Download PGN of November ’24 Nimzo and Benoni games
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Nimzo-Indian Saemisch: 4 e3 0-0 5 a3 Bxc3+ 6 bxc3 [E28]
4 e3 0-0 5 a3 Bxc3+ 6 bxc3 d6 7 f3!?:
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We first saw 7 f3 in the brilliant game Nepomniachtchi,I-Giri,A/Saint Louis 2024. At the time I wondered if Nepo was simply trying to take Giri out of his preparation, but it's noticeable that 7 f3 has been repeated on quite a few occasions since.
7...Nc6 was Giri's choice against Nepo, but a more recent game continued 7...c5 8 Bd3 e5 9 Ne2 Nc6 10 0-0 Ne8:
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Here White played a typical positional pawn sacrifice with 11 e4! and reached a promising position - see the notes to Praggnanandhaa, R - Svane, R.
Nimzo-Indian: 4 e3 b6 5 Bd3: Keres [E43]
4 e3 b6 5 Bd3 Bb7 6 Nf3 0-0 7 0-0 c5 8 Na4 cxd4 9 a3 Be7 10 exd4:
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Black usually chooses a restrained set-up here with 10...d6 followed by ...Nbd7. The immediate 10...d5?! is met convincingly by 11 c5!. However, Black has does have the option of 10...Qc7!? which covers c5 in preparation for ...d5. This was tried in a recent game, which continued 11 Re1 d5! 12 c5! The c-pawn moves forward anyway, as after 12...bxc5 13 Nxc5 Bxc5 14 dxc5 Qxc5:
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White enjoys good positional compensation for the pawn investment - see the notes to Sarana, A - Erigaisi, A.
Nimzo-Indian: 4 e3 b6 5 Nge2 Ne4 [E44]
4 e3 b6 5 Nge2 Ne4 6 Bd2 Nxd2 7 Qxd2:
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I was surprised to discover that we haven't previously covered 6 Bd2 (which is the second most popular choice, after 6 Qc2), and with 4...b6 recently showing some signs of revival, it’s a good opportunity to do so. In contrast to 6 Qc2, with 6 Bd2 White gives up the bishop pair but in return gets a free rein in the centre. Following 7...Bb7 8 a3 Be7 9 Nf4 d6 10 Be2 0-0 11 0-0 Nd7:
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Black can be content with the result of the opening and there are numerous reasonable and flexible options here. See the notes to Panda, S - Abdusattorov,N for details, including analysis of earlier alternatives for both sides.
Nimzo-Indian: 4 e3 0-0 5 Bd2 [E46]
4 e3 0-0 5 Bd2 b6 6 Bd3 Bb7 7 Nh3!?:
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I was genuinely shocked by 7 Nh3, as I'd not previously seen the tactical idea. According to my database it was first played by the Polish IM Jakub Seeman in 2022. White's idea is seen after 7...Bxg2 8 Rg1 Bxh3 9 Qf3!, when the double attack allows White to regain the piece, and after 9...d5 10 Qxh3 White clearly enjoys good compensation for the pawn. Instead, 7...c5 can be met by 8 d5! When White is aiming for a favourable position similar to those seen in the 4 f3 c5 variation. See notes to an the entertaining game Abdusattorov, N - Maghsoodloo,P.
Nimzo-Indian: 4 e3 0-0 5 Bd3 c5 6 Nge2 d5 [E41]
3 Nc3 Bb4 4 e3 0-0 5 Bd3 c5 6 Nge2 d5 7 cxd5 cxd4 8 exd4 Nxd5 9 0-0 Nc6 10 a3:
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In recent years, 10 a3 has been White’s most popular choice at GM level. Chasing the bishop here has the advantage of avoiding lines where Black plays ...Re8 followed by ...Bf8.
Previously we've focussed on 10...Bd6 and the currently most popular response 11 Re1. However, 10...Be7 is also possible - see the recent game Maghsoodloo, P - Shyam, N for analysis.
Nimzo-Indian: 4 e3 0-0 5 Bd3 d5 6 a3 Bxc3+ 7 bxc3 [E49]
4 e3 0-0 5 Bd3 d5 6 a3 Bxc3+ 7 bxc3 dxc4 8 Bxc4 c5 9 Ne2 Qc7 10 Ba2 b6 11 0-0:
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In recent times, 10 Bd3 has been the more popular choice at the highest level, but 10 Ba2 remains a challenging alternative. For Black, 11...Ba6! 12 Bb2 Nc6 is the critical response, as we’ve seen in numerous games. In contrast, 11...Bb7, while a natural move, doesn't fit well in this particular set-up, where White's knight is on e2 rather than f3. The problem Black has is that it's easy for White to achieve the e3-e4 advance. After 12 Ng3! Nbd7 13 Re1! White's play is easy and logical, with e4 coming next.
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See the notes to Lobanov, S - Jinan, J, a particularly convincing win for White.
Till next time, John
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