Download PGN of April ’23 Nimzo and Benoni games

>> Previous Update >>

Nimzo-Indian Saemisch: 4 e3 0-0 5 a3 Bxc3+ 6 bxc3 [E28]

4 e3 0-0 5 a3 Bxc3+ 6 bxc3 d6 7 Ne2 c5 8 Ng3 Nc6:

The reputation of the Saemisch has increased considerably over the past few years, and being used in a World Championship game gives it an ultimate seal of approval. In this position Ding uncorked 9 Ra2!?. It’s not quite a novelty, but certainly a fresh idea, and it could be argued that it was Ding’s most impressive piece of preparation displayed at the World Championship. As we’ll see, it’s remarkable how often a rook swing along the second rank can benefit White. See Ding Liren - Nepomniachtchi, I for analysis of an extremely entertaining battle.

Nimzo-Indian: 4 Qc2 0-0 5 a3 Bxc3+ 6 Qxc3 d5 [E32]

4 Qc2 0-0 5 a3 Bxc3+ 6 Qxc3 d5 7 cxd5 Ne4 8 Qc2 exd5 9 Bf4 Nc6 10 e3 Re8 11 Nf3:

Because of the strength of 7...Ne4!, 7 cxd5 is seen only rarely. However, recently it’s been played by Carlsen against Caruana, and then by Caruana himself against Nakamura.

The onus is on Black to play actively and utilise his development advantage: 11...g5! 12 Bg3 g4 13 Ne5 Nxe5 14 dxe5!:

was played in Caruana, F - Nakamura, H. This looks like an improvement for White over 14 Bxe5 c5!, and there are some interesting options for both sides in this line.

4 Qc2 0-0 5 a3 Bxc3+ 6 Qxc3 d5 7 Nf3 dxc4 8 Qxc4 b6 9 Bg5 Ba6 10 Qa4 Qd7 11 Qc2 c5 12 dxc5 Rc8 continues to be a relevant line.

Previously we’ve looked at 13 Bxf6 gxf6, but in a recent game Wesley So preferred to attack the queen without capturing on f6. After 13 Rd1 Qe7 14 e4 Bxf1 15 Kxf1, Black could simply recapture on c5, but Fabiano Caruana instead chose 15...h6!? - see So, W - Caruana, F for analysis.

Nimzo-Indian: 4 e3 0-0 5 Bd3 d5 6 a3 Bxc3+ 7 bxc3 dxc4 8 Bxc4 [E49]

4 e3 0-0 5 Bd3 d5 6 a3 Bxc3+ 7 bxc3 dxc4 8 Bxc4 c5 9 Bd3!?:

A subtle idea which was previously played by Vadim Milov and, more recently by Alexey Sarana. The bishop usually has to retreat at some moment, but why so soon? The answer is that White maintains flexibility over his knight’s development, with f3 still a possible destiny. As Black, if you’re not careful you could easily be lured into a line you wouldn’t normally choose to play. After 9...Qc7 10 Bb2 Nc6, White finally commits the knight with 11 Nf3, and following 11...e5 12 Nxe5 Nxe5 13 dxe5 Qxe5 chances look roughly level - see Indjic, A - Caruana, F for details.

Nimzo-Indian: 4 e3 0-0 5 Bd3 d5 6 a3 Be7 [E49]

6...Be7!? (instead of 6...Bxc3) is rare but certainly not bad. 7 Nf3 dxc4 8 Bxc4 c5 9 0-0:

We’ve seen Caruana use the ...Be7 retreat in conjunction with the ...dxc4 plan before, in the 5 Bd2 line vs Keymer, and it looks equally viable here. Black normally keeps the tension, QGA-style, with 9...a6, but Caruana preferred to transpose to another Nimzo line and reach an IQP after 9...cxd4 10 exd4 Nc6 - see Salem, A - Caruana, F.

Nimzo-Indian 4 e3 0-0 5 Bd3 c5 6 Nge2 cxd4 7 exd4 d5 [E41]

4 e3 0-0 5 Bd3 c5 6 Nge2 cxd4 7 exd4 d5 8 cxd5 Nxd5 9 0-0 Nc6 10 Nxd5 exd5 11 Nf4:

10 Nxd5 looks unambitious but, as we’ve seen before, Black can’t afford to relax in these dry-looking double IQP positions. Judging from the evidence of the recent game Lobanov, S - Anton Guijarro, D, the same could be said for White! Anton Guijarro chose the rare move 11...Re8 (11...Bd6 is the main choice). White replied with 12 Qh5, winning the d5-pawn, but was soon under pressure.

Nimzo-Indian: 4 e3 0-0 5 Bd2 [E46]

4 e3 0-0 5 Bd2 c5 6 a3 Bxc3 7 Bxc3 Ne4 8 Ne2 b6 9 d5:

As we’ve seen before, 5...c5 has been Nakamura’s favoured response to 5 Bd2. Previously Nakamura has played 9...Bb7 here, but in a recent game against Carlsen he instead chose 9...Re8!?. By putting the rook on the e-file, Black prepares ...exd5 after which the rook will support the knight. See Carlsen, M - Nakamura, H for analysis.

Till next time, John

>> Previous Update >>

Feel free to share your ideas and opinions on the Forum (the link above on the right), while subscribers with any questions can email me at JohnEmms@ChessPublishing.com.