What's New (April 2002 Update)
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GM John Emms rounds up the latest in these Nimzo, QI and Benoni Systems. |
Hi everyone!
All this month's new games are easily downloaded in PGN format using ChessPub.exe, go to ChessPub.exe, put the date on, say, 2nd May 2002, and then click on 'Nimzo and Benoni', over on the right. All these games should appear!
You can also enter the specific ECO code if you are only interested in a particular opening. To download the April '02 Nimzo and Benoni games directly in PGN form, click here: 
Modern Benoni: Knight's Tour Variation
Doug Schwetke from Arlington, Texas is interested in the white side of the Knight's Tour Variation, in particular the line 1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nf3 c5 4 d5 exd5 5 cxd5 g6 6 Nc3 d6 7 Nd2 Bg7 8 Nc4 0-0 9 Bg5
            
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This is quite a tricky line and Black needs to know what he is doing, otherwise he can easily drift into a bad position. In Arlandi-Franco Ocampos, Torino 1983 I look at the main line 9...h6, while in Delfs-Grigoriev, correspondence 1996 I consider other moves for Black.
Modern Benoni: An early Bf4
Vishy Anand makes a rare appearance with the Modern Benoni in Azmaiparashvili-Anand, Dubai 2002. He is faced with the line 1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nf3 c5 4 d5 d6 5 Nc3 exd5 6 cxd5 g6 7 Bf4
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We've met this move a few times before. White plans to put early pressure on the d6-pawn. This is one of White most underrated lines against the Modern Benoni and Black must proceed very carefully. Unfortunately for Anand, he soon plays a careless move and drifts into a very bad position.
Nimzo-Indian: Rubinstein Variation
In the game Onischuk-Vescovi, Poikovsky 2002 take another look at the extremely popular line 1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nc3 Bb4 4 e3 0-0 5 Bd3 d5 6 Nf3 c5 7 0-0 cxd4 8 exd4 dxc4 9 Bxc4 b6
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the so-called Karpov System in which Black inflicts the isolated d-pawn on White. Black makes a mistake on move fourteen and is punished by an impressive sacrificial attack.
The game Obodchuk-Onischuk, Poikovsky 2002 sees the Ukrainian GM battling with rather than against the Nimzo. After 1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nc3 Bb4 4 e3 Onischuk plays 4...b6, the move which most supports Nimzowitch's original concept of controlling the centre with pieces rather than pawns. After 5 Nge2 Ba6 6 Ng3 Onischuk follows up with the interesting idea of 6...h5!?.
Another Weird Benoni?
In the game Gonda-Fogarasi, Budapest 2002 Black comes up with the another strange Benoni: 1 d4 Nf6 2 Nf3 c5 3 d5 d6 4 Nc3 Qa5!?
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White players be warned: it's not as bad as it looks!
Classical Queen's Indian
In the game Berg-Hansen, Greve 2002 we take another look at the line 1 d4 Nf6 2 Nf3 e6 3 c4 b6 4 e3 Bb7 5 Bd3 c5 6 0-0 g6!? 7 Nc3 Bg7 8 d5
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This was thought to be fine for Black but the continuation 8...exd5 9 cxd5 Nxd5 10 Nb5!? is very tricky and it's easy for Black to go astray.
Remember, if you have any questions or remarks on the Benoni, Weird Benonis, Nimzo Indian, Queen's Indian or Bogo-Indian, I'd be glad to hear from you.
Please e-mail me at