Download PGN of January ’26 Nimzo and Benoni games

>> Previous Update >>

Nimzo-Indian Saemisch: 4 e3 0-0 5 a3 Bxc3+ 6 bxc3 c5 7 Bd3 Nc6 [E29]

4 e3 0-0 5 a3 Bxc3+ 6 bxc3 c5 7 Bd3 Nc6 8 Ne2 b6 9 e4 Ne8 10 0-0 Ba6 11 f4 f5 12 exf5 exf5 13 dxc5 bxc5 14 Be3 d6 15 Ng3 g6:

This position from the traditional main line of the Saemisch was previously considered unpromising for White, who can win a pawn with the tactic 16 Bxf5 gxf5 17 Qd5+ Rf7 18 Qxc6 but after 18...Bb7! 19 Qa4 h5! Black has excellent compensation. However, it was discovered that White can reorganise his pieces in an effective way, starting with 16 Re1 and planning Bf2, Nf1-e3 and possibly Bh4. At the World Rapid Championship, Levon Aronian carried out the plan effectively and reached a promising position with White - see the notes to Aronian, L - Vetokhin, S.

4 e3 0-0 5 a3 Bxc3+ 6 bxc3 c5 7 Bd3 Nc6 8 Rb1:

This tricky rook move continues to gain interest, and a recent crushing win for White certainly won't dampen it. After 8...b6 9 e4, 9...Ne8 is a very common idea, of course, but it's out of place here. White continues with 10 Nf3! Ba6 11 e5!

White is already threatening to win on the spot with a Greek gift sacrifice, and is doing well here. See Dardha, D - Sadhwani, R for analysis.

Nimzo-Indian: 4 f3 c5 [E20]

4 f3 c5 5 d5 d6 6 e4 0-0 7 Nge2:

This is one of the numerous sharp lines in the 4 f3 Nimzo. Here 7...b5 8 Nf4 exd5 9 Nfxd5 Nxd5 10 Qxd5 Qb6! is a critical line, which we’ve covered before. In a recent game Black instead chose the rare 7...Ba5!?. Black makes a useful waiting move intending to act after White commits the e2-knight. Against 8 Ng3 the logical response is 8...b5!, a typical gambit in a non-typical position. See Stalmach, R - Grandelius, N for analysis (and a delightful finish!).

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 c5 9 Ne2 Qc7 10 Ba2 b6 11 0-0 Nc6 12 Bb2 Ba6:

This is a key position from one of the main lines after 6 a3. We’ve previously studied 13 Rc1, but in a recent game White chose to play 13 c4 without further preparation. The critical response is 13...cxd4! 14 exd4 Na5!, giving White the hanging pawns and immediately attacking c4. Here White is obliged to enter complications with 15 d5! - see the notes to Nesterov, A - Rodshtein, M.

4 e3 0-0 5 Bd3 d5 6 a3 Bxc3+ 7 bxc3 dxc4 8 Bxc4 c5 9 Ne2 Qc7 10 Ba2 b6 11 0-0 Ba6 12 Re1 Nc6 13 Ng3 Rfd8 14 Rb1:

An alternative to Bb2, and something we studied during the last update in a game between Donchenko and Le Quang Liem from the World Cup, is 14 Rb1. One of White's ideas is to use this rook on the second rank via b2. This was repeated in another recent encounter. After 14...Rd7 15 Rb2 Rad8 a tense position with level chances was reached - see the notes to Mosesov, D - Sammed Jaykumar, S.

Nimzo-Indian: 4 e3 0-0 5 Bd3 c5 6 Nf3 [E41]

4 e3 0-0 5 Bd3 c5 6 Nf3 Nc6:

With this move order, Black is usually signalling his intentions to meet 7 0-0 with 7...Bxc3 8 bxc3 d6, reaching the Huebner set-up. A way for White to avoid this is with the rare choice 7 dxc5!?. This was played in a recent game and White succeeded in gaining a small but persistent edge - see Vetokhin, S - Ponomariov,R for analysis.

Till next time, John

>> Previous Update >>

Feel free to share your ideas and opinions on the Forum (the link above on the right), while subscribers with any questions can email me at JohnEmms@ChessPublishing.com.