Download PGN of January ’25 Nimzo and Benoni games
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Nimzo-Indian Saemisch: 4 a3 Bxc3 5 bxc3 0-0 [E27]
4 a3 Bxc3+ 5 bxc3 0-0 6 f3 c5 7 e4 Nc6 8 d5 Na5 9 Bg5 d6 10 Bd3 h6 11 Bh4:
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A recent game appealed to me because of the decision Black made here in this typical-looking Saemisch position. The automatic thought would be to choose the usual idea of ...b6 and ...Ba6 to target the c4-pawn. However, that plan seems to be too slow here, and it’s the dynamic 11...b5! which plays to the demands of the position. See the game Baenziger, F - Kantans, T for analysis.
Nimzo-Indian Saemisch: 4 a3 Bxc3 5 bxc3 b6 [E24]
4 a3 Bxc3+ 5 bxc3 b6 6 f3 Nc6 7 e4 e5:
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7...Ba6 and 7...Na5 are the most popular choices here, but 7...e5 was played in a recent game. White’s response, 8 d5?!, was an instructive mistake. This advance is premature, as there’s no need for White to release the tension so quickly (8 Ne2! is wiser). After 8...Na5 9 Ra2 Ba6:
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not only has White spent a tempo on d5, but Black also doesn’t have to protect the e5-pawn before playing ...Na5. As a result, the attack against c4 is accelerated and Black already stands well. See the game Mikrut, D - Brodowski, P for details.
Nimzo-Indian: 4 e3 0-0 5 Nf3 [E50]
4 e3 0-0 5 Nf3 Bxc3+ 6 bxc3 d6 7 Bd3 e5!:
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It’s unusual to exchange on c3 without any provocation from a2-a3. The occasions in which there’s some justification for doing so normally involve an early Nf3 by White, because in the Saemisch structure the knight usually prefers the e2-square. It’s striking that Black has scored well with 5...Bxc3+ in combination with the pawn offer 7...e5!.
In the diagrammed position, 8 e4! is critical, as we saw in Robson,R-So,W/Saint Louis 2022. The main alternative is 8 Nd2. After 8...Re8 9 0-0 e4!, the bishop normally retreats to c2. In a recent game, White tried 10 Bb1, a novelty, which allowed White to meet 10...Bg4 with 11 Qb3:
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However, after 11...b6 Black’s position was already slightly favourable - see the notes to Khanin, S - Macovei, A.
Nimzo-Indian: 4 e2 b6 5 Nge2 Ne4 [E44]
4 e3 b6 5 Nge2 Ne4 6 Bd2 Nxd2 7 Qxd2 Bb7 8 a3 Be7 9 d5 0-0:
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We recently covered this line with the game Panda,S-Abdusattorov,N/Tashkent 2024, where White played 9 Nf4 instead of 9 d5. In the diagrammed position, the natural 10 g3 has unsurprisingly been White’s choice in the vast majority of games. However, in a recent game White played far more aggressively with 10 f4!? a511 g4!?:
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Analysis of both approaches is found in the notes to the entertaining game Maghsoodloo, P - Gledura, B.
Nimzo-Indian 4 Qc2 d5 5 a3 Bxc3+ 6 Qxc3 0-0 [E32]
4 Qc2 d5 5 a3 Bxc3+ 6 Qxc3 0-0 7 e3:
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With 7 e3, White attempts to avoid the sharp, concrete lines that can arise after 7 Nf3, 7 Bg5 or 7 cxd5. The cost for White is having to block in the dark-squared bishop. Black usually responds with the solid 7...b6, but there are others interesting ways to play. 7...c5 is also possible, while 7...a5!? was played in a recent game. After 8 b3 (8 cxd5! is best) 8...c5! 9 dxc5 Ne4 10 Qc2 Na6!:
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Black was already fine, and seized control after 11 Nf3?! Naxc5 12 Bb2 Qb6!. See the notes to Merario Alarcon, A - Li, D for analysis of 7...a5, 7...b6 and 7...c5.
Bogo-Indian: 4 Bd2 Qe7 [E11]
3 Nf3 Bb4+ 4 Bd2 Qe7 5 e3!?:
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Previously we’ve focussed entirely on White’s most popular choice, 5 g3. However, an argument can certainly also be made for the much less popular 5 e3, especially if White is prepared to play positions very similar to those seen in the Nf3/Bd2 Nimzo. After 5...b6 6 Bd3 Bb7 7 Nc3 0-0 8 0-0 d6:
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we’ve virtually transposed to a Bd2 Nimzo line, with the only difference being Black has played ...Qe7 instead of ...Nbd7. Black has a solid, easy-to-play set-up, but White can keep a small edge with 9 a3 Bxc3 10 Bxc3 Ne4 11 Be1!. See the notes to the recent game Nikitenko, M - Lazavik, D for discussion on this line.
Till next time, John
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