What do you think about the unknown Gunderam defense?
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Apr 1, 2025
0
#3
I experimented with the Gunderam. It's horrid. If white opens the position quickly your queen and king are on the same file and your in trouble. You generally need to push c6 to prevent white knight out of d5, but that creates a weakness on d6 that's a problem. Gunderam tends to a Philidor where you wasted a move putting your queen on a bad square.
Apr 1, 2025
0
#4
its not great but with sufficient prep, its not outright terrible either, you can see in the database that plenty of 2500 and 2600 GM have given it a whirl mostly in blitz games and done alright. For example:
https://lichess.org/qmhkTkx0this is one of those defenses where critical play gives white 0.8-1 advantage but it is very easy for this advantage to drop to a more a reasonable 0.6-0.7 with natural good moves.
Once it was played against me and I felt uncomfortable. I've been analyzing it a bit, but I don't see much sense in playing it with Black. There are more interesting options in that style like the Philidor or the Pirc for those who like those types of setups. Also, a strange f5 if they play Bc4 (the Gunderam Gambit), but for that, it's better to play the Schliemann variation of the Ruy Lopez or the Latvian Gambit directly, which is what I do.
So, I don't know, I like to play openings that can surprise the opponent. This one can surprise because it’s almost never seen, but I don't see any lines that could be attractive for Black. It's a pretty passive line, and as I said, I'd almost prefer to study more reputable lines like Philidor or Pirc than play the Gunderam.
Anyway, I'm sure it's playable, and there’s probably an expert in the world of this defense who finds it very attractive to play, so I won't just go by my prejudices.
What do you think?