Assault On The Fianchetto: 3.h4!? Against The Gruenfeld & Co

• Shop

• Home
• OPENINGS A-Z
• Support
  • CB Magazine
  • Support-Center
  • Download
  • Newsletter
  • Learn chess

• Home
• OPENINGS A-Z
• CB Magazine
• CB Books
• Support
  • Support-Center
  • Newsletter
• Learn chess

• Toggle navigation
  • Home
  • OPENINGS A-Z
  • CB Magazine
  • CB Books
  • Support-Center
  • Download
  • Newsletter
  • Learn chess

Login PLAYCHESS TACTICS VIDEO FRITZ LIVE DATABASE MYGAMES PLAYERS STUDIES SHOP Chess News

SHOP

Search:

Language:

Search:

Language:

DE EN ES FR

Language:

SHOP

english deutsch espanol française Assault on the fianchetto: 3.h4!? against the Gruenfeld & Co by ChessBase I like it! | 0 Comments 1/15/2020 – When top players try out a new opening idea, you will often find an article with analyses and recommendations in one of the next issues of ChessBase Magazine. In the current issue #193 GM Romain Edouard for example takes a closer look at Grischuk's 3.h4!? against Vachier-Lagrave's Gruenfeld. You'll find "fresh unexplored positions" like the aggressive 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.h4!? Enjoy! new: Fritz 20 Your personal chess trainer. Your toughest opponent. Your strongest ally.FRITZ 20 is more than just a chess engine – it is a training revolution for ambitious players and professionals. Whether you are taking your first steps into the world of serious chess training, or already playing at tournament level, FRITZ 20 will help you train more efficiently, intelligently and individually than ever before. ChessBase Magazine 193 Analyses by Caruana, Giri, Duda, Wang Hao, So, Vidit, Vitiugov, McShane and many more. Plus videos by Williams, King and Shirov. 11 opening articles with new repertoire ideas and training sessions in strategy, tactics and endgame! More...

• Still no ChessBase Account? learn more > 8 million games online! Updated weekly, our definitive database has all the latest games. With Live Book and Let’s Check!
• Still no ChessBase Account? learn more > My Games – Access your games from everywhere. Store your games, training material and opening repertoire in the cloud. Annotate, analyze and share.
• Still no ChessBase Account? learn more > Sac, sac, mate! Solve tactical positions of your playing strength. Boost your calculation skills. Enjoy adrenalin rush with tactic fights!
• Still no ChessBase Account? learn more > Thousands of hours of high class video training. Openings, Middlegame, Endgame Lessons. Top authors like Daniel King, Lawrence Trent and Rustam Kasimdzhanov
• Still no ChessBase Account? learn more > Real Fun against a Chess Program! Play, analyze and train online against Fritz. Beginner, club and master levels. Assisted play and calculation training.
• Still no ChessBase Account? learn more > Learn openings the right way! Build and maintain your repertoire. Memorize it easily move by move by playing against the variation trainer.
• Still no ChessBase Account? learn more > The ultimate chess experience every day, PlayChess.com welcomes 20,000 chess players from all around the world – from beginner to grandmaster.

ONLINE SHOP

The top-tier Trompowsky

The Trompowsky is especially suited for faster time controls as you don‘t have to memorise endless lines of theory, and you push your opponent out of their comfort zone after your second move.

€49.90

New repertoire ideas (II)

Are you the aggressive attacking type? Why both with quaint opening principles like development and castling when you can launch your h-pawn on move 3? Indeed, it's inspiring to see the starting position of this opening survey arise already after the third move: 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.h4!?

This strange attacking move was made popular recently by Alexander Grischuk, who notably used it several times against Maxime Vachier-Lagrave. It is an interesting weapon especially against Gruenfeld players, as we will see throughout the article. Black generally goes for Benoni setups against 3.h4, but can also opt for the King's Indian, Benko, and even Gruenfeld — at his own risk.

Let's examine these approaches one by one:

A) 3...h5

The "bullet game" reaction to 3.h4 — Black mechanically blocks the further advance of the white h-pawn We will see that the inclusion of these moves rather favours White, who will often use the g5-square for his bishop.

B) 3...♞c6!?

An interesting answer, keeping all options possible in the centre (except ...c5). Generally though, Black will simply develop with ...♝g7 and ...0-0, then play ...d6 waiting for e2-e4 in order to reply ...e7-e5. Of course, he should watch out for d4-d5 at all times.

C) 3...♝g7 4.♘c3 d6

ChessBase Magazine 193Analyses by Caruana, Giri, Duda, Wang Hao, So, Vidit, Vitiugov, McShane and many more. Plus videos by Williams, King and Shirov. 11 opening articles with new repertoire ideas and training sessions in strategy, tactics and endgame!

The pure King's Indian setup for Black. White has a choice of different plans. This is definitely one of the most critical options for Black against 3.h4!?.

D) 3...♝g7 4.♘c3 d5

Insisting on the Gruenfeld. After 5.h5! (already included in the diagram), I do like White's prospects, although there's still a lot to discover.

E) 3...c5 4.d5 b5 — Benko-style!

This was one of the first high-level games in this line (Grischuk-Vachier Lagrave, FIDE Grand Prix Riga 2019). In some variations, the move h4 turns out to be useful, while in some others it does not. Also, here I do like White's prospects, although a Benko specialist would maybe enjoy going for this line.

F) 3...♝g7 4.♘c3 c5 — Benoni style!

After 5.d5 e6 6.e4 exd5 7.exd5 0-0 8.♗e2 ♜e8 9.♔f1 we reach the following critical position:

This was played in one game at the highest level possible (Carlsen-Vachier Lagrave, Saint Louis Blitz 2019), Black is probably doing fine, but there's also a lot to be discovered.

Conclusion

Overall, 3.h4!? is an interesting weapon, especially against Gruenfeld players. It offers fresh unexplored positions and — this is quite important for such early new attempts — even if Black reacts excellently, White isn't worse! Definitely worth a try for blitz, rapid — but also classical games!

You will find the full article with analyses and commented games inChessBase Magazine #193 (January/February 2020).

ChessBase Magazine 193Analyses by Caruana, Giri, Duda, Wang Hao, So, Vidit, Vitiugov, McShane and many more. Plus videos by Williams, King and Shirov. 11 opening articles with new repertoire ideas and training sessions in strategy, tactics and endgame!

Advertising

Books, boards, sets: Chess Niggemann Books, boards, sets: Chess Niggemann

ChessBase Reports about chess: tournaments, championships, portraits, interviews, World Championships, product launches and more.

Discuss

Rules for reader comments

User Password

Not registered yet? Register

Comment News

ChessBase '26 - Mega Package

Expand your Chess Horizon The perfect equipment for 2026 with the latest ChessBase program '26, Mega Database, ChessBase Magazine and Premium-Account!

€349.90

ChessBase Magazine 229

FIDE World Cup 2025 with analyses by Adams, Bluebaum, Donchenko, Shankland, Wei Yi and many more. Opening videos by Blohberger, King and Marin. 11 exciting opening articles with new repertoire ideas and much more.

€21.90

ChessBase '26 & Fritz 20

Deeper understanding, better preparation, and more effective training – ChessBase’26 and FRITZ 20 take your chess to the next level.

€269.80 €229.90

Fritz your Chess Coach 2

I am FRITZ, and I have been redefining the world of chess for over 30 years.

€19.99

King’s Indian – A Complete Repertoire for Black Part 1 & 2

GM Blohberger presents a complete two-part repertoire for Black: practical, clear, and flexible – instead of endless theory, you’ll get straightforward concepts and strategies that are easy to learn and apply.

€89.90

King’s Indian – A Complete Repertoire for Black Part 1: Mastering the Sidelines

GM Blohberger presents a complete two-part repertoire for Black: practical, clear, and flexible – instead of endless theory, you’ll get straightforward concepts and strategies that are easy to learn and apply.

€49.90

King's Indian – A Complete Repertoire for Black Part 2: The Classical Main Lines

GM Blohberger presents a complete two-part repertoire for Black: practical, clear, and flexible – instead of endless theory, you’ll get straightforward concepts and strategies that are easy to learn and apply.

€49.90

ChessBase Magazine Extra 228

Opening videos: Sipke Ernst brings the Ulvestad Variation up to date + Part II of ‘Mikhalchishin's Miniatures’. Special: Jan Werle shows highlights from the FIDE Grand Swiss 2025 in the video. ‘Lucky bag’ with 40 analyses by Ganguly, Illingworth et al.

€14.90

Privacy policy | Imprint | Contact | Cookies Management | licenses | Home © 2017 ChessBase GmbH | Osterbekstraße 90a | 22083 Hamburg | Germany coldest news We use cookies and comparable technologies to provide certain functions, to improve the user experience and to offer interest-oriented content. Depending on their intended use, analysis cookies and marketing cookies may be used in addition to technically required cookies. Here you can make detailed settings or revoke your consent (if necessary partially) with effect for the future. Further information can be found in our data protection declaration. Acceptall Rejectall Detailedinformation

Pop-up for detailed settings

We use cookies and comparable technologies to provide certain functions, to improve the user experience and to offer interest-oriented content. Depending on their intended use, cookies may be used in addition to technically required cookies, analysis cookies and marketing cookies. You can decide which cookies to use by selecting the appropriate options below. Please note that your selection may affect the functionality of the service. Further information can be found in our privacy policy.

Technically required cookies Technically required cookies: so that you can navigate and use the basic functions and store preferences. Analysis Cookies To help us determine how visitors interact with our website to improve the user experience. Marketing-Cookies To help us offer and evaluate relevant content and interesting and appropriate advertisement. Save and continue