Dangerous Weapons: The Nimzo-Indian

Both books feature a series of articles that can be interesting for those who play or face the Sicilian and Nimzo-Indian. Some of them are on main lines while others are on sidelines the authors believe deserve a second look. The emphasis is on taking the opponent to unfamiliar positions with sharp unbalancing play.

The Sicilian could just as easy be called Dangerous Weapons: The Open Sicilian as almost but not all 14 chapters have White opening 1. Nf3 a6 where alternatives to 3. They include chapters principally from the White perspective for example 1. Nde2 versus the Sveshnikov, 5.

For example after 3. Be3 planning on meeting Even when you're tipped off in advance to look for a tactic, it's not easy to see your way through There are some limitations, of course, mostly due to the number of pages provided.

First, notice that Rizzitano says 'there is less focus on detailed sub-variations'. That tends to mean that the most respected variations are the ones he looks at, skipping others, which is also indicated by his phrase 'high-level'. Furthermore, in spite of the 'White and Black' claim, Rizzitano almost inevitably leans towards Black's point of view. After all, he has selected the Taimanov as his primary defence to 1 e4, and many variations are presented with White's moves challenging Black's variation, in the manner of a traditional advocacy book for Black.

I don't mean to say that is always the case, and in fact some variations are presented in the opposite way, i. Moreover, players of White will definitely benefit from Rizzitano's numerous suggestions for the first player. Still, my feeling is that Black gets the better press. In that context, it is not surprising that of the 25 games, 13 are wins for Black, 8 are drawn and only 4 are wins for White.

On the other hand, the majority of players who will buy this book will be looking for a system with Black, so that's not necessarily a bad thing. Nf3 e6 by is put out by the Bulgarian Company Chess Stars. I will be describing one in the next columns. Chess Stars has also published a good number of books on tournaments, openings, and games collections of great players. Delchev and Semkov's book is organised in an unusual and I think useful way. Each chapter has a 'Quick Repertoire' Section that summarises the recommended lines with important comments about strategy. It can save the average reader a lot of trouble, in that he can play the opening for a while and come back to the details later.

The latter are given in a 'Step-by-Step section. Finally, there are complete games. I particularly like the 'Quick Repertoire' idea, as mentioned. It's amusing, however, that the first Quick Repertoire Part 1 begins with a harangue against a particular 'Hedgehog' setup that is popular versus Nc6 5 Nb5 d6 6 c4. Black continues with the moves, Bb7, moves that make up the Hedgehog, while White plays Be2, f3, , Be3, Qd2, and b3 in some order or another. At that juncture, some of you will be familiar with the manoeuvre Delchev makes it very clear that he doesn't like this plan!

That is perhaps a little irrelevant given the section in which it is placed; but in general the repertoire summary and explanation is well done and a positive feature of the book. White's second-move alternatives such as 2 c3 and 2 Nc3 are not dealt with. I suppose that's asking a bit much of the author s in a single volume. Is there a miraculous system which guarantees Black a calm life after 1. After all we love the Sicilian because it offers tangled play with much greater chances to score than the Ruy Lopez or the Russian Game.

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They are famous for their sound strategy and practical approach to chess. This is a bit deceptive, since Petrosian was not great fan of the Taimanov, using it in only 9 out of his games in Megabase And Karpov didn't employ the Taimanov much in important tournament games. Barring use of systems with Today, in fact, the Kan is enjoying a great resurgence; it is the most flexible of all Sicilians, and deliciously complex. Of course, with a mistake or two, you can get mated more easily than in the Taimanov!

However safe the Taimanov may be and surely the Classical Sicilian and Sicilian Four Knights are safer , Delchev and Semkov themselves present a lot of dangerous systems in their repertoire, and do a fantastic job of supporting Black's chances by means of active counterattacks and tactical methods. I think that Rizzitano's choice of exemplary games and his notes also reflects this modern reality: Thus, although the Taimanov is a good choice for a Sicilian System if nothing else, one avoids Bb5 systems , it is after all a Sicilian, and riskier than most other defences to 1 e4.

Perhaps what Rizzitano calls the 'Paulsen Main Line', beginning with 6 Be3 and 7 Be2 or 6 Be2 and 7 Be3 , has led to a perception of slow and more positional play in the Taimanov. That's fair enough, and this line is presently popular at the top levels. But there are many other equally important variations that the average player is likely to run up against on a regular basis, and it's easy to be bowled over if one is not well prepared. Anyway, it's interesting to compare the two books' coverage of that main line, one that as a youth I played with White. Later on when I played the Taimanov, I had trouble meeting it:.

An important alternative is 10 c4 Nxe4 11 Nxc6 this variation doesn't appear in Rizzitano. That's the advantage of a repertoire book over a more comprehensive one; in the latter, it's simply impossible to include all the options Bxd6 24 Rxd6, which seems right. At any rate, I think that another problem for Black is simply 19 f4!

There are problems here for Black to solve. So instead of Going further in the analysis does not clarify things: Probably White can maintain a small advantage somewhere in this line, but not much. The normal move, but again, White has good chances after 15 b3 Nxe4 Ng5 21 f3 h5. Here a game Shirov-Ljubojevic continued Who says there's relatively little theory in the Taimanov? Rb4 22 Bc4 Bxe5 23 fxe5 with a large advantage.

Delchev now says 'When I was exploring the current line, I discovered that Black could launch a counterattack by. The lack of game sources is a modest drawback to this book. All in all, Black has some problems to solve in this system, which makes me wonder about a return to the original move Unfortunately, truckloads of theory are attached to it. And in case you were wondering: I recommend both of these books, for the club player all the way to the strong master. You may have to limit yourself to one or the other, but they fill in each other's gaps in the most important lines.

Next, we have three new products about the Queen's Indian Defence which complement each other come in very different formats: I won't say too much about Peter Wells' book because I haven't worked my way through enough of Peter Well's book to assess it fairly. But Wells' reputation as an author precedes him, and right away one can see his characteristically balanced and insightful treatment of the opening.

Like Rizzitano's book in the previous column, he manages to squeeze a great deal of material into a small number of pages, emphasising top-level games and thus the most respectable theoretical lines. Wells not only sifts through modern theory to find the best continuations, but he makes numerous suggestions at key junctures, some based upon his own games. QID , you get the feeling that Wells is preparing his own repertoire and sharing important analysis.

Inevitably, older variations and inferior moves are neglected; there simply isn't enough room. One could argue that the explanation for the moves actually played assists the reader in understanding why other moves aren't played. Nevertheless, the average player will have to put some work into thinking about what continuations he is likely to see over the board, realising that older lines may not always be worse than more recent ones. Wells is more of an explanatory, verbose writer than a deeply analytical one, although naturally, as an experienced and tactically sharp GM he knows when there is no alternative but to plunge into complex variations.

His is a book that takes the title word 'Explained' seriously, and this makes it fun to read through without a board. The Queen's Indian Defence we find thoughts or tips of independent interest about broader chess philosophy. Every chapter begins with a lengthy introduction, not so much about typical positions or characteristic manoeuvres as about the general positional contours of the variation in question. Here are two excerpts:.

Bb7, as opposed to the currently more fashionable Both sides are developing such that their light-squared bishops will face each other in a direct contest for the key central squares - d5 and e4 - whose basic importance has already been heralded in the main introduction. For sure, we shall hear again in coming chapters of the rich strategic variety which two decades of popularity at the highest levels have injected into Ba6, resulting in the subject-matter of Chapters 2 and 3 becoming the established 'main line' these days.

However, for all that, it would feel like a blow to the prestige of the Queen's Indian if the unpretentious text-move were to be found wanting and fortunately it is fair to say that this, so far as I know, has never been seriously suggested. In other words, the eclipse of Bb7 has been a testimony to the vitality of the Queen's Indian as a whole, not to its vulnerability. The subject matter of this chapter remains important and the black cause retains notable advocates. Still, I am jumping ahead. What of 4 g3 itself?

Dangerous Weapons: The Nimzo-Indian

Why has this fianchetto retained its spot at forefront of responses to the Queen's Indian almost since its inception? The role of g3 and Bg2 in competing for the light squares in the centre has already been alluded to.

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However, this is only the bare bones of the story. Firstly, and perhaps a little negatively, there are the drawbacks, however minor, which attach to the alternatives and which were touched upon in the main introduction. Secondly it is worth stressing that the oft-discussed unprotected status of the black bishop on b7 is by no means of academic interest only.

It does playa significant role in the struggle for the diagonal- just look at the 7 d5!? Ne4 by Black in Games , and the problems of The list could easily be expanded. Thirdly, and perhaps crucially, when we turn to Black's development and ignoring for the moment Ba6 , which I shall discuss in general terms at the start of Chapter 2 we see that the basic position arising from 4 g3 Bb7 5 Bg2 Be7 6 - the principal subject-matter of this chapter - presents him with something of a conundrum Then he turns to.

In order to make sense of 6 Nd2 he must play for e4. However, by this flexible development Black again is poised to respond in the centre as appropriate. Just what is the knight doing on d2 in such a position? Thus again, to be consistent it seems that White must throw caution to the wind with the pawn sacrifice 8 e4!?. In turn, it is only really acceptance which makes sense for Black, who may otherwise be smothered in the centre.

His problem is that the weakening of his kingside which winning the e-pawn entails carries obvious dangers with the black king already castled. If you like this sort of thing - and who wouldn't? Do keep in mind, however, that while it is thorough and up-to-date in what it deals with primarily modern variations , it is not encyclopaedic.

He concentrates upon the moves and specifics, with some but not too many general explanations. As opposed to some recent purveyors of opening books, Aagaard has the right credentials; he can draw upon his experience both as a Queen's Indian player and the author of a QID book for Everyman. Throughout the DVD, Aagaard sips from a cocktail glass with an umbrella in it! At one point he seems to identify the beverage as vodka the word is a bit obscured , but it is in any case alcoholic.

I really like this touch, which is both humorous and sly. Depending upon their intensity as students, most players will enjoy the casual atmosphere that pervades the video. I'm looking for a chance to try the same tactic using Scotch, neat and without the umbrella. Not all lines are for use on a professional level, of course, but they will get the student to acceptable positions. For an example of the type and depth of material, let's look at the main line of Aagaard's suggested solution to 4 g Not the most popular move, but with a decent reputation. It might be fun although probably not advantageous to play 8 d5!?

One example might go A game of Aagaard's went Qe7 may be more accurate, even though it exposes the queen to Nf5 after Nc5 16 f4, and Rfe8 17 fxe5 Rxe5 18 Nf5 Nbd7 15 Nh4 Nc5 Aagaard's own suggestion. In the game he played Perhaps best now is 16 Rae1, delaying f4 or Nf5 one more move in order to see what Black is doing.

Aagaard gives this an '! He prefers White after the known alternative Bxg2 13 Nxg2 Nc6 Aagaard points out that It's not a major concern, but I think that Aagaard underestimates the advantage of space in this variation. Sure, after his main line 12 e4 e5, White's bishop is a very bad piece and White has to struggle to enforce an effective f4.