What's New (November 2002 update)
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GM John Emms rounds up the latest in these Nimzo, QI and Benoni Systems. |
Hi everyone!
To download the November '02 Nimzo and Benoni games directly in PGN form, click here: 
Nimzo-Indian: 4 e3
Hi everyone! There's some real action this time, with games in which both White and Black go straight for the jugular and the opponent's king. We begin with Aleksandrov-Adams, Bled Olympiad 2002, which begins 1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nc3 Bb4 4 e3 0-0 5 Bd3 d5 6 Nf3 c5 7 0-0 dxc4 8 Bxc4 Nbd7 9 a3
            
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9 a3 has been quite popular recently, having been played in the 2000 World Championship clash between Kramnik and Kasparov. 9...cxd4 is the normal move, but in this game Adams has success with the unusual 9...Ba5!?.
Next up is Van Wely-Acs, Essent 2002, which is not that important in a theoretical sense but is nevertheless a marvellous 'hack' by Peter Acs. The young Hungarian GM surprised many with his aggressive play and his tournament success ahead of Polgar and Khalifman at Essent, but he showed this to be no fluke when he followed up with an impressive performance for Hungary at the recent Olympiad in Bled.
His game with Van-Wely begins 1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nc3 Bb4 4 e3 0-0 5 Bd3 d5 6 cxd5!?. With this move White immediately clarifies the position in the centre. A positive feature is that White no longer needs to worry about ...dxc4 ideas for Black. On the negative side, Black's light-squared bishop is freed.
Nimzo-Indian: 4 Qc2
After all that wild, attacking chess of the previous section, it's back to something a little more sedate in the game Sasikiran-Korchnoi, Bled Olympiad (although this game does end with a nice mating net). After 1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nc3 Bb4 4 Qc2 0-0 5 a3 Bxc3+ 6 Qxc3, instead of the normal 6...b6, Korchnoi tries the solid 6...d6.
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Having exchanged his dark-squared bishop, it's logical for Black to put his pawns on dark squares.
Nimzo-Indian: 4 Bg5
Mohandesi-Barsov, Leuven 2002 begins 1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nc3 Bb4 4 Bg5 (the Leningrad Variation) 4...c5 5 d5 d6 and now, instead of the normal 6 e3, White plays 6 f3!?.
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This move is unusual, but White's idea is clear - he wants to set up a centre with e2-e4. This game is noticeable for a dazzling queen sacrifice by Black as early as move thirteen!
Queen's Indian: 4 a3
The encounter Khenkin-Prusikhin, Bundesliga 2002/03 starts 1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nf3 b6 4 a3 Ba6 5 Qc2 Bb7 6 Nc3 c5 7 e4 cxd4 8 Nxd4.
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8...Nc6 and 8...Bc5 are the most popular moves. However, in this game Black heads for Hedgehog pawn structure with 8...d6, but is surprised by Khenkin's dynamic approach of castling queenside. This is an unusual thing to do against the Hedgehog, but it works very effectively on this occasion.
Gretarsson-Sargissian, Bled Olympiad 2002 sees Black playing in a more traditional manner with 1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nf3 b6 4 a3 Bb7 5 Nc3 d5. Black immediately stakes a claim for the centre, but play now more resembles a Queen's Gambit Declined than a Queen's Indian. Play continues with 6 cxd5 Nxd5 7 Qc2 Be7 8 Bd2 Nd7 9 e4 Nxc3 10 Bxc3 0-0 and now White raises the stakes with 11 0-0-0!. This line seems very precarious for Black.
Modern Benoni: Modern Classical Variation
We end this month's games with another look at the critical pawn sacrifice line of the Modern Classical Variation: 1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nf3 c5 4 d5 exd5 5 cxd5 d6 6 Nc3 g6 7 e4 Bg7 8 h3 0-0 9 Bd3 b5
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In Shabalov-Womacka, Bad Wiessee 2002, White plays 10 Nxb5. This move is more ambitious than the main alternative 10 Bxb5, which usually leads to a very small edge for White. Play continues with 10...Re8 11 0-0 Nxe4 12 Qa4, but after only three more moves White plays an unconvincing novelty, after which Black has many chances to make something of his advantage. In the end White escapes with a draw, but the theoretical conclusion is that Black is at least holding his own in this particular line.
Remember, if you have any questions or remarks on the Benoni, Weird Benonis, Nimzo Indian, Queen's Indian or Bogo-Indian, I'd be glad to hear from you.
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