Download PGN of July ’25 Nimzo and Benoni games

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Nimzo-Indian: 4 Qc2 d5 5 cxd5 exd5 [E35]

4 Qc2 d5 5 cxd5 exd5 6 Bg5 h6 7 Bh4 Nc6 8 e3 g5! 9 Bg3 h5!:

The main line is 7...c5 8 dxc5 g5 9 Bg3 Ne4. However, in recent years this new way for Black to play has been discovered, and Black has scored well from this position. White has many options here, including 10 f3, 10 h3, 10 h4, 10 Be5, 10 Bd3 and 10 Bb5. The latter move makes sense, as pinning the knight avoids the bishop being captured after Be5. A recent game continued 10...h4 11 Be5 0-0 12 Bxc6 bxc6 13 Nge2 Rb8 14 0-0 Nh5 15 h3 f6 16 Bh2:

Here Alexey Sarana played 16...Bd6! and went on to win a nice game - see the notes to Davtyan, A - Sarana, A.

While annotating this game I noted an earlier correspondence game where Black played 16...Rf7! instead. Black’s kingside attack was so incredible the game warranted full inclusion here too. Enjoy Natoniewski, S - McCann, D.

Nimzo-Indian: 4 e3 0-0 5 Bd3 c5 6 Nge2 cxd4 7 exd4 d5 8 cxd5 Nxd5 [E48]

4 e3 c5 5 Bd3 cxd4 6 exd4 d5 7 cxd5 Nxd5 8 Nge2 0-0 9 0-0 Re8:

9...Re8 is a move-order nuance which has been used by both Dominguez Perez and Caruana. Although ...Re8 is a well-known idea (to allow ...Bf8 after a3), it's unusual for it to be played quite so early. The point is that after the more usual 9...Nc6 White has 10 a3 when the bishop can’t get back to f8 in one move. A recent game continued 10 Re1 Nc6 11 a3 Bf8 and now 12 Nxd5 exd5. This exchange on d5 makes some sense when the black bishop has retreated to f8 rather than d6, and White has chances of an edge here, albeit a small one. See the notes to Maghsoodloo, P - Praggnanandhaa, R.

Nimzo-Indian: 4 e3 0-0 5 Bd3 b6 [E47]

4 e3 0-0 5 Bd3 b6!?:

This relatively rare move may be a sneaky attempt to reach the reliable Keres Variation while sidestepping various other lines, for example 4...b6 5 Nge2, 4 ...c5 5 Nge2 and 4...0-0 5 Bd3 c5 6 Nge2. 6 e4! Is the most challenging response. It certainly feels like the loss of tempo with e2-e3-e4 is justified here if White can establish an imposing centre. A recent game continued 6...d5! 7 cxd5 and now 7...c5!:

An amazingly creative idea. I wonder if this was the fruit of preparation, as it would be difficult to come up with this over the board. For analysis, see the notes to Navara, D - Hakobyan, A.

Nimzo-Indian: 4 f3 c5 [E20]

4 f3 c5 5 d5 0-0 6 e4 d6 7 Nge2 b5 8 Nf4 exd5 9 Nfxd5 Nxd5 10 Qxd5 Qb6!:

This is one of the numerous ...b5 lines in the 4 f3 variation, and to me it looks like one of Black’s better practical options. A recent game continued 11 cxb5 Bb7 12 Qd2 d5 13 a3 Bxc3 14 Qxc3 d4:

Previously we’ve considered 15 Qc2, but here White defended the b5-pawn with 15 Qb3. See the notes to Wang, T - Cardoso Cardoso, J, which proved to be a quick win for Black.

Nimzo-Indian: 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 delayed Saemisch continues to attract interest from grandmasters. This is a position we’ve considered before, when Ding played 9 Ra2!? Against Nepo in their 2023 World Championship match. White has also played 9 e4, 9 Bd3 and finally 9 Be2!?, which was Bluebaum’s recently. His game continued 9...b6 10 0-0 Ba6 11 e4 Na5! 12 f4!:

As usual, White is committed to gambitting the c4-pawn in return for chances on the kingside - see Bluebaum, M - Xiao, T for analysis of a fine attacking game by Bluebaum.

Till next time, John

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