castlerock -

I just noticed that you are at 497 posts.  So, only 3 more silly ones from you and you'll be a "god".  ha ha.  Congratulations.   

- Lost Highway

MNb -

Only three more silly posts like this and you'll be at 2,000.  I suppose you'll expect to be congratulated.  

- Lost Highway

Semkov is right. the Nimzo problem is eternal. 4.Qc2 is theoretically strongest and gives White a slight pull if Black plays solidly, it is even better when Black tries to be active. Unfortunately the choice is more Black's than White's.   

Maybe White should try his luck in the Queen's Indian instead. NICbase gives White scoring 53% in the Nimzo, while White scores 56% in the QID. Having looked at the QID recently, it seems less exhausted and strategically richer to me than the Nimzo.  I have a feeling that the next year will be the QID year with Topalov leading the way. Hopefully he will show more spectacular ideas.

By the way, 1. e4 players don't have it better: according to NICbase they have only scored 52% against the Sicilian!   

I have said elsewhere on this forum that the Catalan, perceived by many to be a dull positional opening aiming for a slight pull, can easily explode into some of the most fascinating gambit play from White.

Quote:


MNb, 

There are "sensible" players who play 1.d4.  I'm not one of them, because I love to attack.  I have found that playing 1.d4 is very much like serving left-handed in tennis.  It isn't necessarily better than a right-handed serve, but my opponents usually react awkwardly, even at relatively high levels (2100-2300)!   

So if you want to serve up something with a bit of spin, I think you'll like 1.d4 lines!

maybe its been too much 5. Bf4 for me (thankfully none of these subtle move-order business), but still i am really puzzled by lost highway ???  I was always sure that an early Bb4 or Qa5 is inferior in exchange QGD structures, why else will Black need to justify his play with tactics like in the  Ragozin (see Ruslan's latest updates), or the  nimzo 4. Qc2 d5 5. ed5 main line, or the Cambridge Springs with 7. cd5 Nd5?
Mr Cox makes much the same point: in the Cambridge Springs with 7. ed5, 7... Nd5 is the only good move (ed5 must lead to an inferior exchange QGD).

Quote:

If that's what you want to believe.  Meanwhile, on the board right in front of you, reality is staring you right in the face:  you are two pawns down.  If you don't want to lose, the only thing you can do is play 14.Qe2 g5 15.Bxe4 fe4 16.Qxe4+ Kf7 17.Qf5+ Kg7 18.Nxg5 hg5 19.Qxg5+ and take the draw.  Maybe black can do better than this somewhere.  I'll look.

- Lost Highway