bragesjo wrote on 12/17/14 at 13:22:03:


Incidentally, 4...d5 5. Nf3 would transpose to Nakamura-Aronian a few weeks ago (1-0, 48).   

bragesjo wrote on 12/02/14 at 08:07:08:


True, but 4 g3 avoids 4...b6 and the NID/QID hybrid lines.  Pick your poison.

Kasparovs Nf3 was developed as improved version of g3.
g3 at once can leed to catalan positions where Nc3 would have been better placed at the d2 square.

Since someone already promoted a chess video, I'll mention Gustafsson's new series for chess24 on the 4.Qc2 Nimzo for White. Gustafsson's DVDs are generally pretty good, but I haven't watched it in full yet.

I think the best way to combat the Nimzo depends largely on your rating and whether you want to set positional/strategic problems or concrete/tactical ones. It's probably best to just go through the lines one by one:

4.e3 with Bd3/Nf3 - This will always be an option, especially if you like IQP positions. It has a good mix of strategic ideas and tactical finesses too. If you are below say 1600 then I would strongly recommend this approach as it will teach you the most about chess in general.

4.e3 with Nge2 - A solid strategic option and quite good for getting a normal middlegame where you can outplay the opponent, even up to a very high level. However, I would advise against it for players below 1600 just because you should be learning to develop your pieces quickly at that level, and even players below 2000 might struggle to grasp all the strategic points without a fair bit of personal experience or explanation from a stronger player.

4.Qc2 - I agree with an earlier poster who said it probably isn't very practical for players below 2000, because you generally fall behind in development while trying to claim strategic advantages (such as the bishop pair) and that requires a certain level of memorisation to pull off. Both sides can steer the game towards positional or sharper systems, and like with the Bd3/Nf3 Rubinstein you need to know a decent range of structures. At an international level you're probably better off trying to make 5.e4 or 5.Nf3 work against 4...0-0 as 5.a3 Bxc3 6.Qxc3 d5 is something of a dead end theoretically.

4.Nf3 - Quite a good choice for club players as you get the pieces out fairly quickly (whether with 4...b6 5.Bg5 or 4...c5 5.g3) and your opponents aren't likely to be as prepared for it. Some of the structures with doubled, isolated c-pawns can feel a bit uncomfortable at first, but if you study them properly you can pick up a lot of points. I think the line decreases in value as you move up the ranks as it's not easy to put pressure on Black after 4...b6 (maybe 5.Qb3 offers the best shot). Also, you have to be prepared for the Ragozin (4...d5), though 5.Qa4 is pretty easy to learn in that case.

4.f3 - This is definitely the best option if you want a very concrete fight and early confrontation, but it's hard to recommend it to club players because you fall behind in development while setting up a big pawn centre. You also need to put a lot of work into learning the theory, and above 2400 will need to stay up to date, but if you do you'll have a system for life. Also, players below 2200 are unlikely to have a prepared system against this move.

4.e3 with Bd3/Nge2 (or cxd5/Nge2) - This is quite a decent system for someone fairly new to 1.d4 and wanting to get going quickly, but at some point you should probably learn a more critical line.

4.a3 - The Samisch has run into a lot of problems lately and the antidotes are fairly well known. Maybe it's decent as a surprise weapon but your time is probably best spent elsewhere.

4.Bg5 - I think the Leningrad is a little underestimated as a practical try, although experienced Nimzo players will know the key games from the 80s and then you'll struggle to put any pressure on Black unless you have something up your sleeve. Probably best as a surprise weapon against young players reliant on the computer.

4.Qb3 - A decent surprise weapon at club level, but once your opponents start getting comfortable positions with 4...c5 5.dxc5 Nc6 I would start switching to 4.Qc2. This will probably most suit people who like the positions after 4.Qc2, but don't have time to study the theory.

Avoiding the Nimzo with 3.Nf3 - that allows the Queen's Indian, Queen's Gambit Declined where you don't have the Exchange Variation, the Modern Benoni where you are committed to Nf3, the Semi-Slav and the Bogo-Indian. Basically, it's more work than having some system against the Nimzo-Indian, but you'll learn how to play a lot of different positions as a result and will find it a lot easier to add 1.Nf3 to your armoury.

Avodiing the Nimzo with the Catalan (3.g3) - not really relevant to this section unless Black avoids 3...d5 with 3...Bb4/3...c5. The Catalan takes a lot of work to learn as there are a wide range of resulting positions (and it can just as easily get tactical as strategic, or both at once for that matter) but above say 2200 it can be a fantastic investment as players below 2500 tend to be not as well prepared for the Catalan. Also, once you have studied it thoroughly once and understood it, you're not going to suffer that much if your theory isn't 100% up to date.

Avoiding 2.c4 - you came to the wrong place, see the D-Pawn Specials section.

Avoiding 1.d4 - Do you really want to bang your head against the Berlin Wall again?

To beat the nimzo you have to study one system (I choose 4.Bg5) and master it (game after game). There is no refutation nowadays so... your options rely on knowing better than your opponnent the positions you're going to face.

In fact, as it happens in all other openings until we'll get the IM tittle 

Salut,

john: i had the impression that Eddie was referring to 4. Qc2 d5 in my post, rather than 4. e3 c5 5. Ne2 b6. In latest update with your games, it appears Black is doing well in 4. f3/8. dxc5 line... but to be honest, Mr. Emms didn't really convince me, and i think White still has many places to improve..

hi castlerock, wouldn't most slav players be happy to develop their light-squared bishop (which is the whole point of playing slav than QGD in first place)? If i want to play e3 perhaps the colle-zuckertort is more straightforward!  
I also think a 1. d4 player who does not learn the main slavs (including Moscow/Botvinnik) is like a 1. e4 player who does not learn the Open Sicilian, he will reach a ceiling in his chess understanding.

back to topic, recently the nimzo-QID hybrid with 3. Nf3 b6 4. Nc3 Bb4 is making a comeback. in particular 5. Bg5 Bb7 6. Nd2!? looks promising in Sherbakov's NIC articles, though Wells-Eljanov is abit of a damper anyone with experience in these lines?