.jpeg)
Winning starts with what you know
The new version 18 offers completely new possibilities for chess training and analysis: playing style analysis, search for strategic themes, access to 6 billion Lichess games, player preparation by matching Lichess games, download Chess.com games with built-in API, built-in cloud engine and much more.
The battle in the Nimzo Indian is often a battle between players who trust dynamics and players who believe in static advantages. The Hübner system, which we have discussed in previous episodes, illustrates this battle.
In the 70s and 80s, players like Spassky, Portisch, Jussupow, and Donner liked to play this line with White. They believed in White's space advantage, White's strong center and White's bishop pair.
On the other hand, strategists such as Karpov, Andersson, Hübner and Timman preferred to play this line with Black. They thought the closed position would help the knights to control the bishops and liked the prospects of taking advantage of White's structural weaknesses.
This clash of styles led to a couple of interesting games, of which the fifth game of the World Championship match 1972 between Boris Spassky and Bobby Fischer in Reykjavik 1972 might be the most famous. Fischer played with Black and demolished Spassky.
The Hungarian Lajos Portisch and the Dutch Grandmaster Jan Timman, also had an on-going theoretical duel in this line. In 1978, Timman lost against the Hungarian in this line, a year later they drew but in 1982, at the Clarin Tournament in Mar del Plata, the Dutch Grandmaster had the chance to take revenge with the famous Hübner variation.
In the diagram position, it is White to move. White is in trouble but he may still be able to fight. The first question is what Black would do after 31.Bxg5? The second question is how White can best put up resistance?
Premium annual subscription + 1 month (payment method: credit card)
Order the annual ChessBase Premium Membership and save twice! You only pay for ten months Premium and you get a 13th month for free. Payment only by credit card. The subscription is automatically renewed on the expiration date.
This week’s show (for Premium Members only)
