Gruenfeld Exchange Sideline Fashion Sampler

In my last article, I noted the passing of Zdenko Krnic and presented one of his games. His last completed issue of Chess Informant was #107. There he presented an article on the Gruenfeld Defense featuring the Exchange Variation. The variation was shown in table form with evaluations at the end of each line and 38 notes, which were mostly game references. This is the style of the Encyclopedia of Chess Openings. Krnic was the editor-in-chief of both mentioned publications. The Gruenfeld theory published in #107 concerned the D85 line 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cd5 Nd5 5.Bd2. The main line has been 5.e4 Nc3 6.bc3. The reason why 5.Bd2 was chosen was due to its popularity in recent years. World Champion Anand used it to defeat Svidler in the Tal Memorial in Moscow 2009. For players of the white pieces who want to get a playable game out of the opening and avoid the complications and sacrifices of the main line without avoiding the Gruenfeld, 5.Bd2 appears to be a good choice. This line should not be confused with 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.cd5 Nd5 6.Bd2 which is classified in D90. That line was played by former World Champion Smyslov starting in 1969. In 1970, former World Champion Petrosian used it to draw with future World Champion Fischer. The lines can cross if in the first White plays 5.Nf3 instead of 5.Bd2. For a sample of this line I have chosen games with clear and perhaps amusing conclusions.