Download PGN of September ’24 Nimzo and Benoni games
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Nimzo-Indian: 4 e3 b6 5 Bd3 [E43]
4 e3 b6 5 Bd3 Bb7 6 Nge2!?:
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Apart from a brief note, many years ago, we've not previously looked at this relatively rare move. Given that White scored a crushing win against a world-class grandmaster at the Olympiad, it certainly deserves a but more coverage! See the notes to Lodici, L - Giri, A, for analysis of an interesting gambit option for White.
Nimzo-Indian: 4 e3 b6 5 Nge2 [E44]
4 e3 b6 5 Nge2 Ne4 6 Qc2 Bb7:
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It's noticeable that Fabiano Caruana has been playing 4...b6 recently, and he continued the trend at the Olympiad. In this well-known position, his opponent played 7 h4!?. We looked at this unusual-looking move earlier in the year, when it was a novelty. 7 h4 gains space on the kingside and prevents ...Qh4, which is a typical resource for Black. After 7...0-0 8 a3 Bxc3+ 9 Nxc3 Nxc3 10 Qxc3:
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Black normally chooses a typical set-up with ...d6 and ...Nbd7, which we’ve studied before. Caruana, however, preferred 10...d5!?, a novelty in this position. See Peralta, F - Caruana, F for analysis of a game with a nice tactic at the end.
Nimzo-Indian: 4 e3 0-0 5 Nge2 [E46]
4 e3 0-0 5 Nge2 Re8 6 a3 Bf8 7 e4 d5 8 e5 Nfd7:
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Wei Yi - Yakubboev, N was another example of high-level preparation. In this position, the most popular sequence is 9 cxd5 exd5 10 f4, and 9 c5 is also possible. Wei Yi, however, blitzed out 9 h4!? and numerous further moves before pausing to think. After 9...c5 10 Bg5 f6 11 exf6 gxf6 12 Bd2:
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a complex position arises where White has to complete development but Black’s king is somewhat exposed.
Nimzo-Indian: 4 e3 0-0 5 Bd3 d5 6 a3 Bxc3+ 7 bxc3 dxc4 [E49]
4 e3 0-0 5 Bd3 d5 6 a3 Bxc3+ 7 bxc3 dxc4 8 Bxc4 b6:
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8...c5! is by far the most popular choice here, and for a good reason. The minor disruption caused by an early ...Qc7 is certainly useful for Black. However, other moves are possible, and 8...b6 is certainly a natural option. White could be content with a typical small edge with 9 Ne2 Bb7 10 0-0, but in a game at the Olympiad White instead tried to take advantage of the open diagonal to cause some discomfort for Black, with 9 Qf3!?. Black responded with 9...Ba6! and after 16 minutes' thought White decided to grab the rook in the corner. He was soon regretting this decision - see Siddharth, J - Annaberdiev, M for details.
Nimzo-Indian: 4 e3 0-0 5 Bd3 c5 6 Nge2 [E47]
4 e3 0-0 5 Bd3 c5 6 Nge2 cxd4 7 exd4 d5 8 c5!?:
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White usually accepts an IQP with 8 cxd5 Nxd5. However, 8 c5 has gained some interest recently and has been played on a few occasions by Alexey Sarana. Most recently, he was successful with it in a convincing win at the Olympiad - see the notes to Sarana, A - Ivanchuk, V.
Bogo-Indian: 4 Nbd2 b6 5 a3 Bxd2+ 6 Nxd2 [E11]
4 Nbd2 b6 5 a3 Bxd2+ 6 Nxd2!?:
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6 Nxd2 is far less popular than the other two sensible recaptures, but this is likely to be for aesthetic reasons. In fact, it makes a lot of sense for White to fight for control of the e4-square. None other than the world number one, Magnus Carlsen, played this at the Olympiad. After 6...Bb7 7 e3 0-0, there were shades of Lodici-Giri when Carlsen offered the g2-pawn with 8 Bd3!?
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His opponent refused the bait, but following 8...d5 9 0-0 Carlsen gained a comfortable edge and went on to score a convincing win. See Carlsen, M - Gazik, V for analysis.
Till next time, John
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