What's New (June 2003 update)
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Hi Everyone! This month we take a look at games in the Nimzo Indian, Queen's Indian and Modern Benoni. |
Remember, if you have any opinions, ideas or questions, please either make yourself heard at the Forum (the link above on the right) or email me at JohnEmms@ChessPublishing.com.
To download the June '03 Nimzo and Benoni games directly in PGN form, click here: 
Nimzo Indian Classical Variation (4 Qc2)
We start this month with the game Burmakin - Olafsson, Istanbul 2003, which begins 1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nc3 Bb4 4 Qc2 0-0 5 a3 Bxc3+ 6 Qxc3 b6 7 Bg5 Bb7 8 e3
            
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This move is the main alternative to 8 f3, but White's opening play in this game leaves a lot to be desired. He falls for a trick on move 15 and is forced into an unsound piece sacrifice.
The game Van Wely-Iordachescu, Istanbul 2003 witnesses a return of the enticing pawn sacrifice 1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nc3 Bb4 4 Qc2 0-0 5 a3 Bxc3+ 6 Qxc3 b5!?. This is a refreshing change from 6...b6 and is reminiscent of the Benko Gambit. Black gives up a pawn in order to open up files on the queenside. The game continues with 7 cxb5 c6 8 a4!?
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This is a very double-edged way of hanging on to the extra pawn because White incurs obvious queenside weaknesses. This game is notable for a bizarre end where Black misses at least two easy wins and then allows his two queens (!) to be skewered by a rook.
Again from the recent European Individual Championship, the game Ivanisevic - Nisipeanu, Istanbul 2003 begins 1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nc3 Bb4 4 Qc2 0-0 5 e4!?.
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This move is looking more and more logical every time I come across it. White grabs the centre, although the price is a lack of development. In this game Black opts for the solid 5...d6, but there's nothing solid about his subsequent play, which is quite inspirational. I'm still not totally sure where White goes wrong. Perhaps 5 e4 isn't so strong after all...
Queen's Indian 4 g3
Schandorff - Nyysti, Istanbul 2003 starts 1 d4 Nf6 2 Nf3 e6 3 c4 b6 4 g3 Ba6 5 b3 Bb4+ 6 Bd2 Be7 and now White plays 7 Nc3
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An interesting alternative to the tried and trusted 7 Bg2. Black's reaction in this game isn't the best and it's all over in 18 moves.
In Palo - Anastasian, Istanbul 2003, White reacts to the attack on the c4-pawn by playing 5 Qa4. This is less popular than 5 b3 or 5 Nbd2, but White players have turned to this move recently. The game continues 5...c5 6 Bg2 Bb7 7 dxc5 bxc5 (7...Bxc5 is also possible) 8 0-0 Be7 9 Nc3 0-0 10 Bf4 d6 11 Rfd1 a6!?
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Black normally doesn't take time out to play this move so early, but I like it. The idea is to prepare ...Qc7 by preventing Nb5.
Modern Benoni Fianchetto Variation
We finish off this month by looking at two games in the g3 Benoni. First up we have an impressive performance by Black in the game Delemarre - Stellwagen, Leeuwarden 2003, which begins 1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 c5 3 d5 e6 4 Nc3 exd5 5 cxd5 d6 6 Nf3 g6 7 g3 Bg7 8 Bg2 0-0 9 0-0 Re8 10 Nd2 a6 11 a4 Nbd7 12 Nc4
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This is the main alternative to 12 h3, which we've seen many times before on this website. Check out, for example, Van Wely-Timman, Wijk aan Zee 2002 in ChessPub (ECO code A64). Black played the ambitious 12...Ne5 (as opposed to 12...Nb6) and his enterprising play is well rewarded.
In Micic - Grigoriants, Pancevo 2003, Black instead opts for 9...Na6!?
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This move, a favourite of the Romanian Grandmaster Mihail Suba, has never enjoyed the same popularity as ideas with ...Re8 and ... Nbd7. Black doesn't really achieve the same level of counterplay. In my opinion the best plan is the immediate Nf3-d2-c4. This causes Black real problems and was the main reason why I gave up 9...Na6 (see Arkell-Rayner, Dublin 1993, for example). Here, however, Micic plays less critically with 10 Bf4, but Black secures a good position after 10...Nc7 11 a4 Re8 12 Re1 Ne4!.
Till next time,
John Emms