paris and Monte Carlo tournaments at the turn of the 20th century. Although seldom seen in elite play, it has been adopted as a surprise weapon by grandmasters such as Boris Avrukh and Matthew Sadler.
Example Miniature
The queen sortie Qb3 combined with Nd5 created tactical pressure that netted material.
Interesting Tidbits
- The Burille often transposes into the Colle-Zukertort or certain lines of the Queen’s Indian—handy for players who specialize in those systems.
- Because it cuts down on Grünfeld theory, club players sometimes refer to 4.e3 as “the lazy man’s answer” to the Grünfeld.
Vienna Variation (Queen’s Gambit Declined)
Definition
The Vienna Variation is a sharp system against the Queen’s Gambit Declined that arises after
- 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 dxc4
Black momentarily grabs the c4-pawn, provoking White to attack the center rapidly. The line is named after the 1922 Vienna tournament where it was analyzed deeply.
Main Line Continuation
- 5.e4 c5 6.Nf3 cxd4 7.Nxd4 Bb4 8.e5 Qa5 — a critical tabiya featuring opposite-side castling possibilities and a tense pawn structure.
Strategic Features
- Pawn Sacrifice for Development: White often sacrifices the c4-pawn (and sometimes e5) to seize the initiative.
- Central Tension: Both sides fight for the e4 and d5 squares; piece activity outweighs material.
- Semi-Benoni Flavor: After …c5 Black can obtain a Benoni-like pawn structure with chances for counterplay on the queenside.
Historical & Theoretical Significance
The Vienna Variation was a favorite of Alexander Alekhine and Richard Réti, who contributed key analyses. In the modern era, it made a comeback thanks to the encyclopedic preparation of Garry Kasparov, who used it to defeat Viswanathan Anand in their 1995 World Championship match (Game 10).
Illustrative Game
Anand – Kasparov, PCA World Championship (Game 10) 1995: Kasparov’s preparation in the Vienna yielded a complex middlegame where Black’s pair of bishops eventually triumphed.
Interesting Facts
- The line is one of the few QGD systems where Black openly concedes the classical center (d5-pawn) in exchange for dynamic activity.
- Because both kings can become exposed quickly, the variation leads to a high decisive-game percentage even at grandmaster level.
- The ECO codes for the Vienna run from D37 to D39; many databases still label older games as “QGD: Vienna.”