Considering Learning the Grunfeld

Against 1.d4, I usually try to get a Semi-Slav but I want to have another opening against d4 the way I have the French and Taimanov against 1.e4. I was at peak 1600 chess.com 1917 lichess so would it be beneficial to learn the Grunfeld or should I just stick to the Semi-Slav?

It is a completely different system than your semi-slav. The French and Sicilian are unbalanced or asymetrical openings so they have ideas and thinking in common. Semi Slav is about more about your pawns, Grunfeld is a sharp hypermodern opening where you offer up the d pawn for piece activity and long range pressure against the pawn centre. You will be increasing your variety in game style and play.

Try for the englund gambit. I will makie a forum on it

 

Tried that but people stop falling for the tricks like years ago

I have no problem with that as long as it helps me in the long run

Im not the world's biggest fan of 1.d4 for white.. so both openings will be a waste of your time preparing against me

But out of the two semi Slav is better 

 

Richard Rapport beat MVL in a Grünfeld at this year’s Grand Prix in an instructive game that demonstrated how white’s central pawns can become dangerous. Rapport introduced 12. Rc3, a theoretical novelty that will become important, but the game also is just good at demonstrating one of white’s main plans: https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=2256413

Vidit played a good game against Markus Ragger, where Vidit played for a kingside attack in an endgame and won: https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1991950

Shirov’s famous …Bh3 was in a Grünfeld: https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1143956

And this game Shirov played against Gelfand shows the tactical resources and the queenside strength black often relies on in this opening: https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1465277

#1
"I usually try to get a Semi-Slav" ++ Good

"I want to have another opening against d4" ++ Why?

"I have the French and Taimanov against 1.e4." ++ Stick to one only

"would it be beneficial to learn the Grunfeld" ++ No, you will lose many games before you get a grip on it

"should I just stick to the Semi-Slav?" ++ Yes, that way you accumulate experience

Thanks for your suggestions. I play the French but transpose to the Taimanov if they play a knight move on the second move to avoid the Exchange Variation. Sometimes I play multiple games against someone else and they beat me in one opening so I fall back on another one to hopefully get a different result. Although, you say I will lose a lot of games learning it but what about if I try casual games until I understand it? 

The Grunfeld is a great opening and can be very instructive. But if you don't have time to study a lot of theory then it's not a practical choice. The SemiSlav is also great. Since you have such a solid first defense already, maybe you could pick up a more economical second defense that requires less memory work. Two openings that can lead to a similar theme of fighting against the big white center are the QGA and the Tchigorin Defense (1.d4 d5 2.c4 Nc6). The QGA is more reliable, and Grunfeld fans like Smyslov, Kasparov, and Grischuk play(ed) it. I have even seen Vachier-LaGrave playing the QGA recently. The Tchigorin Defense is more creative and definitely not for everybody, but it might be worth experimenting with to see if you like it.

#10
"Sometimes I play multiple games against someone else and they beat me in one opening so I fall back on another one to hopefully get a different result."
++ You lose because you made some mistake, not because of the opening.

"I will lose a lot of games learning it but what about if I try casual games until I understand it?"
++ You learn no great deal from casual games, because the opponent also approaches it casually. Grünfeld is tough to play. It is strategically sound and is good to play for an endgame win with black thanks to your queenside pawn majority, but because of white's strong center e4-d4 and only Bg7 defending your king, you have to defend very carefully and a slight slip causes a loss.

Usually it isn't necessarily recommended because it's quite complex and has a lot of theory.

And if your main goal is quick improvement, there are probably more useful things than adding a second opening against d4 to your repertoire

But it certainly won't hurt you and as long as you are having fun, there is nothing wrong with it.

You could for example start with looking at some old Kasparov games in the Grünfeld, from them you can also learn some other things and you will get a better feeling, if the Grünfeld is something for you and if you want to dive deeper into it.

Ik this post is old, but the grünfeld is extremely fun to play with! Sure, it may be difficult to understand for some at first. However, once you learn most of the opening theory and understand the opening ideas, it is not so bad! The grünfeld is aggressive and also positional/solid; which is why I enjoy the opening. If you still want to learn it after 2-3 years still, "hanging pawns" is a good chess youtuber that can help provide the ideas and theory! (You probably know him, but idk that). Additionally, it's easier to learn the grünfeld defense than the semi-slav (imo).