Nimzowitsch Defence
1.e4 Nc6 2.Nf3 d5!?
Normal are 2...d6 and 2...e5, but ChessBase's 2023 Mega database has 2,310 examples of the text, which is strongly reminiscent of the Scandinavian.
3.exd5 Qxd5 4.Nc3 Qd6!?
Most popular is 4...Qa5, but Stockfish15 and Komodo13.02 prefer the text.
5.Nb5!?
The mainline in Mega23 runs 5.d4 Bg4?! (5...Nf6 is popular with strong players), after which the engines reckon 6.d5 and 6.Nb5 leave White better.
5...Qd8 6.d4 a6 7.Nc3 Bg4!?
The engines prefer 7...Nf6 or 7...Bf5.
8.Be2
Best, according to the engines, is 8.d5!?, eg 8...Nd5 9.Qe2!? Nxf3+ 10.gxf3 Bf5 12.Bf4 with what they reckon is the upper hand for White.
8...e6 9.0-0 Nf6 10.Be3 Be7 11.Re1 0-0 12.h3 Bh5 13.a3!?
The engines like this prevention of ...Bb4 and ...Nb4.
13...Rb8!? 14.Qd2 b5 15.Red1!?
Keeping the queen's rook on a1 to be ready for play down the a file in the event of ...b4. The engines prefer 15.Ne5 or 15.Rad1.
15...Qe8!?
This is Stockfish15's top choice; Komodo13.02 likes the text and 15...Nd5.
16.Bf4 Bd6 17.Bg5!? Nd7!? 18.Ne4 f6 19.Nxd6 cxd6 20.Bf4
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| The game has been quiet tactically but complicated positionally - how should Black proceed? |
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20...Qe7?!
Probably best is 20...e5, and if 21.dxe5 then 21...Nde5!?, when the engines reckon 22.Qxd6 Nxf3+ 23.Bxf3 Bxf3 24.gxf3 Rc8 gives Black quite good compensation for a pawn.
21.d5 Bxf3?!
The engines give 21...Nce5 22.dxe5 dxe5 23.Bxh5 exf4 and either 24.dxe6 or 24.d6, in each case with a winning advantage for White.
22.Bxf3?!
This is enough for a large edge, but almost certainly better is 22.dxc6, unveiling the threat of 23.Bxd6.
22...Nce5 23.Be2 Ng6 24.dxe6 Nxf4 25.Qxf4 Ne5
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| White has emerged from the flurry of tactics a pawn up, at least temporarily, and with pressure against d6, but Black has a strong knight |
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26.Qd4 Rfd8 27.Qd5 Rbc8 28.c3 Rc5 29.Qe4 d5
Not 29...Qxe6?? 30.f4.
30.Qe3?!
White keeps a large advantage with 30.Qd4, according to the engines.
30...Rc6 31.f4
Possibly best is attacking the black queenside with 31.a4!?
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| Black to play and more-or-less equalise |
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31...Rxe6! 32.Qf2
Black has a large advantage after 32.fxe5? Rxe5.
32...Nc4 33.Bxc4
White maintains a slight edge with 33.Bf3 or 33.Ng4, according to the engines.
33...dxc4 34.Rxd8+ Qxd8 35.Re1 Rd6
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| In this completely equal position, GA offered a draw |
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36.Kh2 Qd7 37.Qc5 Kf7?
Sensible is 37...h6 to give the black king more breathing room.
38.Qh5+ Kf8
Forced, but it loses a pawn, although Black has reasonable prospects of holding either a queen ending or a rook ending.
39.Qxh7 Re6 40.Qf5 Kf7??
This lets White swop off into an easily won pawn-ending. Correct is 40...Rd6, meeting 41.Qc5 with, say, 41...Kf7.
41.Qxe6+ Qxe6 42.Rxe6 Kxe6 43.Kg3 (1-0, 51 moves)
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