What's New (October 2003 update)
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Hi Everyone! This month we take a look at games in the Nimzo Indian, Queen's Indian, Modern Benoni and Weird Benoni from October 2003. |
Remember, if you have any opinions, ideas or questions, please either make yourself heard at the Forum (the link above on the right) or subscribers can email me at JohnEmms@ChessPublishing.com.
To download the October '03 Nimzo and Benoni games directly in PGN form, click here: 
Nimzo Indian Classical Variation (4 Qc2)
We kick off this month's action with a look at the incredibly complex game El Gindy-Simutowe, Abuja 2003, which begins 1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nc3 Bb4 4 Qc2 0-0 5 e4!
            
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I predict this dangerous move will become more and more popular - many of the lines are ultra-sharp and Black hasn't found an obvious way to equality.
In the super-GM encounter Bareev - Ivanchuk, Rethymnon 2003, Black varies with 1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nc3 Bb4 4 Qc2 c5. After playing 'third fiddle' to 4...0-0 and 4...d5 for many years, this move is beginning to make a comeback at the very highest levels. The game continues 5 dxc5 0-0 6 a3 8 Bf4
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Here 8...Nh5, kicking the bishop on f4, was discussed in Kasparov-Chuchelov, Rethymnon 2003 - see ChessPub (ECO code E39). In this game Black instead opts for straightforward development with 8...Bb7 and we are treated to an impressive exhibition of counterattacking play by Ivanchuk.
Queen's Indian: 4 a3
There's been some heavy theoretical battles in the 'Petrosian Variation' this month. First up there's Kramnik - Polgar, Cap d'Agde 2003, which begins 1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nf3 b6 4 a3 Bb7 5 Nc3 d5 6 Qc2 c5 7 cxd5 exd5? (for 7...cxd4 8 Nxd4 Nxd5 see the game Dreev-Ponomariov, Moscow 2002 in ChessPub - ECO code E12)
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This natural-looking recapture leads to serious problems for Black in this game - Kramnik's response looks very convincing.
There was more unfortunate Queen's Indian news for Judit Polgar when she was on the receiving end of an impressive attacking display by Ivan Sokolov. The game Sokolov - Polgar, Essent 2003 begins with the fashionable line 1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nf3 b6 4 Nc3 Bb7 5 a3 d5 6 cxd5 Nxd5 7 Qc2
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This is a very popular alternative to 7 e3 - White prepares an early e2-e4.
Black's fortunes perk up in the game N.Pert-Iordachescu, Port Erin 2003, which goes 1 d4 Nf6 2 Nf3 e6 3 c4 b6 4 a3 c5 5 d5 Ba6 6 Qc2 exd5 7 cxd5 g6
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Black plays the position like a Modern Benoni with each side having two extra moves: ...b6 and ...Ba6 for Black, and a3 and Qc2 for White. Following 8 Bf4 d6 9 Nc3 Bg7 10 Qa4+ Iordachescu tries an enterprising pawn sac 10...b5!? (the main line runs 10...Qd7 11 Bxd6 Qxa4 12 Nxa4 Nxd5 13 e4 Bxf1 14 Rxf1 with White perhaps having a small advantage in this endgame).
Modern Benoni Fianchetto Variation
The game Kiseleva - Handke, Port Erin 2003 travels right down the long and complex main line with 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 h3 Rb8 13 Nc4 Ne5 14 Na3 Nh5 (14...Bd7 is the other main move for Black - see, for example, Kemp-Ward, British Championship, Millfield 2000 [ECO code A64]).
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The most critical move is 15 e4 - see Van Wely-Timman, Wijk aan Zee 2002. Here White instead defends the g-pawn in preparation of f2-f4 with 15 Kh2, but Black's counterplay proves more than adequate.
Weird Benoni
We finish this month with the intriguing miniature Sarakauskas - Feuerstack, Hamburg 2003, which starts 1 d4 Nf6 2 Nf3 c5 3 d5. This can lead to an anti-Benoni system after 3...e6 4 Nc3!? (instead of 4 c4), while a transposition to the Schmid Benoni is also possible if Black simply continues with 3...g6 4 Nc3 Bg7. However, in this game Black's opts for the most ambitious choice: 3...b5 4 Bg5 Ne4
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This line has become popular since its successful introduction by the Bulgarian GM Veselin Topalov. It's true that Black loses this game, but not before missing a big chance to turn the tables.
Till next time,
John Emms