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The Gukesh Nimzo: d4's Strategic Analogy to the Najdorf

#2

Very interesting and surprising. Thank you for this insight.

Very interesting and surprising. Thank you for this insight.
#3

This is a very good idea for some of these positions, but I have a thought. This system can be entirely avoided by the Kmoch Variation - black struggles to find their ideas in those lines.

This is a very good idea for some of these positions, but I have a thought. This system can be entirely avoided by the Kmoch Variation - black struggles to find their ideas in those lines.
#4

Calling the Classical 4.Qc2 in the Nimzo "drawing" invalidates much of what you write further on.

Calling the Classical 4.Qc2 in the Nimzo "drawing" invalidates much of what you write further on.
#5

he posted this nonsense to /r/tournamentchess

he posted this nonsense to /r/tournamentchess
#6
<Comment deleted by user>
#7

@HairyNelson said in #4:

Calling the Classical 4.Qc2 in the Nimzo "drawing" invalidates much of what you write further on.

  1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 0-0 5. e4 d5 6. e5 Ne4 7. Bd3 c5 8. Nf3 cxd4 9. Nxd4 Nd7 10. Bf4 Qh4

with theory going on on and my database giving 38% draws from 5. e4. Black only wins 1/4 of the games in that line, while white has multiple perpetuals on their hands. In the case of Abasov Gukesh, getting a draw with the black pieces would have stopped Gukesh from being the World Champion. 4. Qc2 is a solid, theoretical line that leads to a lot of draws and worked out positions at the high level. It isn't idiotic to say a plus of this system is to avoid easy draws.

@HairyNelson said in #4: > Calling the Classical 4.Qc2 in the Nimzo "drawing" invalidates much of what you write further on. 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 0-0 5. e4 d5 6. e5 Ne4 7. Bd3 c5 8. Nf3 cxd4 9. Nxd4 Nd7 10. Bf4 Qh4 with theory going on on and my database giving 38% draws from 5. e4. Black only wins 1/4 of the games in that line, while white has multiple perpetuals on their hands. In the case of Abasov Gukesh, getting a draw with the black pieces would have stopped Gukesh from being the World Champion. 4. Qc2 is a solid, theoretical line that leads to a lot of draws and worked out positions at the high level. It isn't idiotic to say a plus of this system is to avoid easy draws.
#8

@nkgplays said in #3:

This is a very good idea for some of these positions, but I have a thought. This system can be entirely avoided by the Kmoch Variation - black struggles to find their ideas in those lines.

This is a wonderful point, thank you for making it! I've made a few posts about this, and you're the first person to point out a move order to avoid this system. I spent some time looking around, and I think your absolutely correct. Once white has shown their hand so clearly, black really is just a tempo down in those lines if they include h6. Still playable in blitz (especially since 4. a3 6. f3 isn't scary for black, making 4. f3 h6 5. e4 the only critical try), but I think anyone who considers playing this system will have to treat the 4. f3 as its own separate line.

@nkgplays said in #3: > This is a very good idea for some of these positions, but I have a thought. This system can be entirely avoided by the Kmoch Variation - black struggles to find their ideas in those lines. This is a wonderful point, thank you for making it! I've made a few posts about this, and you're the first person to point out a move order to avoid this system. I spent some time looking around, and I think your absolutely correct. Once white has shown their hand so clearly, black really is just a tempo down in those lines if they include h6. Still playable in blitz (especially since 4. a3 6. f3 isn't scary for black, making 4. f3 h6 5. e4 the only critical try), but I think anyone who considers playing this system will have to treat the 4. f3 as its own separate line.
#9

@DeeTheta said in #8:

This is a wonderful point, thank you for making it! I've made a few posts about this, and you're the first person to point out a move order to avoid this system. I spent some time looking around, and I think you’re absolutely correct. Once white has shown their hand so clearly, black really is just a tempo down in those lines if they include h6. Still playable in blitz (especially since 4. a3 6. f3 isn't scary for black, making 4. f3 h6 5. e4 the only critical try), but I think anyone who considers playing this system will have to treat the 4. f3 as its own separate line.
What about the Sämisch?
Does Black have good play there too?
I’m looking for an opening against the Sämisch, but the latter is really an annoying opening.

@DeeTheta said in #8: > This is a wonderful point, thank you for making it! I've made a few posts about this, and you're the first person to point out a move order to avoid this system. I spent some time looking around, and I think you’re absolutely correct. Once white has shown their hand so clearly, black really is just a tempo down in those lines if they include h6. Still playable in blitz (especially since 4. a3 6. f3 isn't scary for black, making 4. f3 h6 5. e4 the only critical try), but I think anyone who considers playing this system will have to treat the 4. f3 as its own separate line. What about the Sämisch? Does Black have good play there too? I’m looking for an opening against the Sämisch, but the latter is really an annoying opening.