Grunfeld Defense: Russian Variation, Keres Variation
In the Grunfeld Defense: Russian Variation, Keres Variation, aim to understand the plans and pawn structures, not just memorize the first moves.
The Grunfeld Defense: Russian Variation, Keres Variation is a chess opening classified under ECO code D98. It is reached after the moves 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. Qb3 dxc4 6. Qxc4 O-O 7. e4 Bg4 8. Be3 Nfd7 9. Be2 Nb6 10. Qd3 Nc6 11. O-O-O: 21 moves in, with Black to play.
It belongs to the Grunfeld Defense family — one of many ways the line can branch. Understanding the parent system’s plans is the fastest way to play this variation well.
Club players rarely lose the Grunfeld Defense: Russian Variation, Keres Variation in the opening itself. They lose it a few moves later, when the plan behind the moves runs out: that is what reading your own games in this line shows you.