The Liberated Bishop Defence: A Surprising and Complete Black Repertoire against 1.d4

By Alexey Bezgodov

In many 1.d4 openings, Black has trouble getting his bishop on c8 into play. Former Russian Chess Champion Alexey Bezgodov presents a radical solution to this nagging problem; liberate your bishop right away and put it on f5 on the second move!

Play 2...Bf5! against either 2.c4 or 2.Nf3 will surprise your opponent and is also a great way to support your development, because the bishop takes control of the important square e4. If White does not immediately take decisive action, then within a move or two he can relinquish any hopes on an opening advantage.

Alexey Bezgodov has found some great antidotes to White's most dangerous reactions in sharp and attractive lines. To test your understanding of his system he has included more than 100 exercises. After studying the fresh ideas and the clear explanations presented in The Liberated Bishop Defence chess players of almost every strength will enjoy the flexibility of a surprising, effective and universal weapon against 1.d4.

• Language: English
• Publisher: New in Chess
• Release date: Mar 26, 2015
• ISBN: 9789056915483

Alexey Bezgodov

Alexey Bezgodov (1969) is a Russian Grandmaster and writer. He was Russian Champion in 1993 and came shared first in the 1999 Ukrainian Championship. He has written numerous chess books.

Book preview

The Liberated Bishop Defence

Alexey Bezgodov

The Liberated Bishop Defence

A Surprising and Complete Black Repertoire against 1.d4

New In Chess 2014

© New In Chess 2014

Published by New In Chess, Alkmaar, The Netherlands

www.newinchess.com

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission from the publisher.

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ISBN: 978-90-5691-547-6

Contents

Explanation of Symbols

Introduction

Chapter 1 The Bishop on c1 is Shut in

Chapter 2 The Bishop on c1 Seeks Exchanges

Chapter 3 Copying the Catalan

Chapter 4 The Fight for b7: 4.Qb3 Nc6

Chapter 5 The Undeservedly Popular 4…c6

Chapter 6 A Rare Guest: 4…Bb4

Chapter 7 The Solid 4…Nc6

Chapter 8 The Modern Main Line: 4…Nf6

Chapter 9 White Plays without 4.Nf3

Chapter 10 Conflagration in the Centre

Chapter 11 The Vanishing Bishop Opening

Solutions

Appendix A Word about 7…Be7

In Fond Memory of David Bronstein

Afterword

Bibliography

Index of Variations

Index of Players

Explanation of Symbols

The chess board with its coordinates:

Introduction

In this book, I will equip you with a complete repertoire against 1.d4. I recommend answering 1…d5 and then, in response to both 2.Nf3 and 2.c4, to react in the same way – 2…Bf5!.

What is the point of this move? Firstly, it develops a piece. Furthermore, this developing move takes control of the square e4, one of the most important central squares on the board. Secondly, Black immediately, without any additional efforts or measures, solves one of the most important problems he faces in queenside openings, namely the development of his potentially ‘bad’ light-squared bishop. Usually this bishop ends up shut in within its own camp, but here, it immediately becomes a major actor in the unfolding chessboard show.

If White does not take decisive action, then within a move or two he can kiss goodbye to any hopes of an opening advantage. Why? Because Black will put his pawn on e6, and his other pawn will either appear on c6 or just be left where it is, depending on circumstances, leaving the c6-square free for the knight. Just imagine this – without any concession in the centre, Black has solved all of his development problems at once. This is sufficiently attractive as to make it worth examining the resulting positions.

I have spent about a year studying this variation, whilst writing this book. I can say with complete responsibility that this is a perfectly viable opening. It is in no way weaker than various much more popular set-ups, and in some ways is better than many of them. Black is not lacking in space and he has no bad pieces at all! Do you know any other openings like this? I can think of a few, but by comparison with them the Liberated Bishop Defence (I thought of this name in May 2013) looks very solid!

However, it can be said with perfect justification that White can do something about this! He is White, after all, and he should have some way of fighting for the advantage in this opening as well. That is unquestionably the case, as I know very well. For that reason, I have studied very carefully all the white attempts, which have been uncovered only by many years of tournament experience. I have not found anything very terrible for Black. After a deep and all-round study of the opening, I have come to an interesting conclusion: after the bishop comes out to f5, a lot of different types of position can arise, which are similar in spirit to other, more well-known openings. In the event of quiet, unpretentious play by White, we often reach Slav-type positions, relatively favourable to Black. When the knight develops to c6, we get positions reminiscent of the Chigorin Defence. We often get motifs similar to those of the Nimzo-Indian Defence, the Ragozin System, the QGD, QGA and Albin’s Countergambit. So the internal content of the black system is very considerable, which is an indirect sign of its reliability.

Adherents of the Liberated Bishop Defence

The position after 1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Bf5 arose occasionally in the games of Simon Alapin, Simon Winawer, Aron Nimzowitsch, Alexander Alekhine, Vasily Smyslov, Paul Keres, Viktor Kortchnoi, Bent Larsen, David Bronstein, Ratmir Kholmov, Heikki Westerinen, Alexey Vyzhmanavin, Iosif Dorfman, Alexander Morozevich, Nigel Short, Alexander Khalifman, Mikhail Gurevich, Valery Salov, Rafael Vaganian, Vlastimil Hort, Vladimir Bagirov, Evgeny Vladimirov, Andras Adorjan, Anatoly Vaiser, Rustem Dautov, Ivan Sokolov, Alexander Baburin, Dusan Pavasovic, Mikhail Ulibin, Evgeny Gleizerov, Alexander Rustemov, Valentin Arbakov, Hugo Spangenberg, Igor Kovalenko, Nikola Mitkov, Valery Loginov, Alexander Khuzman, Margeir Petursson, Stuart Conquest, Ivo Nei, Sergey Arkhipov…Vladimir Malaniuk contributed a great deal to the development of the variation. In more recent times, an elite GM who has started to employ the line successfully is Alexander Grischuk.

The position after 1.d4 d5 2.c4 Bf5 has been seen in the games of recent players such as Alexey Shirov, Peter Svidler, Vladimir Malaniuk, Vasilios Kotronias, Curt Hansen, Zlatko Klaric, Karsten Müller, Nikolay Legky, Guillermo Estevez Morales, Marcello Tempone, Vladimir Chuchelov, Mikhail Rytshagov, Bogdan Lalic, Robert Zelcic, Ben Finegold, Jonathan Rowson, Pavel Skatchkov, Yakov Geller, Pavel Animisov, Nadezhda Kosintseva, Nikalay Chadaev, Milorad Knezevic, Ivo Nei, and Vladimir Bagirov, and nowadays it is being played by Ruben Felgaer, Igor Miladinovic, Igor Rausis, Vladimir Epishin, Boris Chatalbashev, Vladimir Okhotnik and several strong female players.

It is clear that after 2.c4, Black less often brings the bishop out to f5 than he does after 2.Nf3, at least among players of GM class. What is the explanation for this? It is that after the former move, White has several interesting extra possibilities. The two main ones are 3.Qb3, immediately attacking the enemy queenside, which has been weakened by the development of the bishop, and practically forcing Black to go in for the sharp and still not fully resolved pawn sacrifice 3…e5!. The other promising possibility is 3.cxd5 Bxb1 (the only move to retain hopes of equality) and then either the immediate recapture of the bishop, or 4.Qa4+!. In what follows, White prepares to use the strength of his light-squared bishop, the opponent of which has already left the board.

After a thorough study of both lines, I have come to a consoling conclusion for Black – in both lines, Black’s chances are not worse than in more popular theoretical variations!

The strongest GM who plays this line regularly in our day is Igor Miladinovic, whilst other great specialists in the Liberated Bishop System are Igor Rausis and Boris Chatalbashev.

I sincerely hope you will enjoy this book and learn a thing or two from it.

Alexey Bezgodov

Khanty-Mansiysk, August 2014

Chapter 1

The Bishop on c1 is Shut in

1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Bf5 3.e3

In this line, White refrains from sharp play and voluntarily accepts (one can even say creates for himself) a small, but nonetheless real, problem – his bishop on c1 frequently ends up passively placed behind the pawn on e3. This helps Black, and helps him seriously. His task is to seize the light squares, which often become somewhat vulnerable as a result of White’s strategy.

Objectively speaking, one can sum up White’s opening strategy briefly – he does not pretend to anything, and simply prefers to shift the weight of the struggle to the middlegame. Black has quite a few ways to play, and does not experience any real difficulties in any of them. This is not surprising, since, in avoiding any immediate conflict, White gives his opponent a great deal of scope for action. I think that a study of the games below, and the accompanying exercises, is perfectly adequate to enable Black to solve all his opening problems. I would add that Black often does well by following the motto ‘Seize the light squares!’. This is easily explained by the fact that, in the resulting pawn structure, the bishop on f5 often becomes a very strong piece, whilst White’s dark-squared bishop is frequently a prisoner within its own pawn structure.

Players of grandmaster level very rarely play this system as White, unless they are after a quick draw. This is only natural. There are no sharp variations here and therefore no immediate conflict. Readers need make hardly any effort to commit any variations to memory. Such an expenditure of time and effort strikes me as simply irrational. It is much more useful to take note of the key strategical points, for example, the battle for e4 or the permitting of the exchange of bishops on f5, with the consequent doubling of the black f-pawns.

Game 1

Edgar Colle

Alexander Alekhine

San Remo 1930

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 d5

Do not be surprised. The black bishop will take up its rightful place one move later. Such transpositions are quite common in the quieter lines of this opening.

3.e3 Bf5 4.Bd3

4…e6!?

This game was played in one of Alekhine’s most legendary tournaments. I remember when I first saw this game as a child, I was very surprised at the way Black agreed to what looked at first sight like quite a dangerous doubled pawn, in order to get control of the light squares. I suspect that, back in 1930, the Belgian master Colle was no less surprised!

5.Bxf5 exf5 6.0-0

The consequences of the move 6.Qd3 are examined in Game 2, Rachmanov-Bezgodov.

6…Nbd7 7.c4 dxc4 8.Qa4 Bd6 9.Nbd2

Rather slow. White could maintain equality by playing more concretely: 9.Qb5 0-0 10.Qxf5 (a draw would be very likely in the variation 10.Qxb7 c5 11.Na3 Nb6 12.Nb5 Ne4 13.Nd2 Rb8 14. Qxa7 Ra8 with a repetition) 10…Nb6 11.Nc3 Qd7 12.Qc2 c5!=.

9…0-0 10.Nxc4

10…Nb6! 11.Nxb6?!

Bringing the enemy rook into the game for no good reason. This significant inaccuracy gives Black a lasting initiative.

White would have no problems after the queen retreat: 11.Qc2! Nxc4 12.Qxc4 Re8 13.Bd2=.

11…axb6 12.Qc2 Qd7 13.Ne5 Qe6 14.Nc4

14…Be7

Alexander Alekhine was a universal player of super-class, equally capable of stunning combinations and ultrasubtle positional play. Here it is impossible to understand why he refrained from the standard combination 14…Bxh2+! 15.Kxh2 Ng4+. Where should the poor white king run to?

A) The retreat is bad: 16.Kg1 Qh6 17.Rd1 g6 18.Ne5 Qh2+ 19.Kf1 Qh1+ 20.Ke2 Qxg2 (Black already has two pawns for the piece) 21.Nxg4 Qxg4+! 22.Kf1 Rfe8 23.Qd3 Re4 24.Ke1 Rae8 with an ongoing attack;

B) 16.Kg3!? – this brave king march leads to a draw, according to my analysis. But it would be extremely difficult to defend such a position at the board, especially against Alekhine! 16…Qg6 17.Kf3 Nh2+ 18.Ke2 Qxg2 19.Rd1 Qg4+ 20.Kd3 Nf3 21.Nd2 Rad8 22.Nxf3 Qxf3 23.Kc3 Rd6!?.

The rook seeks new paths towards the black king, but I did not find a decisive continuation: 24.Qd3 Rc6+ 25.Kb4 (the white king resembles a tightrope walker, balancing precariously on the edge of the precipice) 25…Qd5 26.a4 Ra8 27.Bd2 b5 28.axb5 Qd6+ 29.Kb3 Qd5+ 30.Kb4= with a probable perpetual check.

15.Bd2 Rfd8

Black also had the pleasant alternative 15…b5 16.Na5 Ra7 17.a3 Ne4 with a small advantage.

16.a4 Ne4 17.Rfd1

17…f4!?

The doubled pawn advances, forcing White to be very careful.

18.Be1

Activating the knight would leave Black with a positional advantage, after the exchange: 18.Ne5 Nxd2 19.Qxd2 fxe3 20.Qxe3 Bf6, and White’s defence is not so simple.

18…fxe3

There was also another option: 18…f3!? 19.Ne5!. The pawn cannot be taken because of the loss of the queen.

Alexander Alekhine

However, by attacking both knight and pawn, White can save himself: 19…Ng5 20.Qxc7 Bd6 21.Qc4 Qh6 22. Nxf3 Nxf3+ 23.gxf3 Qh3 24.f4 Qg4+ 25.Kf1 Qh3+ 26.Kg1 with perpetual check. Playing for a win only endangers White: 26.Ke2 Bxf4! 27.exf4 Re8+ 28.Kd2 Rac8 29.Qd3 Qg4 30.Rdc1 Qxf4+ 31.Kd1 Rxc1+ 32.Rxc1 Rxe1+ 33.Kxe1 Qxc1+ 34.Qd1 Qxb2, and Black is better.

19.Nxe3 c6

A small inaccuracy, which significantly eases White’s game. Black could strengthen his advantage with 19…Bd6! 20.Bc3 Re8 21.Re1 Re7!.

20.Nc4 Ra6 21.b4

Simpler is 21.Ne5 Qd5 22.Bc3 Bh4 23.Rf1 Raa8 24.Rae1=.

21…h6 22.Ra3 b5 23.axb5 cxb5 24.Rxa6 bxa6 25.Ne5 Bf6

Evidently, in this phase of the game, Alekhine relaxed a bit, relying on the advantage obtained in the opening. As a result, White no longer has any problems.

26.Qxe4?

The great difference in class between the two players has its say. Equality could be achieved quite simply by 26.f3! Ng5 27.Bg3 Bxe5 28.dxe5=.

26…Bxe5 27.f4??

A dreadful blunder. Black would still have had to demonstrate his endgame technique after the forced line 27.g3 Bxd4 28.Qxe6 fxe6 29.Kg2 Bf6 with a large advantage.

27…Bxd4+ 28.Rxd4 Rxd4

0-1

Game 2

Alexander Rakhmanov

Alexey Bezgodov

Khanty-Mansiysk 2013

This was the 15th and last game in the World Rapid Championship. Maybe tiredness explains the rather large number of mistakes from both GMs.

1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.e3

This solid move encouraged me to head for the game Colle-Alekhine.

3…Bf5 4.Bd3 e6 5.Bxf5 exf5 6.Qd3

Of course, this is the only move which can pretend to anything in the opening. Now the black queen is forced to go to the rather unattractive (but still reasonable) square c8.

6…Qc8 7.0-0

7…Be7

The first of a series of inaccuracies by me in this game. Of course, it was better to take control of the square e5 by 7…Bd6!.

8.b3 0-0 9.Ba3

Alexander Rakhmanov refrains from fianchettoing this bishop, since the long diagonal is blocked and it is far from clear when it will ever be opened.

9…Nc6

It was simpler and more natural to exchange: 9…Bxa3 10.Nxa3 c6 11.c4 Na6 12.Ne5 Re8 13.cxd5 Nb4 14.Qd2 Nbxd5=.

10.c4 Re8 11.Bxe7 Nxe7 12.Nc3 dxc4

A needless concession. Black has a rock-solid position, if he plays in the centre: 12…c6 13.Rac1 Ne4=.

13.bxc4 Ng6 14.Rab1 Ne4

It is necessary to exchange one pair of knights. White would be a little better if he could become active on the queenside, for example: 14…b6 15.a4 Ne4 16.a5!.

15.Nd2 Nxc3

Slightly weaker is 15…Nxd2 16.Qxd2 b6 17.a4 Qd7 18.a5 Ne5 19.Qe2 with some pressure.

16.Qxc3

16…c5?!

When looking over many of my games, I am often surprised by some of my decisions! Of course, there was absolutely no need to give White a strong passed pawn. Even so, Black still has great defensive resources. Equality could be achieved by 16…b6 17.Rfe1 Qe6!?.

17.d5 b6 18.a4

Realising the plan of attacking the square b6. This does not bring White great dividends, but it does require some care from Black.

18…Ne5 19.a5 Qc7 20.axb6 axb6

It is hard to get at the b6-pawn. Over the next few moves, the players are just probing.

21.Ra1 h5 22.h3 Nd7 23.Rxa8 Rxa8 24.Ra1 Qb8 25.Nf3 Ra7 26.g3 Qa8 27.Rxa7 Qxa7 28.Ne5

Nothing special is promised by 28.Qc2 g6 29.e4 fxe4 30.Qxe4 Qa1+ 31.Kg2 Kf8 32.Qf4 Qf6 33.Qc7 Ke7 34.h4 Qd6 35.Qa7 Qf6, and Black holds confidently.

28…Nf6 29.Qb2 Ne4 30.Kg2

Nothing comes from 30.Nc6 Qc7 31.Kg2 g6 32.h4 Kh7=.

30…Qa5?

A tactical oversight, which could have cost me the game.

The game would have remained within the bounds of equality after the accurate 30…Qa4! 31.Qb1 f6 32.Qxb6 fxe5 33.Qe6+ Kf8 34.Qxf5+ Nf6 35.Qc8+ Kf7 36.Qxc5 Qc2=.

31.g4?

White could have punished his opponent’s mistake with 31.Nc6! Qe1 32.Ne7+ Kf8 33.Nxf5 f6. It looks as though Black will shortly begin a mating attack, but now there is 34.Qc2! (I think this is the move my opponent missed) 34…Nd2 35.Qd3, and I would probably have resigned.

31…fxg4 32.hxg4 hxg4 33.Nxg4 f6 34.Qc2 Nd6 35.Qg6 Kf8 36.Ne5?

Now it is White’s turn to go wrong.

The material balance could have been changed, without giving either side the advantage, with 36.e4 Qa4 37.e5 Qxc4 38.exd6 Qxd5+ 39.f3 Qxd6 40.Qf5 Kf7=.

36…Qa7

Black could already obtain a real advantage with 36…Qa4! 37.f4 Qe8 38.e4 Qe7 39.Ng4 Qxe4+ 40.Qxe4 Nxe4 41.Ne3 Nd6, and White is suffering.

37.Nc6 Qd7

38.e4?

This ambitious activity is out of place. Rakhmanov evidently thought White could still hope for an advantage, otherwise he would have preferred 38.Nb8! Qb7 39.Qh7 Nxc4 40.e4 Nd6 41.Qh8+ Kf7 42.Nc6 Qc8 43.Qh5+ Kf8 44.Qh8+ Kf7=.

38…Qe8!

Since the exchange of queens is hopeless for White, he has to retreat, losing a pawn and reaching a lost position.

39.Qg3 Qxe4+ 40.f3 Qe2+ 41.Kh3

41…Qf1+?!

It is hard to say exactly what stopped me taking the pawn: 41…Nxc4 42.Qb8+ Qe8 43.Qb7 Ne3 44.Qxb6 Qd7+ 45.Kh2 Qd6+ 46.Kh1 Nxd5, and White is lost.

42.Kh2 Qe2+ 43.Kh3 Nf5?

It was still not too late to come to my senses and play 43…Nxc4!.

44.Qf4 g6?!

Yet another mistake. The black king can escape in the relatively simple variation 44…Qf1+ 45.Kh2 Qf2+ 46.Kh3 Ne3 47.Qb8+ Kf7 48.Qc7+ Kg6 49.Ne7+ Kh5!. But at the board, it is common for even quite harmless enemy continuations to seem more dangerous than they really are.

45.Nd8 Kg8?

Strong was 45…Qe3!. This should have been played, if only because Black is obviously not risking anything and can force a draw at any moment, if he needs to: 46.Ne6+ Kf7 47.Qb8 Qxf3+ 48.Kh2 Qf2+ 49.Kh3. Now Black can exchange queens: 49…Qe3+ 50.Kg2 Nh4+ 51.Kf1 Qf3+ 52.Ke1 Qe4+ 53.Kf2 Qg2+ 54.Ke3 Nf5+ 55.Kd3 Qg3+ 56.Qxg3 Nxg3 57.Nc7 f5 58.Na8 g5 59.Nxb6 Ke8, finally winning.

46.Ne6

Not seeing a direct win, I agreed a draw. But this was too soon, as Black retains chances. Instead of prematurely agreeing a draw, I should have played 46…Qf1+ 47.Kh2 Qd3! 48.Kh3 b5! 49.cxb5 Qf1+ 50.Kh2 Qxb5 with very good chances of realising the advantage.

Overall, perhaps a draw was the logical result, since we both missed wins!

Game 3

Yury Matveenko

Dmitry Chuprikov

Borisoglebsk 2008

1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Bf5 3.e3 e6 4.Bd3 c6

As in the two previous games, Black does not object to the doubling of his f-pawns. In this position, it is even more favourable for Black, since he does not even need to worry about being forced into the move …Qc8.

5.Bxf5

An inaccuracy, which presents Black with the initiative. White should have continued developing, and then played c2-c4 or e3-e4. This would have retained equality, but would not in any way have pretended to anything more than that.

5…exf5 6.0-0 Nf6 7.Nbd2

Continuing his cautious opening strategy, which results in Black getting a free hand. More active was 7.c4, which still requires some accuracy from Black. He should reply 7…Be7! 8.Qb3 Qb6 9.Nc3 0-0 10.cxd5 Qxb3 11.axb3 Nxd5=.

A slower and slightly doubtful line is 7…g6 8.cxd5 Nxd5 9.Nc3 Nd7 10.Nxd5 cxd5 11.Qb3 Nb6 12.a4!. Black falls into a nice trap after 7…Bd6 8.Qb3! Qb6? 9.Qc2, hitting the f5-pawn and threatening the pawn fork.

7…Nbd7 8.c4 Bd6

If Black has the choice of developing the bishop to e7 or d6, then the latter is generally better.

9.Re1

The point of this move is not entirely clear.

9…0-0

10.cxd5

Another inaccuracy. However, White is already worse, and no clear plan for him is visible. This is because Black’s development has been more purposeful.

Even so, he should prefer 10.b3, so as to have some hope of activating the terrible white bishop.

10…cxd5!

The pawn on d5 may look weak, but it cannot really be got at. In addition, this pawn plays an important and favourable role in the subsequent black play, paralysing all White’s attempts at activating his position.

11.Nf1

It turns out that the white rook has at least freed this square for the knight. But this is a very passive idea, which was not worth entertaining. Black can only be pleased at such a turn of events. More active was 11.Qb3 Rb8, although Black’s game is still easier.

11…Qb6

Possibly the black queen determines her position too soon. On d8, she was not badly placed, and could still choose where she would stand better in the subsequent play. I would have preferred the straightforward 11…Ne4 12.Qb3 Nb6 13.Bd2 Nc4!.

12.Qd3 Ne4 13.N3d2 g6 14.Qb3

Exchanging queens frees White from fearing an attack, but even so, it is a shame to exchange off one of the few pieces he has, which can develop any activity.

There was the variation 14.f3 Ng5 and here the paradoxical 15.Nb1!. White’s position is worse, but he can bring his knight to c3 and at least achieve some piece coordination.

14…Qxb3 15.Nxb3

White decides not to spoil his pawn formation, but this was possible: 15.axb3 Rfc8 16.f3 Ng5 17.Nb1!. with chances to save the game.

15…Rfc8?!

Too quiet. He should seize the chance to create a new weakness with 15…a5!. White would then face the choice of whether to allow the pawn to a4 or to stop it in its tracks.

16.f3?! a4! 17.Nbd2 Nef6! and White is very cramped. After the possible e3-e4 and subsequent exchanges, the pawn on d4 is very weak and Black also has an excellent square on d5. White would stand on the verge of a positional catastrophe.

16.a4! is stronger, and allows him to put up some desperate resistance. For example: 16…Rfc8 17.f3 Bb4 18.Re2 Nd6 19.Bd2 Bxd2 20.Rxd2 Rc6 21.Nc1 Rac8 22.Nd3 Rb6 23.Re2 Kg7 with a very small advantage.

16.f3 Nef6 17.Bd2

Black no longer has any advantage. However, neither does White. Everything is decided by the subsequent play.

17…Nb6 18.Na5 Rab8 19.Rac1 Kf8 20.Rxc8+ Nxc8 21.Rc1 Ke7 22.Be1 Kd7 23.Bh4 Ng8 24.Bg3 Nge7 25.Nb3 b6 26.Kf2 Nc6 27.a3

Not forced. Equality could be maintained by 27.Rc3=.

27…a5 28.Rc2 N8e7

29.Nc1

Possibly White overlooked his opponent’s reply. It was time to complete the building of a fortress: 29.Bxd6 Kxd6 30.g3, and White’s position cannot be broken down.

29…f4!

This does not necessarily change the assessment, which remains one of equality, but now Black does obtain some new possibilities, and with no risk.

30.Bxf4 Bxf4 31.exf4 Nxd4 32.Rd2 Rc8!

A nice zwischenzug.

33.Nd3?!

The active enemy knight should have been exchanged off: 33.Ne2! Nxe2 34.Kxe2, and White does not have any real difficulties.

33…f6 34.Ne3 Nb3 35.Re2 d4

The black central pawn quickly becomes a great source of strength, and White’s position is very difficult.

36.Nf1 Nd5

37.f5?!

A nervous and weak decision. White gets no compensation for the pawn. It was still possible to put up stubborn resistance after a continuation such as 37.g3 Kd6 38.Ne1 Nc1 39.Rd2 Rc4 40.Kg2 Kc5!?. White’s position is not nice, but he is still playing.

37…gxf5 38.Nd2

After 38.Ng3 Ne3 Black would also have a great advantage.

38…Nc5!

Deciding the game, because after the forced exchange, the black central passed pawn becomes strongly supported.

39.Nxc5+ bxc5 40.Nc4 a4 41.g3 Rb8 42.f4 Nb6 43.Nd2 Nc8 44.g4 Rxb2 45.Ke1 Nd6

White resigned.

Game 4

Erik Lundin

Aron Nimzowitsch

Stockholm 1934

A little-known masterpiece by Nimzowitsch, which I enormously enjoyed. I hope the reader enjoys it as much.

1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Bf5 3.c4 e6 4.e3 c6 5.Bd3 Bb4+

Nimzowitsch loved to put the bishop on this square. Also perfectly possible is 5…Bxd3 6.Qxd3 f5!? in the style of the game Lautier-Shirov (Game 6).

6.Nc3

6…Ne7

This move is hard to assess. The sporting, and even creative aspect is greater than the analytical. It is interesting that this position has never been met in practice, other than in this game. As is well known, the great experimenter Aron Nimzowitsch never sought simple paths in the opening, and preferred as early as possible to force his opponent to think for himself. I think the position permits Black to develop in this way, with no risk.

7.0-0 0-0 8.Ne2

A strange move. Where is the knight going? Probably Lundin did not wish to allow his opponent to exchange on c3, since in such structures, Nimzowitsch was much more at home than his contemporaries.

Black would face a few problems (albeit perfectly soluble ones) after the more natural 8.e4 Bg6 9.Nh4 dxe4 10.Bxe4.

8…Bd6

The bishop retreats, but in favourable circumstances. On b4, it had nothing to do, and could have been attacked.

9.b3

Houdini suggests White consider returning the knight to c3.

9…Nd7 10.Bb2

10…Qb8

Another strange move. I don’t think the queen is any better on b8 than on d8, but one can hardly call the move a loss of tempo, given the lack of contact between the forces, and the fact that White’s regrouping is no more productive. As far as my own opinion is concerned, I would have preferred 10…Nf6.

Aron Nimzowitsch

11.Ng3 Bg6

Continuing to play for complications. It was also possible to exchange at once: 11…Bxd3 12.Qxd3 f5!? (stopping e3-e4, although this is not dangerous) 13.Ng5 Rf6 14.f4 Rg6=.

12.cxd5

In this book, there are a number of games in which White makes this exchange in similar positions. I think that in the majority of cases, it is in Black’s favour, since he obtains various extra possibilities to strengthen his game.

It was possible to test the unhurried 12.Re1!?, forcing Black to reckon on the later possibility of e3-e4.

12…exd5 13.Bxg6

13…fxg6

Once again, we see a questionable but interesting decision, characteristic of Nimzowitsch’s creativity. He opens a line for his rook, but may later suffer from the weakness of the square e5, which can no longer be protected by a pawn.

Of course, 13…Nxg6 was simpler and quieter. However, Black is not looking for a quiet life, but for