English Opening: Anglo-Grünfeld Defense, Korchnoi Variation

What English Opening: Anglo-Grünfeld Defense, Korchnoi Variation puts on the board

Material is level, with white to move.

Black has central pawns on e5.

White can still castle either side; Black can still castle either side.

The c-file is half-open for White, giving that side a natural pressure lane.

What White is trying to build

Use the central pawn mass, but be ready to spend tempi defending it.

Develop pieces to support d4 and exploit the space advantage.

How Black challenges it

Attack d4 with the g7 bishop, …c5 and active piece pressure.

Prefer activity against the centre over passive occupation of it.

The tactical pattern to recognise

The d4 pawn is repeatedly attacked along the long diagonal.

A timely …c5 or …e5 can dissolve White’s centre.

What to check before committing

Advancing the centre beyond the pieces that support it.

Trading active pieces and leaving White an uncontested centre.

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