Grunfeld Defense for Black with IM Marcin Sieciechowicz

Ever since Ernst Grunfeld stunned Alexander Alekhine with his opening innovation, the Grunfeld Defense has been wildly popular as an attacking weapon against 1.d4.

Black gets a solid setup, a pawn in the center, rapid development, and positions rich in tactical opportunity. In short, Black is playing for a win this time.

1.d4 players usually like strategic positions and gradually build their game. In response to it, the Grunfeld is a great opening for taking the game to d4 players… and can lead to crushing early wins.

BUT… you need to know what you’re doing. White gets that big center and has a whole host of different ways of playing against you.

Make sure you know this opening inside out with IM Marcin Sieciechowicz’s new course Grunfeld Defense for Black — a 10+ hour video training where he shows you how to play the Grunfeld like a pro, equipping you with the typical plans, pawn breaks, and positional strategies for both sides.

Here’s what you are going to learn:

• Anti-Grunfeld 3.f3. White wants to castle long and go on the offensive on the kingside. Marcin tells you the best way to play this is by playing 4…e5 and going for the long castle as Black. Don’t forget to reroute your king’s knight to a more active square.
• White’s Bf4/e3 setup. The dark-squared bishop is locked on the kingside. How should Black exploit it? Put pressure on the c3-knight by bringing the queen to a5. Break open the center with a flurry of pawn exchanges and finally, take that bishop with Nh5.
• Catalan without Nf3. White might fianchetto his own king’s bishop to grab hold of the long h1-a8 diagonal. White usually builds a solid pawn from f2 to d4, controlling the dark squares. That’s what you need to challenge right away with e5. (From a real game.)
• Sharp Bc4 attack. With the bishop looking straight at the Black king, White can play some nasty tricks, no doubt. No worries… Black’s dark-squared bishop is super strong, and then Na5 attacks White’s c4-bishop. See how Svidler played this line against Carlsen.
• King’s knight detour. In the e3 system, White often exchanges the queen’s knight on d5 and brings the other knight to c3 to gain control of the d5 square. White stops both c7-c5 and e7-e5, and forces h-pawn forward. Crazy, right? Learn to play it as Black.

What’s Included?

Grunfeld Defense for Black – video course [9 hours 52 mins]

Make sure you know this opening inside out with IM Marcin Sieciechowicz’s new course Grunfeld Defense for Black — a 10-hour video training where he shows you how to play the Grunfeld like a pro, equipping you with the typical plans, pawn breaks, and positional strategies for both sides.

About The Author

IM Marcin Sieciechowicz (FIDE 2462)

Marcin won many medals in the Polish junior chess championship, from which the most important is the gold medal in the Polish junior chess championship in classical chess won in 2010 (under 18). He made two of his IM norms before reaching 18, and the last in 2010, and became International Master just after his 18th birthday. He has been competing three times in the Junior European chess championship (2004, 2007, 2008) and once in World junior chess championship (2010). He has two GM norms, made in 2010 and 2013, his highest rating was 2462. He is playing French Defense for 20 years and has a couple of wins in this opening with the players rated 2600+.