Nimzo-Indian
1d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Bd2!?
As I have pointed out before, John Emms in Easy Guide To The Nimzo-Indian (Cadogan, 1998) wrote: "Despite over 15 years' experience of playing the Nimzo-Indian, I cannot remember ever facing 4.Bd2. Indeed, all I can remember is that it has been heavily slagged off in the popular [chess] press. The criticism runs along the lines of 'this move is just too passive'. My opinion is that any move which serves a useful purpose (in this case unpinning) must be treated with some respect. In fact I'd go as far to say that this move is quite deceptive: it looks worse than it is."
The move has certainly soared in popularity since then, with 6,471 examples in ChessBase's 2023 Mega database, of which less than a thousand are from before 1998. Nevertheless White's score of 39% is far from inspiring.
4...c5 5.e3 0-0 6.Nf3
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| How should Black proceed? |
*****
*****
*****
*****
6...d6!?
White's play has not been forcing, so Black has a big choice. Most popular are 6...cxd4, 6...d5 and 6...b6, but the text is most successful percentagewise, scoring 70%.
7.Bd3 Nbd7 8.0-0 e5!?
This logical-looking follow-up to Black's previous play may be a novelty. Salem Saleh (2682) - Viktor Dmitrenko (2444), Chess.com Blitz 2021, went 8...b6 9.a3 Bxc3 10.Bxc3 with a slight edge for White, according to Stockfish15.1 and Komodo14.1 (1-0, 28 moves).
9.Qc2 Re8 10.dxe5 dxe5 11.e4
The engines suggest 11.Ng5!?
11...Nf8
The knight heads (presumably) for d4, but if that is indeed its destination then perhaps a better way of achieving its is via 11...Nb8. However the text has the advantage that the knight can also play on the kingside with ...Ng6.
12.a3 Bxc3 13.Bxc3
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| White has pressure against e5, but the symmetrical pawn-structure and fixed centre do not do the bishop-pair any favours |
*****
*****
*****
*****
13...Ng6 14.Rfd1 Qe7
Interesting is 14...Bg4, with the idea of ...Bxf3 to try to show the knight-pair is superior to the bishops.
15.h3 Nh5 16.Bf1 a5
The engines suggest meeting the consistent 16...Nhf4 with 17.b4, resulting in what they consider is a completely equal game.
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| How should White continue? |
*****
*****
*****
*****
17.Nxe5!? Nxe5 18.Bxe5
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| What should Black play? |
*****
*****
*****
*****
18....Bxh3?
The engines reckon Black has fair compensation for a pawn after 18...Qxe5 19.Rd5 Qe7 20.Rxh5 Be6. Certainly Black has the better bishop, and the white king's rook is awkwardly placed.
19.Bd6 Qg5 20.Rd5 Qg6
Or 20...f5 21.Qd3 Bg4 22.f3.
21.Rxh5 Qxh5 22.gxh3
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| Two bishops are almost always much stronger than a rook |
*****
*****
*****
*****
22...Re6?!
Probably better is 22...Qg6+ 23.Bg3 Qxe4, but the engines reckon White is winning comfortably.
23.Bg3 Rg6 24.Rd1 Qe5!? 25.Rd5 Qe7
Or 25...Rxg3+!? 26.fxg3 Qxg3+ 27.Bg2.
26.Kh2 Re8 27.Bg2 Re6 28.Qd2 h6!?
If 28...b6 then 29.e5 with Rd7 and Bd5 to come.
29.Rd7 Qf6 30.e5 1-0
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