Download PGN of December ’25 Nimzo and Benoni games

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

4 e3 0-0 5 Bd3 d5 6 a3 Bxc3+ 7 bxc3 dxc4 8 Bxc4 c5 9 Ne2 Qc7 10 Ba2:

In recent years there’s been more at the highest level in 10 Bd3, but 10 Ba2 remains a worthwhile alternative. We’ve seen in the past how challenging it can be for Black, and Donchenko was successful with it at the World Cup. The game continued 10...b6 11 0-0 Ba6 12 Re1 Rd8 13 Ng3 Nc6 14 Rb1 Rac8:

and here Donchenko played 15 Rb2!, a creative way to activate the rook along the second rank. See Donchenko, A - Le, Q for analysis.

4 e3 0-0 5 Bd3 d5 6 a3 Bxc3+ 7 bxc3 dxc4 8 Bxc4 c5 9 Nf3 Qc7 10 Be2 b6 11 Bb2:

9 Nf3 remains a key alternative to 9 Ne2, with White often aiming for a small edge with the bishop pair. In this position Black typically chooses a set-up with ...Bb7 and ...Nbd7. At the World Cup, Wei Yei instead opted for 11...cxd4 12 cxd4 Ba6 to force an exchange of the light-squared bishops, which also has some appeal. See the notes to Maghsoodloo, P - Wei Yi.

Nimzo-Indian: 4 e3 0-0 5 Bd3 d5 6 a3 dxc4 [E49]

4 e3 0-0 5 Bd3 d5 6 a3 dxc4 7 Bxc4 Bd6:

In recent times, 6...dxc4 has been regarded as a fully playable alternative to the exchange on c3. With 7...Bd6, Black aims for the pawn break ...e5, and the game typically continues 8 Nf3 Nc6! with ...e5 coming next.

At the World Cup, the Romanian GM Bogdan-Daniel Deac instead tried the tricky move 8 Qc2!? and he very quickly succeeded in gaining a clear advantage. See how this was achieved in the notes to Deac, B - Suleymanli, A.

Nimzo-Indian: 4 e3 0-0 5 Bd3 c5 [E47]

4 e3 0-0 5 Bd3 c5 6 a3:

With the Saemisch Variation enjoying a surge in popularity in recent years, this has also led to an increase in delayed a3 lines, with 5 a3 and, as here, 6 a3. After 6...Bxc3+ 7 bxc3 we transpose to the Saemisch Variation where White has avoided some of Black’s options. However, Black doesn’t have to play ball. At the World Cup Wei Yi instead played 6...cxd4!? and reached a position with level chances after 7 axb4 dxc3 8 bxc3 d6!:

Previously we’ve considered 8...d5, but the...d6/...e5 set-up works well for Black here. See Piorun, K - Wei Yi for analysis.

Nimzo-Indian: 4 Qc2 0-0 5 e4 [E32]

4 Qc2 0-0 5 e4 d5 6 e5 Ne4 7 a3:

7 Bd3 has been the main line for many years. However, the positions reached after 7...c5 8 Nf3 cxd4 9 Nxd4 Nd7 10 Bf4 Qh4 11 g3 Qh5 have been worked out to a great extent, so it’s unsurprising that players are looking elsewhere for possibilities. There was some top-level interest with 7 a3 over twenty years ago, and recently it’s enjoyed a mini-revival. The main line runs 7...Bxc3+ 8 bxc3 c5 9 Bd3 cxd4 10 cxd4 Nc6 11 Ne2 Qa5+ 12 Kf1!:

Here 12...f6! looks best, and after 13 exf6 Rxf6 (13...Nxf6 is also possible) 14 Bxe4 dxe4 15 Be3, Peter Leko produced a strong OTB novelty with 15...b5!. See Erigaisi, A - Leko, P for analysis.

Nimzo-Indian: 4 Qc2 c5 5 dxc5 0-0 6 a3 [E39]

4 Qc2 c5 5 dxc5 0-0 6 a3 Bxc5 7 Nf3 d5:

The traditional main line here is 7...b6, the Macieja Variation. However, it’s noticeable in recent years that many of the top GMs have preferred 8...d5 to reach QGD-like positions. It’s worth noting, for example, that 8 Bf4 Nc6 9 e3 would transpose to a major main line of the QGD - the 4...Be7 5 Bf4 variation. 8 Bg5 is the most popular choice here, and Black’s most solid response is 8...Be7. Nepo has twice preferred 8...dxc4:

This clarifies the structure in the centre, with the cost being that White’s light-squared bishop may recapture on c4 in one go. See Ghosh, D - Nepomniachtchi, I for details.

Till next time, John

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