OK, typically I don't like threads like this, but I'm hitting a road block. I'm a 2300 USCF rated player who's trying to improve, played 1.e4 most of my life but sometimes have gone 1.d4 to spice things up. I'm thinking about making 1.d4 more than just a once-in-awhile thing, but I don't know where to start in looking for a line against the Gruenfeld.
Other 1.d4 defenses are not causing me as big a problem. Most of them I at least have an idea what I want to try. But NO variation against the Gruenfeld appeals to me!
I think part of the issue is that, as an 1.e4 player, I am not used to having a big pawn center. So += positions just look like = to me. The funny thing is, the KID should cause me the same dilemma, but it doesn't. Probably because I am a KID player as Black and know what the KID player fears.
I've scanned almost all the variations on ChessPub, and some things that I have noted are:
1.) White is having a hard time proving a theoretical edge in the Exchange with 7.Bc4.
2.) The Exchange with 7.Rb1 has maybe too much theory for me to learn.
3.) The Russian has the same problem as I addressed earlier: the big center.
4.) The Fianchetto lines don't look particularly scary for Black.
5.) And now the point that brings me full circle: I don't think White can play for an advantage in any of the sidelines like Bf4, or e3 etc.
Currently I'm fiddling around with 4.Bg5 but I'm not sure in a real otb game I'd like being down a pawn so early, but so far it seems to have more of an 1.e4 feel to it than any other line.
Anybody have any suggestions? Any similar experiences? Should I just go 1.e4 against people if I know they play the Gruenfeld?