Nimzo-Indian Defense, Classical - Noa Variation

IVAN SOKOLOV vs. LEVON ARONIAN
37th Chess Olympiad, 2006

1. d4, Nf6
2. c4, e6
3. Nc3, Bb4
4. Qc2, d5

The Noa Variation of Nimzo-Indian Defense.

5. cxd5, exd5
6. Bg5, c5
7. dxc5, h6

Black tries to "unpin" his Knight.

8. Bh4, g5
9. Bg3, Ne4
10. Bxb8, Qf6

Adding pressure on the beleaguered Knight at c3.

11. Bg3, Nxc3

Now, White's problem starts to grow.

12. a3, Bf5
13. Qd2, Ba5
14. b4, Ne4
15. Qc1, Rc8
16. Ra2 ....

If 16. bxa5 Rxc5, 17. Qd1 Qc3+ White loses the game.

16. .... Rxc5!!

17. Qa1, Qc6

Black takes advantage of the pin, threatening Rc1+, and offers the h8 Rook as a freebie.

18. Qe5+, Kd8
19. Qxh8+, Kd7

White resigns. There is no stopping Rc1 threatening mate.

Nimzo-Indian Defense, Bernstein Defense Except Gligoric System

WALTER SHAWN BROWNE vs. LJUBOMIR LJUBOJEVIC
Italy, 1978

1. d4, Nf6
2. c4, e6
3. Nc3, Bb4
4. e3, 0-0
5. Bd3, c5

The Bernstein Defense Except Gligoric System variation.

6. Nf3, d5
7. 0-0, cxd4
8. exd4, dxc4
9. Bxc4, b6
10. Bg5, Bb7
11. Re1, Nbd7
12. Rc1, Rc8
13. Qb3 ....

White defends the c4 Bishop, attacks Black's Bishop at b4, and at the same time exerts more pressure on the e6 pawn.

13. .... Qe7
14. Bd5 ....

White neutralizes Black's control of the long diagonal, taking advantage of the pin on the Queen.

14. .... Ba6

White wins a piece after 14....Bxd6, 15. Nxd6 Qd6, 16. Nxb4 ....

15. Qa4, Bxc3
16. bxc3, Nb8
17. Bb3, b5
18. Qa5, Qb7?

Black desperately needed to remove the Queen out of pin.  If 18....h6, then 19. Bh4 g5, 20. Nxg5 hxg5, 21. Bxg5 and White still retains the pin.

19. Bxf6, gxf6
20. d5!! .....

A freeing move, which creates mobility for White's pieces.

20. .... exd5
21. Qb4, Qd7
22. Qh4, Kg7
23. Nd4, Resigns

White threatens 24. Re7 followed by Nf5+ with a blistering attack.

If 23....Rce8, then 24. Bc2 Rxe1, 25. Rxe1 (...h6, 26. Nf5+ ...) Rh8, 26. Nf5+ with renewed threats.  

Simply fantastic !

Nimzo-Indian Defense, Bishop Attack Classical Defense

LOEK VAN WELY vs. PETER ACS
Essent Crown 2002

1. d4, Nf6
2. c4, e6
3. Nc3, Bb4
4. e3, 0-0
5. Bd3, d5
6. cxd5, exd5
7. Nge2?! ....

A dubious move.  A better post for the Knight is at f3.

7. .... Re8
8. 0-0, Bd6!

Black sees a weakness in White's seventh move, and sends a Bishop into action.

9. a3? ....

A useless move. The Bishop is no longer there.

9. .... Ng4!!
10. h3, Nh2
11. Re1, Nf3+!!

By this sacrifice, Black manages to create havoc in the opponent's king side.

12. gxf3, Qg5+
13. Kh1 ....

If 13. Kf1, then 13....Bxh3 mate.

13. .... Qh4
14. Nf4, Bxh3
15. Ncxd5, Re6!!
16. Nxe6 ....

White has no choice but to capture the Rook which is destined to h6.

16. .... Bf5 discovered check
17. Kg1, Qh2+
18. Kf1, Bg3!!

White resigns.  There is no defense against the threats 19....Bxd3+ followed by  20....Qxf2 mate.

A truly remarkable game.

Nimzo-Indian Defense: Gligoric System Exchange

LEV POLUGAEVSKY vs. TIGRAN PETROSIAN
URS Championship, 1960

Nimzo-Indian Defense, Gligoric System Exchange

1. d4, Nf6
2. c4, e6
3. Nc3, Bb4
4. e3, 0-0
5. Bd3, d5
6. Nf3, c5
7. 0-0, dxc4
8. Bxc4 ....

The Gligoric System Exchange of the Nimzo-Indian Defense.  This opening focuses on the control of b3-g8 diagonal and takes advantage of white central squares.

8. .... b6
9. Qe2, Bb7
10. Rd1, Nbd7
11. d5!! ....

White now opens the intended diagonal.

11. .... Bxc3
12. dxe6, Ba5

If 12....fxe6, then 13. Bxe6+ Kh8, 14. Ng5 threatening Nf7+ and e7.

13. exd7 ....

Through subtle play, White regains his Knight....

13. .... Qc7
14. e4 ....

White provides a way for his stranded Bishop at c1.

14. .... Nxd7
15. Ng5, Rad8
16. Bxf7+, Rxf7
17. Ne6, Qc8
18. Nxd8, Ba6
19. Qe3, Re7

If 19....Qxd8, then 20. e5 Re7, 21. e6! which is advantageous to White.

20. Qb3+, c4
21. Qa3, Nc5

Still 21....Qxd8 is not plausible because of 22. Bg5 pinning the Rook.

22. Be3, Rxe4
23. Bxc5, Qxc5
24. Qf3  Resigns

White threatens Qxe4 and Qf7+. Now, if 24....Re7, then 25. Ne6 threatening Nxc5 and Qf8 mate and Rd8 mate.  A superb performance!

Bishop's Power on the Long Diagonal

The Bishop's power on the long diagonal (a1-h8 or a8-h1) cannot be underestimated, more so if it helps create a mating combination on the opponent's King.  The following game effectively demonstrates this theory.

WINTER vs. COLLE
Scarborough, 1930

Nimzo-Indian Defense

1. d4, Nf6
2. c4, e6
3. Nc3, Bb4
4. Qb3, c5
5. dxc5, Nc6
6. Nf3, Ne4
7. Bd2, Nxc5
8. Qc2, f5

Black intends to control the center (e4) by piece rather than by pawn. In line with this objective, f5 is much better than d5.

9. e3, 0-0
10. a3, Bxc3
11. Bxc3 ....

Although White at this point has a Bishop Pair, the Bishops have little scope and therefore rendered futile against Black's Bishop and Knight.

11. .... b6
12. Be2, Bb7

This Bishop, entrenched on the long diagonal, is destined to rule the board.

13. 0-0, Rc8
14. Rfd1, Qe7
15. b4, Ne4
16. Be1?, Rf6

White's Bishop should have remained at its own diagonal, rather than cower at e1.  Now Black's Rook is poised to play...

17. Nd4? ....

This move increases the power of Black's Bishop.  Bad for White.

17. .... Rg6!
18. Bf1 ....

If White plays 18. f3, then Black wins with 18.....Qg5!, 19. Bf1 Qxe3+, 20. Bf2 Qxf3 etc.

18. .... Ng5!

Now Black threatens to win with 19.....Nxd4, 20. exd4 Nf3+, 21. Kh1 Qh4! somewhat akin to actual play.

19. Kh1, Nxd4
20. exd4 ....

 20. .... Nf3!!
White resigns.

White's case is hopeless.  If he tries 21. d5 (to block the diagonal), then the game may continue 21.....Qh4 22. gxf3 Qg5 and mate follows. Following this variation, if 22. h3 then 22....Qxh3, 23. gxh3 Rg1 mate. 

The same result happens after 21. g3, thereafter Black replies with 21.....Qh4, 22. gxh4 Rg1 mate.