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Originally posted by tomtom232
The reason for ...0-0 and ...Bg6 is that after the line 9. Nd2 0-0 10. f3 Bg6 11. e4 Nh5 threatens Qh4+ so 12. g3 weakening the white structure somewhat and black is more flexible with a possible ...f7-f5 pawn break or ...Ne7 for a ...c5 break or ...c6 then ...d5 break.

Edit: I would still go in for the f3, e4 idea as white instead of exchanging on e4.

Something like this then?




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Originally posted by PhySiQ
Something like this then?

[pgn][ECO "E21"]
[Opening "Nimzo-Indian"][Variation "Nimzo-Queen's Hybrid, 5.Qc2 Bb7"]1. d4 e6 2. c4 Nf6 3. Nc3 b6 4. Nf3 Bb4 5. Qc2 Bb7 6. a3 Be4 7. Qd2 Bxc3 8. Qxc3 Nc6 9. Nd2 Ne7 10. f3 Bb7 11. e4 O-O 12. Bd3 Ng6 [/pgn]


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Yup, white looks much better there than in the game.

Originally posted by tomtom232
Yup, white looks much better there than in the game.

I wouldn't disagree. I think white looks better here. Do you agree that the position is very playable for each side?

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Originally posted by PhySiQ
I wouldn't disagree. I think white looks better here. Do you agree that the position is very playable for each side?

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Yes, I do. Move 9 is still, IMO, the most critical in the game because, as you've seen, there are many vastly different positions that can result depending on what white does... it is not a very easy choice.

Originally posted by tomtom232
Yes, I do. Move 9 is still, IMO, the most critical in the game because, as you've seen, there are many vastly different positions that can result depending on what white does... it is not a very easy choice.

Agreed.

Things can unravel very quickly - Be4 is quite sharp, but not in a tactical sense. Its very positionally sharp... It demands clarity very early. There aren't many positions like it, forcing whites hand so early -- while black remains to absolutely flexible. That is of course the motif of the QID. However I think this individual line is very illustrative of that idea. Both for white, and for black.

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