Learn the main lines, tactics, and strategies in the Pirc and Modern Defenses. In this fancifully-named opening, Black takes the "dark-square strategy" to its logical limit. The black bishop is fianchettoed and the flank blow ...c5 s...

2012年8月26日 · In the position I give (Saemisch variation of the Nimzo-Indian), after 5.bxc3, Black's next moves are almost always ...b6, ...Nc6 and ...Ba6 (in either order). White must then defend the c4 pawn with the queen, as Nf3 (with the idea Nd2) would stop his idea to expand in the center with f3 and e4 (5.bxc3 Nc6 6.f3 is the most played move).

Boden’s Mate is a checkmate pattern that demonstrates the power of two bishops on open diagonals. The pattern is similar to the Balestra Mate, but the latter involves a queen and bishop instead of two bishops. The first example is a simplified position that demonstrates the …

2019年3月31日 · Why is 4.e3 Bxc3+ almost never played in the Nimzo-Indian, with idea of 5.bxc3 c5, considering that this is a relatively feared move after 4.e3 c5 5.Nf3 Bxc3, et cetera (Huebner Variation), so that a lot of White players switched to 5.Ne2 to avoid this system in recent times?

Most variations revolve around two key, intertwined questions: Will Black exchange bishop for knight on c3, and if so, will White recapture with a piece or accept doubled pawns and retake with bxc3? In the most common continuation, White begins to develop the kingside with 4.e3, admitting that the pawn won't reach e4 any time soon.

2022年2月22日 · In the Nimzo-Indian, the fight revolves around controlling the center light squares. Bb4 has a clear purpose of weakening white's control over e4, making it harder for them to push e4. That's why black is willing to exchange the DSB for the knight and white often goes Bg5 to reduce black's control over e4/d5.

2024年4月30日 · The move 3...d5 was introduced into “modern” practice in the 4th game of the match Becker – Gruenfeld, Vienna 1922. Contrary to the King's Indian Defence, Black immediately challenges White in the center. In the most straightforward continuation 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4 Nxc3 6.bxc3 we get a fundamental type of position.

I usually see bxc3 in this position and the main reason given is to capture toward the center, but doesn't bxc3 weaken the queen side and take the option of castling queen side away from white.

2020年1月10日 · I responded with Bxc3 attacking the queen, but the engine thinks bxc3 is much better (a whole pawn). I can sort of understand why this might be the case - the bishop has more control while developed on d2 and the queen threat is pretty empty.

2025年3月7日 · Black takes a swipe with c5 and gambits a pawn for the exchange, develops, and gets pieces into the game. White normally responds with d5; taking the pawn is not recommended because of 2...e6, and if White tries defending, then a5 and White has no solutions to hold on to pawns while Black gains a tempo. This opening is quite rare nowadays.