Hi Queenabber.
You are right there. No weakness.
When I was starting out and argued everything for development and tempo
I was challenged at 5 minutes to take White here.
I was allowed 4 White moves on the trot.
No piece was allowed in his half of the board.
Then the game started with me to move. (so 5 moves on the trot.)
That position is solid and I could not get at him. I lost trying too hard.
The best way was to sit on it - develop more and more squeeze him or wait till
he unwinds - tries to break out.
Him being a better blitz than me (at the time) 🙂 also helped but lesson learned.
Try it against a box. It's not easy.
Back to the Nimzo 4.e4 Line.
I do have a bit of background with it and have often used it in classes and
discussions to put forward how rich chess is and how you could fill 10 books
with unknown variations that an Opening book (in this case the Nimzo - Indian)
won't give you on the very first move of it's key position.
How many other 4th move are offered before 4......e4.
(a3,Nf3,Bd2,Qc2,Qb3,Bg5,g3...some won't even mention 4...e4.)
No weakness. Agree. Take it on one move. 7.bxc3
And a common comment in books in such postions is that White does not
have enough for his pawn.
Wrong thinking. Wrong attitude.
White has nothing to prove after his gambit.
It's now up to the Black player to win it.
And to do that he will have to come out and play.
I 'm happy. Bertie the Book is now out of the book, he is now on his own.
(if 4.e4 is mentioned it will be tucked away in 'Other Moves' section. The bit
nobody reads because Anand does not play it.)
His head will be full of mainline games from Botvinnik to Carlsen.
My head is clear. I've no idea what to do.
I have no development problems. I have no pressure, I'm not the one
sitting there a pawn up knowing if I make one slip the game will be equal
and if I equalise this I'm winning.
The lad who plays the best chess on the day will win it.
That position is not lost. Don't be afraid to accept such positions.
(for either side, though I would always prefer White.)
I can create a weakness!
Again it's good to dig out the nonsense and get it out of the way.
Alwasy fish about with these things. It's good practice and good fun.
Suppose I don't to take the c3 Knight. There is double sac in there.
Come fly with me.
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e4 Nxe4 5. Qg4 Nxc3 6. a3 Bf8 7. Bg5 f6 8. Bd3 fxg5 {He's no need to take this but let's have a look.} 9. Qh5+ g6 10. Bxg6+ hxg6 11. Qxg6+ Ke7 12. Qxg5+ Ke8 13. Qg6+ Ke7 14. Qg5+ {Perpetual. But...} 14... Kf7 15. Qxd8 Ne4 {Threat Bb4+ winning the Queen.} 16. Qxc7 Bd6 17. Qa5 b6 {17...Nc6 and Nxd4 is there. But I want the c8 Bishop into game.then Nc6 and the Rooks are connected.} 18. Qa4 Bb7 {Help! I wonder page of the Nimzo book this appears on. Still on for White but he needs to be careful.}
Grandmaster Questions
27 Sep '12 10:45
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