Queen's Gambit Accepted - Summary

Christer Sundqvist: New ideas in Queen's Gambit Accepted

This is a summary of a massive analysis package that includes the Queen's Gambit Accepted. I'd like to demonstrate a typical line of play in order to pique your interest in this rapidly evolving chess opening.

With a small investment from your side (only 50 euros), I can send the entire package (2 PGN files) to your e-mail address. I also provide you with regular updates at no additional cost. I use PayPal, MobilePay, and standard IBAN bank transfers. Please tell me how you want to pay for the chess opening package. My email is turpaduunari@outlook.com.

If you believe my request for money is unethical or greedy, I am willing to consider alternative options (exchange of valuable ideas or other forms of cooperation).

I have used these resources:

• Batsford's Modern Chess Openings (15th edition) = MCO
• Chess Cloud Database Query Mode (https://www.chessdb.cn/queryc_en/) = CCD
• Chess Informant 151
• Chessbase software
• Max Dlugy. The Queen’s Gambit: A Modern Counterattack in an Ancient Opening. Russell Enterprises, 2023
• Sopiko Guramishvili. Chessable Lifetime Repertoires: Queen's Gambit Accepted, 2024
• ICCF Games Archive (https://www.iccf.com/message?message=454 ) 1961–2025
• Opening Master Chess Database (https://www.openingmaster.com/)
• Personal chess database (approx. 90 million games)
• Stockfish 17 chess engine
• Sundqvist, Christer. The Queen's Gambit Accepted played by a strong correspondence chess player 2019-2025
• The Week in Chess (https://theweekinchess.com/twic ) 1994–2025.

1.d4 d5 2.c4 [The most straightforward defence to a gambit is usually to accept the pawn and make the opponent prove the worth of the sacrifice. This, however, is not the plan behind accepting the Queen’s Gambit. Attempting to hold on to the pawn usually leads to trouble. Yet if Black uses the time White takes to recapture the pawn for development, then he can count on a safe journey through the opening stage.]

2...dxc4 

 With 2… dxc4 Black temporarily wins a pawn, but gives up the center in turn. The two main moves for White are 3.e4 and 3.Nf3. You will find the e4–variation in the database #1 and this is database #2, where we will take a look at all of White’s options. I have focused on games 2024-2025. 

3.Nf3 [This is the Classical approach to meeting the QGA.]

3.e4 See my database #1.; 

3.e3  This is the quiet line.

A) 3...Nf6 4.Bxc4 e6 5.Nf3 c5 6.0–0 a6 7.dxc5 Bxc5 

A1) 8.Qxd8+ This is more common than 8.Qe2 

8...Kxd8 

9.Ne5 Deac-Caruana, 2025 continued like this. (9.Be2 Nakamura-MVL, 2025; 9.Rd1+ Tomashevsky-Karjakin, 2025; 9.Nbd2 Nielsen-Gustafsson, 2025) ; 

A2) 8.Qe2 A recent game between Carlsen and Duda continued like this. 8...Nc6 9.a3 b5 10.Ba2 Bb7 11.b4 Bd6 12.Bb2 Qb8?! 13.Nbd2 Ne5 14.Nxe5 Bxe5 15.Bxe5 Qxe5 16.Nb3 0–0 17.Nc5 Rfb8?! 18.Rac1 h6?! 19.Rfd1! 

 White is slightly better 19...a5 1–0 (44) Carlsen,M (2839)-Duda,J (2729) Chess.com INT 2025; 

B) 3...e5 4.Bxc4 (4.dxe5 The history of the alternative 4.dxe5 goes back to 1795, and most notably the famous De Labourdonnais-McDonnell match of 1834, where McDonnell embraced the Queen’s Gambit Accepted.) 

4...exd4 5.exd4 Bd6! The new approach to this line. Earlier 5...Nf6 was played. 6.Nf3 Now White has two completely different approaches in his attempt to fight for an advantage in this position. He can choose to trade into an endgame in which – although he has an isolated d-pawn – his pieces are very active, or he can keep the queens on and try his luck using the e-file, putting pressure on the a2–g8 diagonal with his slight edge in space. Max Dlugy has analysed these lines in considerable depth. 6...Nf6 7.0–0 0–0 8.Nc3 Nc6! 

The point of Black’s concept. Black strives for immediate piece play against the center pawn. 9.Bg5 Stopping …Bg4 with h3 will allow Black to do the same. White will not have any advantage in this case. 9...h6 10.Bxf6 Qxf6 11.Nd5 Qg6 12.Ne3 Bd7 13.Rc1 Rad8 14.Re1 Bb4 15.Re2 Bd6 16.Rd2 Bf4 17.Rc3 Qd6 18.g3 Bxe3 19.Rxe3 Bg4 20.d5 Ne5 21.Rxe5 Bxf3 22.Qe1 c6 23.Qe3 b5 24.Bf1 cxd5 25.Rd4 Qc7 26.Bg2 Bxg2 27.Kxg2 a6 28.Qe2 ½–½ (28) Bartsch,R (2345)-Gulbis,H (2354) ICCF 2024; 

C) 3...e6 transposes to other main lines. ; 

3.Nc3?! The knight is simply badly placed here, as in most lines Black can play …b5–b4 with a tempo. 3...a6! 4.e4 Note that White can also essay the gambit continuation. 4...b5 However, it is White who is fighting for equality. 5.a4 b4 6.Na2 Bb7 7.f3 Nc6! 8.d5 Na5 9.Bd2 e6 10.dxe6 fxe6 11.Bxb4 Bxb4+ 12.Nxb4 Qh4+ 13.g3 Qe7 Black is slightly better. (MCO)]

3...Nf6 

3...a6! It is imperative to play this provocative move as quickly as possible, to lure White into playing 4.a4. We will see that in some lines Black gets a great game very easily if White decides that he should stop …b5. 4.e4 This gambit also leaves White fighting for equality.  (4.e3 e6 5.a4 After White targets the c-pawn with the bishop, a4 becomes a valid possibility, with the simple idea of stopping Black’s intended …b5 queenside expansion. 5...Nf6 6.Bxc4 c5 7.0–0 Nc6 8.Qe2 cxd4 9.Rd1 Be7 10.exd4 Trading a pair of knights with 10.Nxd4 gives Black an even easier time. After 10…Nxd4 11.exd4 Bd7 12.Nc3 Bc6 13.Bg5 0–0, White must exchange everything with 14.d5 to keep from getting a worse position. 10...0–0 11.Nc3 Nb4! An important blockading move that must be played. 12.Ne5 b6 13.Qf3 Ra7 14.Qg3 It looks like White has the making of the initiative on the kingside, but the next move will act like a cold shower. 14...Nh5! 15.Qh3 Nf6 

Black has equalized, as White cannot bring his pieces to create a real attack without the support of his queen.) 4...b5 5.a4 Bb7 6.axb5 axb5 7.Rxa8 Bxa8 8.Nc3 e6! the simplest, although 8…c6!, keeping the pawn and playing for a win. (Dlugy) (8...c6!) 9.Nxb5 Bxe4 10.Bxc4 c6 11.Nc3 Bxf3 12.Qxf3 Qxd4 13.Qf4 Qxf4 14.Bxf4 Nd7 with an ending where White’s two bishops should maintain the balance.; 

3...c5 4.d5 e6 5.e4 exd5 6.exd5 Bd6 7.Bxc4 Ne7 8.Nc3 0–0 9.0–0 Bg4 10.h3 Bh5 11.Re1 Nd7 12.Be2 Nb6 13.Bg5 h6 14.Bxe7 Qxe7 15.Nd2 Bxe2 16.Qxe2 Qxe2 17.Rxe2 Rfe8 18.Rae1 Rxe2 19.Rxe2 Rd8 20.Nde4 Be7 21.Rd2 Nc4 22.Re2 Kf8 23.b3 Nb6 24.Rd2 Nc8 25.g4 b6 0–1 (51) Pert,N (2509)-Mamedyarov,S (2746) London ENG 2025]

4.e3 

[4.Nbd2 a6 5.Nxc4 e6 6.Bg5 Be7 7.e3 0–0 8.Bd3 b5 9.Nce5 Bb7 10.0–0 Nbd7 11.Qc2 c5 12.Nxd7 Qxd7 13.Bxf6 Bxf6 14.Bxh7+ Kh8 15.Be4 cxd4 16.exd4 Rac8 17.Qd3 Bxe4 18.Qxe4 Rfd8 19.Rfd1 Qd5 20.Qxd5 Rxd5 21.Rd2 e5 22.Rad1 e4 23.Ne1 Bg5 1–0 (53) Boyer,M (2489)-Esmeraldas Huachi,A (2100) chess.com INT 2024; 

4.Nc3 I believe the Knight should not be moved here. Nbd2 is better. 4...a6 5.a4 Nc6 a more common move order is this: 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Nf3 a6 5.a4 Nc6]

4...e6 

[4...Bg4 5.Bxc4 e6 6.h3 Bh5 7.Nc3 Nc6 8.Bb5 Nd7 9.Qa4 Bxf3 10.gxf3 Ne7 11.Bd2 c6 12.Be2 Nf5 13.0–0–0 Qh4 14.Be1 Be7 15.e4 Nb6 16.Qc2 Nd6 17.Rg1 0–0 18.Rg4 Qxh3 19.Bd2 f5 20.Rg3 Qh2 21.Qb3 Qxf2 22.Qxe6+ Rf7 23.Rdg1 Bf8 1–0 (39) Lazavik,D (2578)-Gledura,B (2620) chess.com INT 2024]

5.Bxc4 c5 

6.0–0 

[6.Qe2 a6 7.0–0 This is the old main line. You will find a lot of games here, but this variation is no longer considered especially challenging for Black. 7...b5 8.Bb3 Old and forgotten… (Guramishvili) 8...Bb7 9.Rd1 A logical follow up of 7. Qe2. 9...Nbd7 10.Nc3 Qc7 Now, this position resembles Semi-Slav: the Meran Variation a lot and play can quickly become quite sharp. 11.e4 Threatening e5. 11...cxd4 11…b4 doesn’t win a pawn, as it is met with 12.e5 Generally, when White starts action in the center, we always have to be very careful not to allow any type of pawn advance like d5 or e5. So we need to release the tension in the center right away. 12.Nxd4 Bc5! 

 With 11… cxd4 12. Nxd4, Black managed to get full control over the e5–square. 13.Be3 0–0 Black successfully finished his development and is ready to improve his heavy piece placement. 14.Rac1 Qb6 15.f3 Rfd8 Black has a comfortable game, intending to improve his position more with moves like Rac8, h6, Ne5 and a5, among others. 16.Nc2 Rac8 17.Qf2 Bxe3 18.Nxe3 Nc5 19.Bc2 h6 20.Rxd8+ Rxd8 21.Rd1 b4 22.Rxd8+ Qxd8 23.Na4 Qd4 1–0 (54) Sarana,A (2699)-Streltsov,A (2286) chess.com INT 2024]

6...a6 

7.b3 [This variation has become very trendy lately and some of our opponents may want to follow in the footsteps of Carlsen, Ding Liren and So etc. No worries though, you’ll be provided with a rare but solid line, which might come as a surprise to your opponent.]

[7.a4 Nc6 8.Qe2 Qc7 9.Nc3 Bd6 10.d5 exd5 11.Nxd5 Nxd5 12.Bxd5 0–0 13.Rd1 Re8 14.Ng5 Ne5 15.Qh5 h6 16.Nxf7 Nxf7 17.Bxf7+ Qxf7 18.Qxf7+ Kxf7 19.Rxd6 Be6 1–0 (49) Pelletier,Y (2523)-Zeller,F (2340) Switzerland SUI 2024; 

7.Bb3 Prophylaxis against b5. With this retreat, White aims for an improved version of the old main line 7. Qe2, as after 7… b5 8. a4 Black can no longer take on a8 with his queen. 7...Nc6 8.Nc3 cxd4 9.exd4 Be7 10.Bg5 b5 11.d5 Nxd5 12.Nxd5 Bxg5 13.Nxg5 Qxg5 14.Nc7+ Ke7 15.Nxa8 Bb7 16.f4 Qc5+ 17.Kh1 Bxa8 18.f5 Ne5 19.Rc1 Qd6 20.fxe6 Qxd1 21.Rfxd1 fxe6 22.Rc7+ Kf6 23.Rf1+ Kg6 24.Bxe6 1–0 (24) Sýkora,J (2505)-Alexa,J (2443) ICCF 2024]

7...cxd4 [My recommendation here is Nbd7, but this simple approach looks quite fine too.]

[7...Nbd7 

Once again we meet our go-to move. Starting with 7… Nbd7 is very flexible: we cover the d-file and don’t commit to anything yet. 7…Be7 for instance is dubious because of 8.dxc5! 8.Bb2 Be7 9.Nbd2 Just finishing the development, before starting any action. 9...0–0 10.Be2 b6 11.Ne5 This is a standard way of playing this position. White wants to put some pressure on the c6–square by playing Bf3 next. 11...Bb7 12.Bf3 Bxf3 13.Ndxf3 Qc7 14.Rc1 Qb7 15.Qe2 Rac8 16.Nxd7 Nxd7 17.h3 cxd4 18.Nxd4 Rfd8 19.Rfd1 Nf6 20.Rxc8 Rxc8 21.Rc1 Rxc1+ 22.Bxc1 Qc8 23.Qc2 Qxc2 24.Nxc2 Nd5 25.Bd2 f5 26.f3 e5 27.Kf2 e4 28.Nd4 g6 29.Ne2 ½–½ (29) Mason,I (2411)-Stanojevic,S (2404) ICCF 2024]

8.Nxd4 Be7 [8...Bd6 9.Bb2 0–0 10.Nd2 e5 11.N4f3 Nc6 12.Qb1 Qe7 13.Rd1 b5 14.Ne4 Nxe4 15.Qxe4 Bb7 16.Bd5 Rac8 17.Rac1 Na5 18.Rxc8 Rxc8 19.Bxe5 Bxe5 20.Nxe5 Bxd5 21.Qxd5 Nb7 22.g3 h6 23.Nxf7 Qxf7 24.Qxf7+ Kxf7 25.Rd7+ Kf8 26.Rxb7 Rc2 27.a4 bxa4 28.bxa4 

28...Ra2 1–0 (28) Carlsen,M (2837)-Bacrot,E (2633) chess.com INT 2025]

9.Bb2 [9.Be2 0–0 10.Nd2 b5 11.a4 bxa4 12.Rxa4 Bb7 13.Bb2 Nbd7 14.Bf3 Nd5 15.Qb1 Rc8 16.Bxd5 Bxd5 17.Rxa6 Bb4 18.Rd1 Nc5 19.Ra1 Qg5 20.N2f3 Qh5 21.Ba3 Be4 22.Qb2 Nd3 23.Qe2 Bxa3 24.Rxa3 e5 0–1 (46) Muradli,M (2588)-Mamedov,R (2656) Skopje MKD 2024]

9...0–0 

10.Be2 [White usually switches the bishop around to f3, as it has nothing to do on c4.]

10...Bd7 [10...b5 11.a4 bxa4 12.Rxa4 Bb7 13.Rc4 Bd5 14.Rc1 h6 15.Nc3 Bb7 16.Na4 Nbd7 17.Bf3 Qb8 18.Bxb7 Qxb7 19.Qf3 Qxf3 20.gxf3 Nd5 21.Nc6 Bf6 22.Bxf6 N5xf6 23.Nb2 g5 24.Kg2 Kg7 ½–½ (41) Sitorus,Y (2440)-Stewart,D (2428) ICCF 2024]

11.Nd2 [11.Bf3 is premature as it can be met with 11…e5!]

[11.Bf3 e5! 12.Nc2 Nc6 13.Bxc6 Bxc6 14.Qxd8 Rfxd8 15.Bxe5 Nd7 16.Bd4 Be4 17.Rc1 Rac8 18.Nc3 Bc6 19.Ne1 Nc5 20.Ne2 Ne6 21.Bb6 Rd2 22.Nd4 Nxd4 23.Bxd4 Ba3 24.Rd1 Rxd1 25.Rxd1 f6 ½–½ (73) Assaubayeva,B (2492)-Lei,T (2549) New York USA 2024]

11...Nc6 

 Black is fully developed. The only slight issue is the passive bishop on d7.]

12.N4f3 [12.Nc4 Rc8 12…b5 is more precise. 13.Rc1 Nd5 It was also possible to play b7–b5 here as well. 14.Nxc6 Bxc6 15.Ne5 White tries to put pressure on the c6–bishop, but Black has a strong reply. 15...Bb5 Not at all fearing the doubling of the pawns. 16.Bxb5 axb5 17.Qe2 b4 The good thing about Black’s unusual pawn structure on the queenside is that the pawn on b4 provides the c3–outpost for the knight, while the b7–pawn guards the important c6–square. 18.Rxc8 Qxc8 19.Rc1 Qa8 

A typical square for the queen, intending Rc8 next. 20.Bd4 Rc8 21.Rxc8+ Qxc8 22.Qc4 White trades everything, hoping that the b4–pawn is a weakness in the endgame, but that is not the case. 22...Qxc4 23.Nxc4 b5 24.Na5 Nc3 Asking White some questions. 25.Nc6 Bd6 26.Kf1 This just gives up a pawn. White had to take on c3 or, safest, to go for 26.Be5! Bxe5 27.Nxe5 Nxa2 28.Nd3 = White will eventually win back the b4 pawn here. 26...Nxa2 0–1 (40) Esipenko,A (2642)-Firouzja,A (2723) Moscow 2019]

12...Rc8 

 In this unclear position it is best to rely on strong correspondence chess players.]

13.h3 [13.Rc1 b5 14.a3 Qb6 15.h3 Rfd8 16.Bd3 Nd5 17.Ne4 Be8 18.Qe2 Na5 19.Rxc8 Rxc8 20.Nd4 Nf6 

A) 21.Nd2 Nc6 22.N4f3 (22.b4 Nxd4 23.Bxd4 Qd8 24.Nb3 Bc6 25.e4 Nd7 26.Rd1 Qc7 27.Rc1 Qb8 28.Qg4 Bf8 29.Bf1 Bb7 ½–½ (44) Mosconi,T (2504)-Aleksandrov,V (2426) ICCF email 2022) 22...Nd5 23.Ra1 Rd8 24.Rc1 Bf6 25.Bxf6 Nxf6 26.b4 Nd5 27.Nb3 a5 28.bxa5 Nxa5 29.Nbd4 b4 30.axb4 Nxb4 31.Bxh7+ Kxh7 32.Ng5+ Kg8 33.Qh5 Rxd4 34.exd4 Nac6 35.Qh7+ Kf8 36.d5 Nxd5 37.Rb1 Qd4 38.Rb7 Qa1+ 39.Kh2 Qe5+ 40.g3 Nc7 41.Nf3 Qc5 0–1 (41) Dronov,A (2651)-Aleksandrov,V (2426) ICCF email 2022; 

B) 21.Ng3 Nd5 22.Ne4 Nf6 23.Ng3 Nd5 24.b4 Nc4 ½–½ (54) Gulbis,H (2355)-Kolodziejski,M (2352) ICCF 2025; 13.Nc4 Qc7 14.Qb1 Rfd8 15.Rc1 Be8 16.a4 b5 17.axb5 axb5 18.Na5 Qb8 19.Nxc6 Bxc6 20.Bd4 Bd5 21.Rxc8 Rxc8 22.Qb2 h6 23.Ne5 Bd6 24.h3 ½–½ (24) Deskin,G (2355)-Kolodziejski,M (2352) ICCF 2025]

13...Qc7 14.Rc1 Qb8 15.a3 Rfd8 16.Rc4 b5 17.Rc2 e5 18.Qc1 Qb6 19.Qb1 Be6 20.b4 a5 21.bxa5 Qxa5 22.Rfc1 Bf5 23.e4 Bd7 24.Bc3 Qa7 25.Nxe5 Nxe5 26.Bxe5 Bc5 27.Rf1 Bxa3 28.Rxc8 Bxc8 29.Nf3 Qb6 

30.Qb3 [½–½ (30) Brugger,A (2536)-Vinchev,S (2502) ICCF email 2021]

30...Bc5 31.Ng5 Rf8 32.Qxb5 Qxb5 33.Bxb5 Bb7 34.Rc1 Rc8 35.Rc4 h6 36.Bxf6 gxf6 37.Nf3 Ba7 [½–½ (37) Salzmann,S (2399)-Kolodziejski,M (2387) ICCF 2025]

The Sicilian Najdorf - Summary

 Christer Sundqvist: New ideas in Sicilian Najdorf

This is a summary of a massive analysis package that includes the Najdorf Variation of the Sicilian Defence. I'd like to demonstrate a typical line of play in order to pique your interest in this rapidly evolving chess opening.

With a small investment from your side (only 50 euros), I can send the entire package (7 PGN files) to your e-mail address. I also provide you with regular updates at no additional cost. I use PayPal, MobilePay, and standard IBAN bank transfers. Please tell me how you want to pay for the chess opening package. My email is turpaduunari@outlook.com.

If you believe my request for money is unethical or greedy, I am willing to consider alternative options (exchange of valuable ideas or other forms of cooperation).

I have used these resources:

• Batsford's Modern Chess Openings (15th edition) = MCO

• Chess Cloud Database Query Mode (https://www.chessdb.cn/queryc_en/) = CCD

• Chess Informant 151, 152, 153

• Chessbase software

• Anish Giri. Chessable Lifetime Repertoires: Najdorf Sicilian, 2024

• ICCF Games Archive (https://www.iccf.com/message?message=454 ) 1961–2025

• Opening Master Chess Database (https://www.openingmaster.com/)

• Milos Pavlovic. The Modernized Najdorf. Thinkers Publishing, 2018

• Personal chess database (approx. 90 million games)

• Stockfish 17 chess engine

• Sundqvist, Christer. The Sicilian Najdorf played by a strong correspondence chess player 2019-2025

• David Vigorito. Playing the Najdorf: A Practical Repertoire. Quality Chess, 2019

• The Week in Chess (https://theweekinchess.com/twic ) 1994–2025.

A huge analysis package

As the Sicilian Najdorf analysis package is huge, I had to split the package into 7 different files. In this way your chess computer program is able to handle the material quite easily. If you so wish, you can always merge all the files together.

The files are:

#1. 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 (FREE PGN-file for download)

#2. 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be2

#3. 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bc4

#4. 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.f3

#5. 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.h3

#6. 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.other

#7. 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be3 

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 [Developing the knight is possible because there is a pawn on d6.]

5.Nc3 a6

This move defines the Najdorf. Black wants to push e5 and Bb5+ is no longer an issue.

6.Bg5 [This move 6.Bg5 is covered in the database #1. It is a very popular move in the Sicilian Najdorf. I have made attempts to include mostly fresh games (2024–2025) into my database. Expect to see many new ideas. (Sundqvist). Theory goes very deep and it is increasingly hard to find new undiscovered ideas. Yet, every now and then they do pop up. The arising positions are razor-sharp and dangerous for both sides. A draw in the end is the usual result if both sides know their stuff. By many experts 6.Bg5 is considered to be White’s sharpest option against the Najdorf, and with good reason. Over decades it has brought White huge success and Black a lot of struggle. Simplicity is often a key play in chess and this line definitely represents such chess. White develops in a most aggressive way with the obvious intention of castling on the queenside. Black has many ways to confront this plan. Highly interesting and sharp play is ahead of us, with lots of long variations, forced draws and sacrifices.]

6.Be2 is covered in the database #2

6.Bc4 is covered in the database #3

6.f3 is covered in the database #4

6.h3 is covered in the database #5

6.Be3 is covered in the database #7

6.Rg1 and other moves are covered in the database #6

6...e6 [This is the main move. In recent years there has been a lot of interest in 6...Nbd7!?, but that’s another story.]

[6...Nbd7 This is a very trendy system, that was considered to be a too easy for White, but by now the theory has grown so much here, that it is no longer so fresh and exciting as it once used to be.

A) 7.f4 The most common move by White followed by 7.Bc4 and 7.Qe2. Let me show one line of play after 7.f4: 7...Qb6 Poisoned Pawn ideas are still around and it sure is different when Nbd7 is included! 8.Qd2 Qxb2 9.Rb1 Qa3 10.Bc4 (10.Bxf6 this good old correspondence chess move is still preferable 10...Nxf6 11.e5 dxe5 12.fxe5 Ng4 13.Nd5 Qc5 14.Nb3 Qc6 15.Na5 Qd7 16.Nc4 e6 17.Nd6+ Bxd6 18.Nb6 Qc6 19.exd6 Rb8 ½–½ (38) Blank,W (2493)-Siikaluoma,A (2491) ICCF email 2008) 10...Qc5 11.Bb3 b5 12.Qd3 Bb7 13.Bh4 Rc8 14.Nd5 Nxd5 15.exd5 Bxd5 16.Bf2 Bxb3 17.axb3 g6 18.0–0 Qc7 19.f5 Bg7 1–0 (41) Mecit,E (2007)-Evenshaug,A (2229) chess.com INT 2025;

B) 7.Bc4 Grischuk, Duda, Erigaisi etc. have played this move. Can't be wrong. 7...Qb6 8.Bb3 White wants to avoid the Poisoned Pawn variation. 8...e6 9.Qd2 Be7 10.0–0–0 Nc5 11.f3 Qc7 12.Kb1 b5 13.a3 Rb8 Firouza, Giri 14.g4 0–0 15.h4 Re8 16.h5 h6 17.Bh4 Nh7 18.Bxe7 Rxe7 19.f4 Bb7 20.Rde1 Nf6 21.g5 Nfxe4 22.Nxe4 Bxe4 23.Rhg1 hxg5 24.Rxg5 d5 ½–½ (41) Grischuk,A (2667)-Firouzja,A (2766) London 2025;

C) 7.Qe2 This is also a pretty popular move. Here is a typical line of play: 7...h6 Probably the best move. 8.Bh4 g6! 9.f4! e5 10.fxe5 This is the main line. 10...dxe5 11.0–0–0! Navara 11...Qc7 12.Nb3!? b5 13.Rxd7!? Nxd7 14.Nd5 Qb8 15.Na5 Bb7 CCD 0 16.Nf6+ Nxf6 17.Bxf6 Bb4 18.Nxb7 0–0 19.a3 Qxb7 20.axb4 Rfe8 21.Qf3 a5 22.Bd3 axb4 23.Kd2 b3 24.Qh3 Qb6 0–1 (37) Yip,C (2408)-Dominguez Perez,L (2741) Saint Louis 2025]

7.f4 [7.Qf3

This slightly awkward looking move, placing the queen in front of the f2 pawn before pushing f2–f4, is not too bad and it has been used by Nepomniachtchi, Praggnanandhaa, Caruana, Vidit etc. The idea is to castle long as quickly as possible and progress with active piece play without f2–f4. 7...h6 Carlsen, Saric, Shankland So, Sarana... (7...Nbd7!? Now that the Queen has already committed itself to f3, there is no need to start with Be7. Apparently 7...Be7 is played before developing the b8–knight. From White’s perspective, one of the advantages of delaying f2–f4 is that the Queen can exert pressure against the d6–pawn from g3, which means that ...b5 can often be met by Bxb5 followed by Ndxb5 and Nxd6†, trading a piece for three pawns. Thus, by delaying ...Be7, Black has the potential to save a tempo, as the bishop will have to exchange itself for the knight when it lands on d6. 8.0–0–0 Qc7 This move is always essential when Black prepares b7–b5. 9.Qg3 Is a possible idea, keeping the bishop on f1 for now, intending to sacrifice it on b5 in one go! 9...b5 Black has tried several other moves, but this active move is OK. 10.Bxb5 A thematic blow in Sicilians. Sometimes it is crushing, sometimes it is incorrect and sometimes, like here, it leads to a messy, yet balanced position. White has nothing better since ...b4 was threatened, and 10.a3 Rb8! only helps to develop Black’s play. 10...axb5 11.Ndxb5 Qb7 Maybe the best square for the queen in this particular position. We are heading a very tactical and concrete position, so we should trust the engine’s preference. 12.Rxd6 Rxa2 13.Nc7+ A strong tactic, maintaining the balance for White. 13...Kd8 The only move, as taking the Knight with 13…Qxc7 falls into the 14.Rxe6+! Kd8 15.Re8+! tactic. 14.Nxe6+ The knight, which was anyway doomed, gives itself for a pawn. 14...fxe6 15.Nxa2 Bxd6 16.Qxd6 Qxe4 Black grabs as much material as he can and now White has enough compensation for the piece, but only to maintain equality. 17.Bxf6+ gxf6 18.Nb4 Ke8 Moving away from Nc6+ followed by Qe7 checkmate. 19.Nc6 Kf7 The king has to run away from the checkmate, but once he does, he is fine. 20.Rd1 Re8 21.Qc7 Kg8 22.b4 Kh8 23.b5 Qxg2 24.b6 ½–½ (24) Potrata,J (2367)-Kim,V (2366) ICCF 2024; 7...Be7 A calm variation. Played by Carlsen, Sindarov, MVL, Maghsoodloo etc. 8.0–0–0 Qc7 9.a3 Nbd7 10.g4 b5 11.Bd2 Bb7 12.g5 Ne5 13.Qg2 Nfd7 14.f4 Nc4 15.Bxc4 Qxc4 16.Nb3 Qc7 17.h4 Nc5 18.Kb1 0–0–0 19.h5 Kb8 1–0 (37) Svane,F (2667)-Povshednyi,I (2309) chess.com INT 2025) 8.Bh4 Be7 9.0–0–0 Qc7 We are at a crossroads. White has a few options here, all leading to sharp play. 10.Qe2 b5 11.a4 bxa4 12.Nxa4 Bd7 13.Nc3 Nc6 14.Nxc6 Bxc6 15.f3 0–0 16.Bf2 Rfb8 17.Qd3 a5 18.Nb1 a4 19.Qc3 Qb7 20.Na3 Bxe4 21.fxe4 Nxe4 0–1 (21) Albuquerque,M (1711)-Fuzishawa,R (2388) ICCF 2025;

7.f3 This has been played by Magnus Carlsen at least three times and several other strong players. The idea is that White is setting up the English Attack against the Scheveningen pawn structure. 7...Be7 There are many setups and move orders here. Anish Giri recommends in one of his Chessable courses b5 first and keeps the knight on b8 flexible. 8.Qd2 b5 9.0–0–0 Here Black can go for 9…Bb7 , going for the Nbd7 setup, but he can also use the fact that White has delayed a2–a3 and push b4 quickly. 9...h6 Before pushing b4 and e5 we need to send the bishop back to e3. (Giri) 10.Be3 If the bishop had gone to h4, it would be much harder for White to push his kingside pawns with g4–h4 and Black would just develop with Bb7 Nbd7 Rc8 and so on. 10...b4 11.Na4 Qa5 White can sac a piece here in two different ways, both of which only offer him equality. 12.b3 Bd7 13.Nf5 A brilliant looking sacrifice, only to force a desperate move repetition. 13...exf5 14.Bb6 Qe5 15.Bd4 Qa5 16.Bb6 Qe5 17.Bd4 Qa5 ½–½ (17) Glaser,K (2374)-Ansel,A (2374) ICCF 2025 The Queen is not trapped, but the move repetition is not to be avoided. Of course Black could have deviated earlier in a million ways, the setup with 6. Bg5 and f3 allows Black a lot of freedom, in particular, 9… Bb7 is a good alternative.]

7...Be7 [The most flexible move as the feared 8.Qe2 can now be met by the 8…h6 9.Bh4 Nxe4! 10.Bxe7 Nxc3 tactic. Bobby Fischer played this line before moving over to the Poisoned Pawn.]

[7...Qb6

The Poisoned Pawn variation! 8.Qd2 Qxb2 9.Rb1 Qa3 10.e5 dxe5 11.fxe5 Nfd7 12.Ne4 h6 13.Bh4 Qxa2 14.Rd1! The start of a new plan (new in the sense of the last 20 years) that completely changed the look of the Poisoned Pawn line. For a long time White had not been able to make a serious breakthrough, until this completely new plan saw daylight. As far as Pavlovic knows the idea belongs to the very talented French GM Nataf, with whom he did a lot of interesting work over a long period of time. 14...Qd5 15.Qe3 Qxe5 16.Be2 Bc5 with chances for both sides in this sharp position. 17.Bg3 Qd5 18.c4 Bxd4 19.Rxd4 Qa5+ 20.Rd2 0–0 21.Bd6 Rd8 22.g4 Nf6 23.Nxf6+ gxf6 24.0–0 Rxd6 25.Rxd6 Nd7 26.Rfd1 Kg7 27.Kf2 Qe5 28.Rxd7 Qxh2+ 29.Kf3 Qh3+ ½–½ (38) Ozen,B (2220)-Sundqvist,C (2221), correspondence chess, LSS 2023;

7...Nbd7 This is a huge variation, called the Gelfand variation. White has a few challenging lines, 8.Qf3 being the old mainline, but lately 8.Qe2 is considered to be the most testing. 8.Qe2 Qc7 9.0–0–0 b5 10.a3 Be7 11.Bxf6 Nxf6 12.g4 d5 13.exd5 Nxd5 14.Nxd5 exd5 15.Kb1 Qxf4 16.Bh3 Qd6 17.Rhe1 Ra7 18.Qe3 Qh6 19.Qxh6 gxh6 20.Nf5 Bxf5 21.gxf5 Kf8 22.Rxd5 Rg8 23.Ka2 Rg5 24.Red1 h5 25.Bf1 h6 26.Kb3 Rb7 27.Bd3 Kg7 ½–½ (27) Sengupta,A (2357)-Schmitt,D (2380) ICCF 2024;

7...h6 8.Bh4 Qb6 Pavlovic calls this the Modernized Poisoned Pawn line, although it’s not a new line. It has been around for a long time actually, but just in the last few years many new ideas have appeared and now it’s probably one of the best lines against the direct 6.Bg5 system. 9.a3!? Who would have thought that this little move would become probably White’s best bet in trying to get any kind of advantage? It became very popular in the last few years, and it represents one of the main differences between the Modern Poisoned Pawn and the old one. 9...Be7 10.Bf2 Most popular and best. 10...Qc7 11.Qf3 Nbd7 12.0–0–0 b5 13.g4 Bb7 This represents best play, in Pavlovic's opinion. It is really early to draw any firm conclusions - after all, the line has not been investigated thoroughly. 14.h4 A critical line, in Pavlovic's opinion. 14...Nc5 15.Bd3 h5 This is an idea that looks entertaining and is a possible improvement over a Giri – Vachier Lagrave game from Palma 2017. 16.g5 Ng4 17.Rhg1 Probably a critical position. White wants to play Rxg4, and that happened in Giri – Vachier Lagrave 2017. In that game Black was under pressure so in his book Pavlovic had to come up with something new to speed up Black’s counterplay. 17...Qb6!? 18.Rxg4 hxg4 19.Qxg4 b4!? In Pavlovic's opinion the critical move. 20.axb4 Qxb4 21.h5 Rb8 22.f5 e5 23.Nf3 Bc6 24.Bxc5 dxc5 25.f6 gxf6 26.g6 fxg6 27.hxg6 1–0 (27) López García II,A (2015)-Besozzi,F (2124) ICCF 2024]

8.Qf3 [The standard setup.]

[8.e5

Is actually not a bad move. 8...dxe5 9.fxe5 There are a few ways to get a fine position here for Black. 9...Nd5 10.Bxe7 Nxe7 The alternative (Qxe7) is fine, but this seems easier. 11.Qg4 Ng6 12.0–0–0 Qe7 13.h4 0–0 14.Qg3 Qc5 15.Nf3 Nc6 16.Re1 Rd8 17.h5 Nge7 18.h6 Nf5 19.Qg5 Qe7 1–0 (47) Huschenbeth,N (2596)-Swara Lakshmi S Nair (2158) chess.com INT 2025; 8.Qe2 h6 As a direct issue for White, as 9.Bh4 runs into the thematic 9…Nxe4! 9.Bh4 Nxe4 Our usual cheapo. 10.Bxe7 Nxc3 11.Qc4 Kxe7 12.Qxc3 Black is a pawn up here and although the king is fine in the centre, it is also easy to tuck it back in. 12...Re8 13.0–0–0 Kf8 The king is safe here and Black is just enjoying an extra pawn. 14.g4 Kg8 15.Rg1 Qf6 16.Kb1 e5 17.g5 hxg5 18.fxg5 Qf2 19.Nf3 g6 1–0 (67) Montiel,A (1972)-Munoz Ramos,C (2180) Santiago CHI 2025]

8...Qc7 [We are going for a Qc7 + Nbd7 setup and it is important to start with this move now to avoid the 8…Nbd7?! 9.Bc4! option.]

[8...Nbd7 9.0–0–0 Qc7 10.g4 b5 11.Bxf6 Nxf6

this is the main line; 8...h6 9.Bh4 Qc7 10.0–0–0 Nbd7 11.Qg3

A) 11...g5!

This is the big idea which works well against certain set-ups.12.fxg5 Nh5 This looks best to me writes Vigorito in his book. (12...Rg8 13.Be2 hxg5 14.Bxg5 b5 15.a3 Ne5 16.h4 Nh7 17.Nf3 Nxg5 18.Nxe5 dxe5 19.hxg5 Bd7 ½–½ (48) Wafa,H (2368)-Sindarov,J (2677) Budapest HUN 2024) 13.Qe3 Qc5 This is necessary to regain the pawn, but the Queen will lose some time. 14.Kb1! 14.Qd2 is the main alternative, which usually leads to an endgame after: 14...Bxg5 15.Bxg5 Qxg5 16.Nf3 Qxd2† 17.Rxd2 17...Ke7 18.Be2 Nhf6 19.Rhd1 Ne8= Practice has shown that this is quite alright for Black. His position may look a bit passive but there is an upside too, as Black controls the e5–square and has the chance to play on either flank after a future ...b6 and ...Bb7 (which may be prefaced by ...Ra7–c7). 14...hxg5 15.Bf2 White lines up his bishop against the black queen. Even though the pawn has been regained and Black has the e5–square for his knight, White has chances to develop an initiative, as Black’s development is lagging and his king is still in the centre. This balance of initiative versus structure is typical in the Najdorf. 15...b5!? This is an aggressive try. 16.Qd2 Threatening a discovered attack against the queen. 16...Qc7 17.h4 g4 18.a3 Bb7 19.g3 Ne5 Black has finally managed to cement his knight on the fine e5–square. The position is strategically very complicated. The passed h4–pawn looks nice, but it is not going anywhere.;

B) 11...b5 12.Bxf6 Nxf6 13.e5 dxe5 14.fxe5 Nd7 15.Bxb5 axb5 16.Ndxb5 Qc5 17.Qxg7 Rf8 18.Kb1?! Bb7 19.Rhe1 0–0–0 20.a4 Kb8 21.g3 h5 22.Nd6 Qb4 23.a5 Nc5 24.Rf1 Ne4 25.Rd3 Rg8 0–1 (25) Berecz,G (2209)-Sundqvist,C (2241) ICCF 2020]

9.0–0–0 Nbd7 

Our setup is complete now. Now we are ready for a b5 push or h6, depending on what White does. The so-called three-piece system. Black has developed the Bishop, Queen, and a Knight and is ready for the standard Sicilian push b7–b5, now that e5 push can be met with Bb7! This used to be the mainline until some problems have started appearing and the focus shifted back to the poisoned-pawn variation. However, about a decade ago new ways started appearing here for Black: 10.g4 b5 11.Bxf6 Nxf6 12.g5 Nd7 13.f5 O-O! and this line remains playable ever since.

10.g4 [This is certainly White’s most dangerous option, although he has to know quite a bit of theory in order to play it.]

10...b5 

The traditional move works, as far as analyses go.

11.Bxf6 [White really should take on f6 and everyone who plays 6.Bg5 should know that.]

11...Nxf6 12.g5 Nd7 13.f5! [The whole point of this system. If White wastes a move, Black will have a very comfortable game. Here, the g5 pawn falls with a check, but it turns out that Black is then unable to defend from fxe6 as well as the nasty idea of Qh5. The old theoretical move was 13…Nc5. It was a huge theory, but as computers got stronger the position after 14.f6 gxf6 15.gxf6 turned out to be unplayable, due to the well-timed Nd5 type of sacrifices. Black also tried (and can still try! to equalize the position after 13…Bxg5 and then give up the e6 pawn. But it was when Black discovered that the dangerous-looking 13…O-O! is playable this line really got back in business.]

13...0–0 [

Castling straight into the attack looks insane at first, but in fact, it works out quite fine. The direct 14.f6 doesn’t kill as Black has fine control of the f6 square. The 14.fxe6 fxe6 15.Nxe6 Rxf3 complications don’t work out in White’s favour either. And if White plays a slower move like 14.h4 , 14.Rg1 or 14.Qh5 Black wants to push the knight away from c3 with b5–b4 and if the knight is to move to e2, Black wants to then push e5! hitting the other knight as well.]

14.Rg1 [Intending the f6 push. The only move that attempts to fight for some advantage, but Black also has to know how to respond to some other moves that can be tricky if unprepared, especially the move 14.Qh5! can be a killer, if Black doesn’t know it.]

14...b4 [Kicking the knight further away from the d5 square, before pushing e6–e5.]

15.Nce2 e5 16.f6 

The point of White’s play, changing the pawn structure drastically.

16...exd4 17.fxe7 Re8 [If Black can get developed quickly, he will generally be doing fine.]

18.Nxd4 Ne5 [A well known theoretical tabia. Here White has two critical options Qf4 and Qb3.]

19.Qf4 Qc5 20.Rg2 [Here Black can afford to take the time and prevent Nf5.]

20...g6 21.h4 Rxe7 22.Be2 Bb7 23.h5 Nd7 

Currently the e4 pawn is hanging and if need be the queen can shift over to e5. White is not in time to get play on the h-file.

24.Nb3 Qe5 25.Rf2 Qxf4+ 26.Rxf4 Nc5 27.Nxc5 dxc5 28.h6 Bxe4 29.Bxa6 Bf5 30.Bc4

30...Kf8 [½–½ (30) Glotz,D (2436)-Mason,I (2438) ICCF 2025]

The f3–Nimzo-Indian Defence - Summary

Christer Sundqvist: Complete analysis of the f3–Nimzo-Indian Defence.

This is a summary of a massive analysis package that includes the f3–Nimzo-Indian Defence. I'd like to demonstrate a typical line of play in order to pique your interest in this rapidly evolving chess opening.

With a small investment from your side (only 50 euros), I can send the entire package (7 PGN files) to your e-mail address. I also provide you with regular updates at no additional cost. I use PayPal, MobilePay, and standard IBAN bank transfers. Please tell me how you want to pay for the chess opening package. My email is turpaduunari@outlook.com.

If you believe my request for money is unethical or greedy, I am willing to consider alternative options (exchange of valuable ideas or other forms of cooperation).

I have used these resources:

• Batsford's Modern Chess Openings (15th edition)

• Cheparinov, Ivan. Play 4.f3 against the Nimzo-Indian Defence. 2023

• Chess Cloud Database Query Mode (https://www.chessdb.cn/queryc_en/)

• Chess Informant 152

• Chessbase software

• Denby, Caleb. The f3 Nimzo-Indian: Chess Openings Explained (2021)

• Encyclopedia of Chess Openings, 4th edition. (2008)

• ICCF Games Archive (https://www.iccf.com/message?message=454 ) 1961–2025

• Lakdawala, Cyrus. Opening Repertoire 1 d4 with 2 c4. Everyman Chess, 2019

• Moskalenko, Viktor. An Attacking Repertoire for White with 1.d4. New in Chess, 2019

• Opening Master Chess Database (https://www.openingmaster.com/)

• Personal chess database (approx. 90 million games)

• Stockfish 17 chess engine

• Sundqvist, Christer. The f3 Nimzo-Indian Opening played by a strong correspondence chess player 2019-2025

• The Week in Chess (https://theweekinchess.com/twic ) 1994–2025

• Ward, Chris. Offbeat nimzo-indian. Everyman Chess (2005)

• Yakovich, Yury. Play the 4 f3 Nimzo-Indian. Gambit Publications 2004.

A huge analysis package

As the f3–Nimzo-Indian Defence analysis package is huge, I had to split the package into 7 different files. In this way your chess computer program is able to handle the material quite easily. If you so wish, you can always merge all the files together.

The files are:

#1. 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.f3 c5 5.d5 other moves

#2. 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.f3 other moves

#3. 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.f3 d5 5.a3 Be7

#4. 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.f3 0-0

#5. 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.f3 c5 5.d5 0-0

#6. 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.f3 d5 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.bxc3 c5

#7. 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.f3 d5 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.bxc3 0-0 (FREE PGN-file for download)

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.f3

Analysis package #2 covers all the Black variations except 4...c5, 4...d5 and 4...0–0

4...d5 [Analysis packages #1 and #5 cover the 4...c5 move. Analysis packages #3, #6 and #7 cover the 4...d5 move. Often Black reacts to White's plans in the centre immediately. Other popular moves are 4...c5 and 4...0–0. The move 4...d5 is the most natural reaction to White's intended occupation of the centre: Black instinctively prevents the e4 advance.]

5.a3 [I believe only this move (Sämisch variation) can justify the moves 4.f3 d5. You will find alternative 5th White moves in the analysis package #1.

Now the struggle for the centre (e2–e4) continues. White will remain in the driver's seat, and might be able to steer the play into a successful middle game. A well-prepared Black might however be prepared for very drawish lines of play. ]

5...Bxc3+ [This is the main line. Alternative moves are covered in the analysis package #3]

6.bxc3 [The only relevant move.]

6...0–0 [Black continues development, giving White a free hand in the centre. Play typically transposes to the Botvinnik line of the Rubinstein System, in which the majority of players prefer White. The analysis package #6 covers the very popular alternative 6...c5.]

[6...c6 This move (6...c6) was first introduced into tournament play by Lithuanian grandmaster Eduardas Rozentalis. At first glance this move seems a little odd: having exchanged his dark-squared bishop, Black then proceeds to arrange his pawns on light squares. However, things are not so simple. Black is intending to capture on d5 with the c-pawn followed by exchanging the light-squared bishop via the a6–square. In order to cast doubt over Black's idea, White must play extremely energetically. In addition, Black wants to play b6 and Ba6. 

7.e4!? Sergei Volkov's recommendation. This is an aggressive move which, in my opinion, is the only one that leads to an advantage for White. See examples of possible continuations: 

7...Qa5 8.e5 Nfd7 (8...Qxc3+ 9.Bd2 Qxd4 10.exf6 Qxf6 11.f4 e5 12.cxd5 exf4 13.Bb4 a5 14.Bd2 Qh4+ 15.g3 fxg3 16.Nf3 g2+ 17.Nxh4 gxh1Q 18.Qe2+ Kf8 1–0 (31) Al Darmaky,S (1776)-Hamad,E (1906) Sharjah UAE 2019) 9.Bd2 Na6 10.cxd5 exd5 11.Bd3 0–0 12.f4 Qd8 13.Nf3 Nb6 14.f5 Qe7 15.f6 gxf6 16.0–0 fxe5 17.Nxe5 f6 18.Bh6 Re8 19.Ng4 Nd7 20.Qd2 Qf7 21.Nxf6+ Nxf6 22.Qg5+ Kh8 23.Rxf6 Qg8 24.Rf8 Be6

25.Qg7# 1–0 (25) Serditykh,O (2016)-Kozhevnikova,A (1604) Sochi 2024; 

6...b6 solves the developmental problems of the white-squared Black bishop. 7.cxd5 exd5 8.e3 CCD +1 8...Bb7 (8...0–0 9.Bd3 c5 10.Ne2

Batsford's Chess Openings thinks White has a slight advantage10...Re8 11.0–0) 9.Bd3 Nbd7 (9...Nc6 10.Ne2 Na5 11.0–0 h5 12.e4 dxe4 13.fxe4 Nxe4 14.Ng3 Nxg3 15.hxg3 h4 16.Qg4 Qd5 17.Qh3 Nb3 18.Rb1 Nxd4 19.Re1+ Kf8 20.cxd4 Qxd4+ 21.Re3 Re8 22.Rb4 Qa1 23.Rb1 Qd4 24.Rb4 Qa1 25.Rb1

25...Qd4 ½–½ (25) Krishnater,K (1972)-Krishna Teja,N (2268) Rajahmundry IND 2016) 10.Ne2 Qe7 11.0–0 0–0 12.Ng3 Rfe8 (12...g6 13.a4 c5 14.Qe2 Rfe8 15.Bd2 h5 16.Nh1 Kg7 17.Nf2 Nf8 18.Rfe1 Ne6 19.Nh3 Bc6 20.Bb5 Nd8 1–0 (42) Guilbert,J (2003)-Peyre,T (1922) Pau 2008) 13.Ra2 Nf8 14.Re2 Supports the e4–push. 14...c5 15.e4 By move 15 Black is paralyzed to stop e3–e4 and soon was forced to resign. Denby,C-McConnel,G (2072); 

6...h6 Simple idea: prevents Bg5. 7.cxd5 White is slightly better 7...exd5 8.e3 0–0 9.Bd3 Re8 10.Ne2 Nbd7 (10...b6 11.0–0 Ba6 12.Bxa6 Nxa6 13.Qd3 Qc8 14.Ng3 c5 15.e4 cxd4 16.cxd4 Qc4 17.Qxc4 dxc4 18.Nf5 Red8 19.Bf4 Rd7 1–0 (29) Moskalenko,V (2539)-Benitez Perez,J (2076) Barcelona 2007) 11.0–0 Nf8 12.Ng3 N8h7 13.e4 dxe4 14.fxe4 c5 15.e5 Nd5 16.Qh5 Be6 17.Bxh6 Nxc3

18.Bxh7+ 1–0 (18) Barrionuevo,P (2312)-Sammartino,G (1908) Buenos Aires 2011; 

6...Nbd7 Karjakin. Not as good as 6…Nc6 7.e3 0–0 8.Bd3 dxc4 9.Bxc4 c5 10.Ne2 e5 11.0–0 cxd4 12.cxd4 exd4 13.Qxd4 (13.Nxd4 Ne5 14.Ba2 b6 15.Qe2 Bb7 16.Bb2 Bd5 17.Rfd1 Bxa2 18.Rxa2 Qd5 ½–½ (63) Kuester,M (1903)-Ozeran,V (2064) Berlin 2009) 13...Nb6 14.Rd1 (14.Bb3 Qxd4 15.Nxd4 Rd8 16.Bb2 Bd7 17.e4 Na4 18.Bxa4 Bxa4 19.Nf5 Ne8 1–0 (71) Vittorino,C (2228)-Gutierrez Castillo,J (2283) Cali 2007) 14...Qxd4 15.Rxd4 Nxc4 16.Rxc4 Be6 17.Rc7 Bd5 18.Bb2 Rfc8 19.Rac1 Bc6 20.Rxc8+ Rxc8 1–0 (43) De Oliveira,L (2056)-Souza Santos,C (2074) Boa Vista 2017; 

6...dxc4 gives away the centre, since White plays immediately 7.e4 7.e4 b5 is a bit greedy. 8.a4 c6 9.Ba3 White’s bishop pair, dark square control, strong centre and the fact that Black is unable to castle are far more meaningful than the not-so-great extra pawn. 9...Nfd7 10.Ne2 a6 (10...Nb6 11.axb5 cxb5 12.d5 Na4 13.Nd4 Bd7 14.dxe6 fxe6 15.f4 Qb6 16.Qh5+ Kd8 1–0 (30) Bislin-Wild,R (2320)-Reichgeld,M (2174) ICCF 2021) 11.Ng3 c5 12.Be2 (12.dxc5) 12...h5 (12...Nc6 13.dxc5 0–0 14.0–0 Nde5 15.f4 Nd3 16.Rf3 Ra7 17.axb5 axb5 18.Bxd3 Rd7 ½–½ (33) Tritt,M (2339)-Naumenko,A (2281) ICCF 2019) 13.h4 Nc6 14.dxc5 (14.d5) 14...Bb7 15.f4 Qc7 16.0–0 Na5 17.axb5 axb5 18.Bb4 Nb3 19.Rxa8+ Bxa8 20.Nxh5 Ndxc5 21.f5 0–0 22.fxe6 fxe6 23.Rxf8+ Kxf8 24.e5 Qxe5 25.Qd8+ Kf7 ½–½ (42) Sundqvist,C (2361)-Valo,T (2193) ICCF 2023; 

6...Nc6 [not the worst move, maybe the second best after the most promising 6...c5] 7.cxd5 exd5 8.e3 Bf5 9.Ne2 0–0 (9...h5) 10.Ra2 (10.h3) 10...h5 equal 11.h3 Ne7 12.g4 Bh7 13.Nf4 Ng6 14.Be2 Rc8 (14...Qd6 15.Kf2 h4 16.a4 equal 16...Rfe8 17.Qg1 Rac8 18.Qh2 c5 19.Nxg6 Qxh2+ 20.Rxh2 Bxg6 21.Rh1 cxd4 22.cxd4 Nh7 23.Bd2 Ng5 24.Kg2 f6 25.Bd1 Bb1 ½–½ (42) Sundqvist,C (2361)-Havumaeki,A (2397) ICCF email 2023) 15.a4 c5 16.dxc5 b6 17.Ba6 Rxc5 18.0–0 White is slightly better. 18...Rxc3 19.Bd2 Rc7 20.Bb4 Re8 21.Ng2 Ne5 22.Bb5 Nc6 23.Be1

23...Qd6 ½–½ (43) Sundqvist,C (2247)-Kirch,B (2126) LSS 2023; 

6...Qe7 Interesting, but rarely played. 7.e3 (7.cxd5) 7...0–0 8.cxd5 exd5 9.Bd3 Re8 10.Ne2 c6 11.0–0 c5 12.Ng3 Nc6 13.Ra2 Qc7 14.Re2 Be6 15.Bb2 Rad8 16.Qe1 Na5 17.Qf2 a6 18.Rfe1 Qd7 19.e4 dxe4 20.Nxe4 Nxe4 21.fxe4 Bb3 ½–½ (32) Legemaat,G (2326)-Konovalenko,A ICCF email 2010]

7.cxd5! [White is fixing the double pawns. The alternative moves are not as good.]

[7.e3 b6 (7...Nh5 8.Qc2 f5 9.Nh3 c5 10.Bd3 g6 11.0–0 Nc6 12.cxd5 Qxd5 13.c4 Qd6 14.d5 Ne5 15.Be2 Nf6 16.Bb2 exd5 17.cxd5 b6 18.Qc3 Ned7 19.e4 Re8 20.Bb5 1–0 (20) Golsta,R (1777)-Hutchinson,N (1974) Cambridge ENG 2023) 8.Bd3 (8.Nh3) 8...Bb7 9.Nh3 Nbd7 10.0–0 c5 11.Bb2 Qc7 12.Qe2 dxc4 13.Bxc4 e5 14.e4 Ne8 15.Rac1 Nd6 16.Bd3 c4 17.Bb1 b5 18.f4 f6 19.Rcd1 Rae8 ½–½ (34) Rodi,L (2196)-Stevens,A (1878) Sunnyvale USA 2023; 

7.Bg5 h6 8.Bh4 b6 (8...c5 9.e3 b6 10.Bd3 Ba6 11.cxd5 exd5 12.Ne2 Re8 13.Qd2 Bxd3 14.Qxd3 Qe7 15.Bf2 Nc6 16.0–0 Na5 17.Ng3 Rad8 18.Rae1 c4 19.Qc2 Qxa3 20.e4 Qb3 21.Qd2 Qb5 22.e5 Nh7 23.f4 f6 24.f5 Nb3 25.Qf4 Qa5 26.Nh5 Rf8 27.e6 Rde8

28.Re3 1–0 (28) Vedder,R (2216)-Saim,M (2191) chess.com INT 2024) 9.e3 Bb7 (9...Nc6 10.cxd5 exd5 11.Bd3 Na5 12.Ne2 Re8 13.Bf2 c5 14.0–0 c4 15.Bc2 Qe7 16.Ng3 Bd7 17.e4 dxe4 18.fxe4 Nb3 19.Rb1 Qxa3 1–0 (38) Vedder,R (2216)-Sargsyan,A (2361) chess.com INT 2024) 10.Bd3 Nbd7 11.Ne2; 

7.a4 c5 8.e3 (8.Ba3 Qa5 9.Bxc5 Qxc3+ 10.Kf2 Rd8 11.a5 Qxc4 12.e4 Qc3 13.Bd3 dxe4 14.fxe4 Ng4+ 15.Kf3 Ne5+ 16.Ke3 Na6 17.Rc1 Qxa5 18.Ra1 Qc3 19.Ra3 Nc4+ 0–1 (19) Khaziev,R (1000)-Zaynutdinov,I (1986) Nabereznye Chelny 2010) 8...Re8 9.cxd5 exd5 10.Bb5 Bd7 11.Ne2 Bxb5 12.axb5 Nbd7 13.0–0 Qb6 14.Qa4 a6 15.Rb1 Qc7 16.Ng3 Re6 17.e4 cxd4 18.Qxd4 dxe4 19.fxe4 Qc5 20.bxa6 bxa6 0–1 (53) Blackburn,J (2170)-Richardson,A (2104) England 2010]

7...exd5 [7...Nxd5?! (This is worse than 7...cxd5 8.e4! White is much better.) 8...Nf6 9.Bg5 e5 10.dxe5 Qxd1+ 11.Rxd1 Nfd7 12.Bf4 Nc6 13.e6 Nc5 14.exf7+ Rxf7 15.Be3 b6 16.Bxc5 bxc5 17.Bc4 Ba6 18.Bxa6 Rff8 19.Bb7 Rab8 20.Bxc6 Kh8 21.Ne2 h6 22.Kf2 Rb2 23.Rd7 Rfb8 24.Rhd1 R8b3

25.e5 1–0 (25) Risko,N (1841)-Delgado,T (1337) ICCF 2024]

8.e3 [8.Bg5 h6 9.Bh4 b6 10.e3 Ba6 11.Bxa6 Nxa6 12.Ne2 c5 13.0–0 Nc7 14.e4 g5 15.Bg3 dxe4 16.fxe4 Nxe4 17.Qd3 f5 18.Be5 Rc8 19.Rf3 Qd5 20.Raf1 Qe6 21.g4 cxd4 22.cxd4 Nd6 23.gxf5 Qd5 24.f6 Ne4 25.f7+ Kh7

26.Ng3 1–0 (26) Avetisyan,M (2055)-Tarasova,V (2226) chess.com INT 2024]

8...c5 [Black immediately begins play in the centre of the board, not preventing White from developing the bishop to d3.]

[8...Bf5 Black aims to develop his bishop to a comfortable square before his opponent develops his own light-squared bishop to d3. 9.Ne2! Re8 10.Ng3 (10.g4! this move is now possible. 10...Bg6 11.h4 h5 12.g5 Nfd7 13.Nf4 c5 14.Kf2 Nc6 15.Nxd5 Qa5 16.e4 cxd4 17.cxd4 Rxe4 18.fxe4 Bxe4 19.Bc4 Bxd5 20.Bxd5 Qxd5 21.Be3 f6 22.Qf3 Qd6 23.g6 Nb6 24.Qxh5 Qd5 25.Qh7+ Kf8 26.Qh8+ Ke7 27.Qxg7+ Ke6 28.Qf7+ Kd6

29.Bf4+ 1–0 (29) Ruff,M (2230)-Mitrovic,D (2220) chess.com INT 2023; 10.Nf4 Qd6 11.Be2 h6 12.g4 Bh7 13.h4 g5 14.hxg5 hxg5 15.Nh5 Nxh5 16.Rxh5 Bg6 17.Rh1 Nd7 18.Kf2 Kg7 19.c4 Rh8 0–1 (44) Sahoo,U (2283)-Bogdanov,E (2493) Krakow 2024) 10...Bg6 11.Bd3 Nbd7 (11...Bxd3 12.Qxd3 Nbd7 13.0–0 c6 14.Ra2 Nb6 15.e4 1–0 ; Denby,C-Amburgy,Ryan (1998)) 12.0–0 c6 13.Bxg6 hxg6 14.Qd3 Nb6 15.e4 Nc4 16.e5 Nd7 17.f4 Nf8 18.f5 Qd7 19.fxg6 Nxg6 1–0 (33) Bobkov,V (2253)-Koziorowicz,M (2289) chess.com INT 2024; 

8...b6

A) 9.Bd3 Ba6 (9...Re8; 9...c5 main line) 10.Bxa6 (10.Ne2 Bxd3 11.Qxd3 c5 12.g4 Nc6 13.Ra2 Re8) 10...Nxa6 11.Qd3 (11.Ne2) 11...Qc8 12.Ne2 c5 13.0–0 Re8 14.Ng3 Qb7 15.Ra2 Re6 (15...b5 16.Re2 b4 17.cxb4 cxb4 18.Rb2 Rab8 19.Bd2 Nd7 20.Bxb4 Nxb4 21.Rxb4 Nb6 1–0 (47) Novikov,I (2601)-Furdzik,R (2240) New York 2002; 15...cxd4 16.cxd4 Rac8) 16.Re2 Rae8 17.Rfe1 h5 (17...b5 18.a4 Nc7 ½–½ (18) Khurtsidze,N (2451)-Bojkovic,N (2397) Dresden 2007; 17...g6 18.e4 c4 19.Qc2 Qc6 20.e5 Nd7 21.f4 f5 22.exf6 Rxe2 23.Rxe2 Nxf6 1–0 (44) Maksimenko,A (2543)-Murdzia,P (2449) Germany 2013) 18.Qf5 (18.h4 Qc7 19.Kf2 Nb8 20.e4 dxe4 21.Nxe4 Nxe4+ 22.Rxe4 cxd4 ½–½ (37) Habermehl,T (2480)-Stanojevic,S (2381) ICCF email 2012; 18.e4 c4 19.Qc2 h4 20.e5 hxg3 21.exf6 gxh2+ 22.Kh1

22...Rxe2 ½–½ (22) Pilgram,K (1958)-Kolanek,R (2053) LSS email 2014) 18...g6 19.Qf4 Qd7 (19...Qc7 20.Qh4 cxd4 21.cxd4 Qc4 22.Qg5 Nh7 0–1 (41) Vybiral,Z (2232)-Kislik,E (2310) Budapest 2009) 20.Bb2 cxd4 21.cxd4 Rc6 0–1 (41) Beliavsky,A (2640)-Short,N (2635) Linares 1990;

B) 9.Ra2

Volkov' s idea goes a lot deeper and is far more interesting. White is preparing a kingside pawnstorm with g4, which will be supported by the rook by switching from a2 to g2! 9...Re8 10.g4! CCD +8 10...c5 11.Rg2!? The rook is ready to support the kingside pawn-storm. If a weaker player had been playing Black then chess writers would surely have consigned this game to the curiosity shop, for how can such a strange rook move be taken seriously when White has not yet developed a single minor piece? 11...Ba6 12.Bxa6 Nxa6 13.Ne2 Nc7 14.h4 Ne6 15.0–0! Even so, it is now time to move the king to a safe location!  15...cxd4 16.exd4! Naturally, White does not want to open the c-file for the black rooks. At the cost of damaging his solid pawnstructure, White's dark-squared bishop can now take part in the struggle on the kingside.  16...Rc8 17.Qd3 Qc7 18.Qf5 Qc4 19.h5 Nd7 20.g5 Nef8 21.Rff2 Rc6 1–0 (45) Volkov,S (2558)-Shariyazdanov,A (2594) Elista 2001; 

8...Nh5

A) 9.Ne2 CCD +19 9...Nd7 10.g4 Qh4+ 11.Kd2 Nhf6 12.Qe1 Qh6 13.Nf4 Nb6 14.h4 Nfd7 15.a4 Re8 16.a5 Nc4+ 17.Bxc4 dxc4 18.Nd5 Qd6 19.e4 c5 1–0 (58) Sundqvist,C (2221)-Oliveira,D (2255) LSS 2023;

B) 9.g3 CCD +15 9...c5 10.Bd3 (10.Bg2 b6 11.Ne2 Ba6 12.0–0 Nc6 13.Rf2 Re8 14.e4 cxd4 15.Nxd4 Na5 16.f4 Nf6 17.e5 Ne4 18.Bxe4 dxe4 0–1 (45) Tang,K (1493)-Zhang,D (2183) Qiziwan CHN 2023) 10...Nc6 11.Ra2 Re8 12.Kf1 f5 13.Rg2 Qf6 14.h3 g6 15.Ne2 Be6 16.Kg1 Bf7 17.Qf1 cxd4 18.exd4 Ng7 19.g4 Kh8 1–0 (49) Jimenez Ruano,A (2307)-Barsegyan,H (2442) Barcelona ESP 2024;

C) 9.Qc2! Re8 10.g4! Nf4 11.h4! c5 12.Kf2

A colourful position - without developing a single minor piece and already having begun a pawn offensive on the kingside, White now makes a move with his king! Amazingly, he also stands better! 12...Ng6 13.Bd3! Nc6 14.Ne2 CCD +67 14...Be6 15.g5! Rc8 16.h5 Nf8 17.g6! fxg6 18.hxg6 h6 19.Qb1 Na5 20.Nf4 c4 21.Bc2 Rc6 22.Ra2! Nd7 23.a4! Nf6 1–0 (50) Gheorghiu,F-Fischer,R Havana 1966; 

8...Re8 9.Bd3 c5 10.Ne2 (10.Ra2; 10.a4; 10.h4; 10.Bd2) 10...Nc6 In a video Caleb Denby explains that this is a misstep because Black can no longer get rid of the light-squared Bishop of White. (10...b6 11.0–0) 11.0–0 This position can be reached via many different lines of the Nimzo-Indian Defence. 11...Nh5 (11...c4 this might be a mistake as Black gives away the control of d4 12.Bc2 b6 13.Ng3 White has been able to carry out his plan and is ready to carry out the d4–push 13...h6 14.e4 dxe4 15.fxe4 Bg4 16.Qe1 Nxd4? 17.cxd4 Qxd4+ 18.Be3 Qd6 19.h3

19...Be6 Denby, Caleb-Higgins, Derrick (2079) and White won easily) 12.g4 Nf6 13.Ng3 h6 14.Ra2 Qa5 15.h4! White is better 15...c4 16.Bc2 Qd8 17.Bb1 Nh7 18.Rh2 Nf8 19.e4 Qb6 1–0 (37) Cvitan,O (2500)-Prandstetter,E (2430) Prague 1987]

9.Bd3 [White aims for Bd3 - Ne2 - 0–0, and then preparing for the king-side attack. Black's counter play will focus on the queen side as well as the center.]

[9.Bd2 c4 10.Kf2 (10.Nh3 Nc6 11.Nf4 Re8) 10...Bf5 11.g3 Nc6 12.h4 h5 13.Nh3 Bxh3 14.Bxh3 g6 15.Qc2 Na5 16.Rae1 Nb3 17.Bc1 Nxc1 18.Qxc1 Re8 19.Re2 Re7 20.Rhe1 Qe8 21.Qc2 a5 1–0 (44) Drakoulakos,G (1775)-Mouratidis,H (1869) Nikea 2012; 

This is a very rich line of this variation as you can see of many different move options. 9.Ne2 Re8 10.g4 Nc6; 

9.dxc5 Nc6 (9...Qa5; 9...Nbd7) 10.Ne2 Qa5 (10...Re8) ; 

9.Ra2 Re8 (9...Qa5) 10.Bd3 b6 (10...Nc6 11.Ne2) ; 

9.g4 Re8 10.Ne2 (10.Bd3) 10...Nc6]

9...b6 [An idea of Keres's - by developing the bishop to a6 Black offers to exchange light-squared bishops. The problem with this plan is that it often allows White’s knight access to f5, which can be the precursor of a kingside attack. So sometimes Black opts to keep the light-squared bishops on the board.]

[9...Re8 this is a very rich variation. At least 14 different continuations rated on an equal level.]

10.Ne2 [10.Qa4 Bd7 (10...Qe8) 11.Qd1]

10...Ba6 [10...Bb7 11.0–0 (11.Ng3) ]

11.0–0! 

This seems more accurate than wasting time with 11 Bxa6 Nxa6 12 0–0 Re8 13 Ng3 Nc7, when Black looks equal, since the queen’s knight will be well placed on e6.]

11...Re8 [Black cannot do without this move, which controls the e4–square. From all of the critical positions in the Nimzo-Indian Defence, we currently have in front of us one of the most fascinating, which can be reached by many different move-orders.]

[11...Bxd3 12.Qxd3 cxd4 (12...Nc6) 13.cxd4 Nc6 14.Bd2 Rc8 15.Rac1 Re8 16.Ng3 Qd7 17.Rfe1 g6 18.Rcd1 Red8 19.Bc1 Qb7 20.Qb1 b5 21.e4 dxe4 22.Bg5 Rd6 1–0 (30) Tong (1717)-Peng (1752), China zt, 28.3.2025]

12.Ng3! 

Preparing for the e3–e4 break.

12...Bxd3 [Black must make this concession; otherwise he is unable to develop his b8–knight. Remember, we shouldn’t panic as White, thinking that we have been saddled with a bad bishop and a hole on c4, since the second we play e3–e4, our remaining darksquared bishop becomes potent again.]

[12...Qd7 13.Re1 Bxd3 14.Qxd3]

13.Qxd3 Nc6 [

Black is controlling the d4–pawn and White is unable to advance his e-pawn. 

14.Bb2 [This seems to be the correct idea, although the diagonal b2–h8 is clogged. White is simply over-protecting the important d4–pawn. Black is struggling to find active play. ]

[14.Ra2 Qd7 (14...Qd6 15.Re2 Rad8 16.Bb2 Na5 17.Rd1 Nc4 18.Bc1 b5 19.e4 dxe4 20.fxe4 cxd4 21.cxd4 a5 1–0 (60) Devaev,A (2306)-Yang,D (2219) chess.com INT 2025) 15.Re2]

14...h5 [14...Rc8 15.Rae1 (15.Rad1; 15.e4) 

15.Rae1 h4 16.Nf5 

16...h3 [16...Nh5 17.e4 cxd4 18.cxd4 Qf6 19.Bc1 Ne7 (19...Red8 20.e5 Qg6 21.f4 Qg4 1–0 (41) Botvinnik,M-Kurajica,B Hastings 1967) 20.Nxe7+ Qxe7 21.e5 g6 22.e6 Qf6 23.Re5 Rxe6 24.Bg5 Qg7 25.Rxe6 fxe6 26.Rc1 Re8 27.Rc6 Qf7 28.Qe3 Qd7 29.Qc3 Qf7 ½–½ (29) Semenenko,S (2107)-Bublei,P (2358) St Petersburg 2019; 

16...cxd4 17.cxd4 h3 (17...Nh5) ; 16...c4 17.Qc2 (17.Qd2) ]

17.Ng3 [17.g4 Ne7 (17...c4 18.Qd1 b5 19.Kh1 Qd7 20.Rg1 g6 21.Nh6+ Kg7 22.g5 Nh5 23.Bc1 a5 0–1 (41) Pacher,M (2434)-Danada,T (2306) Kezmarok 2022) 18.Ng3 Rc8 19.Bc1 Qd7 20.g5 Nh7 21.e4 cxd4 22.cxd4 Ng6 23.Be3 Nh4 0–1 (38) Esipenko,A (2682)-Maghsoodloo,P (2676) Chess.com INT 2020; 

17.e4 hxg2 18.Rf2 Ne7 19.e5 Nh5 20.Rxg2 Nxf5 21.Qxf5 Qh4 22.Rf1 (22.Rd1 g6 23.Rg4 ½–½ (23) Mroczek,J (2279)-Corti,H (2344) LSS email 2017) 22...g6 23.f4 Ng7 24.Qd3 c4 25.Qc2 Kh7 26.f5 Nxf5 27.Bc1 Qh3 28.Rg3 Nxg3 29.Rxf7+ Kh8 30.Qxg6 Ne2+ 31.Kh1 ½–½ (31) Ojeda,J (2285)-Roberts,A (2273) ICCF email 2018; 

17.gxh3 Ne7 18.dxc5 Nxf5 19.Qxf5 bxc5 20.c4 dxc4 21.e4 Rb8 22.Ba1 Rb3 23.Kh1 c3 ½–½ (81) Jacobson,B (2526)-Maiti,M (2310) Philadelphia 2022; 

17.Re2 Rc8 18.e4 cxd4 19.cxd4 Ne7 20.e5 Nxf5 21.Qxf5 Qd7 22.g4 Qxf5 23.gxf5 Nh5 0–1 (72) Grischuk,A (2758)-Maghsoodloo,P (2701) Chess.com INT 2022]

17...hxg2 [17...Ne7 18.e4 (18.dxc5 Rc8) 18...Ng6 19.Bc1 hxg2 (19...dxe4; 19...cxd4) 20.Kxg2; 17...Qd7 18.e4 (18.Re2 Rad8 19.Bc1 cxd4 20.cxd4 b5 21.Bd2 a6 22.Kh1 Ne7 23.Ref2 Ng6 24.Nf5 Ne7 25.Ng3 ½–½ (25) Ottesen,S (2372)-Matijosius,V (2064) ICCF email 2021) 18...hxg2; 

17...Rc8 18.e4 hxg2 19.Kxg2

A) 19...cxd4 20.cxd4 dxe4 (20...Na5 21.e5 Nh7 22.f4 Qd7 23.f5 Qa4 0–1 (39) Shuvalov,E (2038)-Oro,F (2316) Chess.com INT 2023) 21.fxe4 Ne5 22.Qe2 Ng6 23.d5 Nxd5 24.Kg1 Ndf4 25.Qe3 Rc2 26.Ba1 Qh4 27.Ne2 Qg4+ 28.Ng3 Rg2+ 29.Kh1 Rxh2+ 30.Kg1 Rg2+ 0–1 (30) Alavkin,A (2367)-Mohamed,A (2347) Chess,com INT 2024;

B) 19...dxe4 20.fxe4 Ne5 21.Qd1 Ng6 22.Kg1 Qd7 0–1 (36) Tsolakidou,S (2379)-Rahul,S (2466) Charlotte 2021; 17...cxd4 18.cxd4 Ne7 (18...hxg2) 19.e4 Ng6 20.Bc1 dxe4 21.fxe4 hxg2; 

17...Nh7 18.e4 c4 19.Qc2 b5 20.e5 a5 21.f4 b4 22.Nf5 Re6 23.Rf3 hxg2 24.Rg3 Rg6 ½–½ (53) Pranav,A (2340)-Tukhaev,A (2527) Taleigao 2019]

18.Kxg2 [White is still slightly better, but Black is putting up a good resistance.]

[18.Rf2 cxd4 (18...Ne7 19.Rxg2 Ng6 20.Nf5 Nh5 21.Rd1 Qf6 22.Bc1 Rac8 23.Bd2 Re6 1–0 (49) Giannoulakis,L (2319)-Salimova,N (2362) Plovdiv 2021) 19.cxd4 Ne7 20.Rxg2 Ng6 21.Nf5 Nh5 22.Bc1 Nhf4 23.Qf1 Nxg2 24.Qxg2 Qf6 0–1 (60) Caspi,I (2458)-Bharath,S (2550) Chess.com INT 2024]

18...Ne7 [18...Qd7 19.e4 dxe4 20.fxe4 Ne5

A) 21.Qd1 Ng6 (21...cxd4 22.cxd4 Qb5 23.Bc3 Ng6 24.d5 Rac8 1–0 (36) Kiolbasa,O (2351)-Socko,M (2419) Walbrzych 2024) 22.Rxf6 gxf6 23.Nh5 Kh8 24.Bc1 Rg8 25.Kh1 Qh3 1–0 (44) Dudin,G (2544)-Erdogmus,Y (2605) Eforie Nord 2025;

B) 21.Qe2 Ng6 22.Kh1 Rad8 23.Qf2

B1) 23...b5 24.e5 Qd5+ 25.Kg1 Ng4 26.Qe2 Nh6 27.Rd1 cxd4 28.cxd4 Re6 29.Bc1 Ne7 30.Bg5 Rd7 31.Qg2 (31.Qf2 Rg6 32.h4 f6 33.exf6 gxf6 34.Bxh6 Rxh6 ½–½ (45) Legemaat,G (2358)-Bares,J (2316) ICCF email 2021) 31...a5 32.h4 ½–½ (32) Bubir,A (2490)-Szczepanski,Z (2398) LSS email 2021;

B2) 23...Qb7 24.Qc2 b5 25.Kg1 a5 26.Rxf6 gxf6 27.Rf1 Qc8 28.Qf2 Rd6 29.Nf5 Rde6 30.Nh6+ Kg7 31.Ng4 Rxe4 32.Qxf6+ ½–½ (32) Susedenko,V (2443)-Wojnar,M (2383) ICCF email 2017;

B3) 23...Qh3 24.Re3 Qd7 (24...Qe6 25.Re2 Rd7 26.e5 Qc6+ ½– (37) ½ (37) Windhausen,G (2546)-Mielczarek,D (2405) ICCF email 2019) 25.Re2 ½–½ (25) Kushnaryov,A (2310)-Krakovsky,P (2327) ICCF email 2022 25...b5 ½–½ (27) Szczepankiewicz,D (2359)-Wojcik,W (2355) ICCF email 2022 26.d5 c4 27.Bc1 Qg4 28.Rg1 Re5 29.Nf5 Qh5 ½–½ (29) Sundqvist,C (2333)-Wojcik,W (2337) ICCF email 2021]

19.e4 

19...Ng6 [19...cxd4 20.cxd4 Ng6 21.Bc1 (21.Qd2 dxe4 22.fxe4 Nxe4 23.Nxe4 Rxe4 24.Rxe4 Qd5 25.Rfe1 Re8 0–1 (53) Berdayes Ason,D (2488)-Habans Aguerrea,J (2448) Barcelona 2025) 21...Rc8 22.Kh1 Nh7 23.e5 Nh4 24.f4 Qc7 1–0 (40) Lazavik,D (2577)-Najer,E (2623) Sochi 2025]

20.Bc1 [20.Kh1 cxd4 21.cxd4 Nf4 22.Qe3 N6h5 23.Rg1 (23.Bc1 Rc8 24.Rg1 Rc2 25.Bd2 g6 26.Nxh5 Nxh5 1–0 (54) Iljin,T (2319)-Potapova,M (2089) Anapa 2023) 23...g6 24.Nxh5 Nxh5 25.Rg5 Ng7 26.Reg1 Rc8 ½–½ (35) Lupini,S (2353)-Latronico,N (2428) ICCF email 2017 27.R1g2 Rc7 ½–½ (33) Walther,J (2210)-Solar,J (2253) ICCF email 2018]

20...dxe4 [20...cxd4 21.cxd4 dxe4 (21...Rc8; 21...Qc8) ]

21.fxe4 

21...cxd4 [21...Qd7

A) 22.Rxf6 gxf6 23.Nf5 Re5 24.Qh3 Rxf5 25.exf5 Qxf5 26.Qxf5 Nh4+ 27.Kg3 Nxf5+ 28.Kg4 Ng7 (28...Nd6 29.dxc5 bxc5 ½–½ (35) Feuerstein,M (2112)-Balta,M (2115) ICCF email 2022) 29.d5 Rd8 30.Rd1 f5+ ½–½ (41) Shaw,S (2325)-Wojcik,W (2285) ICCF email 2018;

B) 22.Kh1 Rac8 23.Rxf6 gxf6 24.Qf1 cxd4 25.Nh5 Qd6 ½–½ (34) Spiegel,W (2431)-Schaub,J (2327) ICCF email 2019;

C) 22.Nf5 cxd4 23.cxd4 Nxe4 24.Rxe4 Qd5 ½–½ (34) Schroeder,C (2230)-Fric,L (2312) FICGS email 2019 25.Ng3 f5 26.Rxf5 Nh4+ ½–½ (34) Pranav,A (2529)-Yakubbaeva,N (2340) Abu Dhabi 2023;

D) 22.Kg1 cxd4 (22...Rac8; 22...Rad8; 22...Re6) 23.cxd4 Rac8 24.Nf5 Rxc1 25.Rxc1 Rxe4 26.Qc4 Ne7

D1) 27.Kh1 Nxf5 (27...Re6 28.Nxe7+ Qxe7 ½–½ (46) Shulman,B (2438)-Keuter,K (2435) ICCF email 2018) 28.Qc8+ Qxc8 29.Rxc8+ Kh7 ½–½ (46) Benedetto,D (2274)-Reichgeld,M (2252) ICCF email 2019;

D2) 27.Rf3 Ne8 28.Qd3 Re6 ½–½ (51) Salzmann,S (2251)-Misericordia,A (2361) LSS email 2017]

22.cxd4 Qd7 [22...Rc8 23.Kh1 Qd7 24.Bg5 Nh7 25.Bd2 Ne5 26.Qe3 Nc4 27.Qf4 ½–½ (27) Eldridge,M (2237)-Larwinski,P (2289) FICGS email 2016 27...Re6 28.Nf5 Nd6 29.d5 Rf6 30.Qf3 Nxf5 31.exf5 g6 32.Re5 Re8 33.Rxe8+ ½–½ (33) Annoni,R-Robinson,J (2080) ICCF email 2021]

23.Bg5 Nh7 24.Bd2 Rac8 [24...Ne5 25.Qe3 Nc4 26.Qf4 (26.Qf2 Re6 27.Kh1 Rae8 28.Bc1 Rf6 29.Qg2 Rxf1+ 30.Rxf1 Qxd4 31.Nf5 Qxe4 32.Nh6+ Kh8 33.Nxf7+ ½–½ (33) De Buhr,G-Grube,A freechess.de 2021) 26...Re6 27.Nf5 Nd6 ½–½ (41) Shabaev,V (2164)-Fremmegaard,J (2207) ICCF email 2020; 

24...Rad8 25.d5 Ne5 26.Qb3 Ng6 1–0 (70) Robinson,J (2080)-Huff,D (1904) ICCF email 2021]

25.d5 [25.Kh1 Ne5 26.Qe3 Nc4 27.Qf4]

25...Nh4+ 

26.Kh1 Qh3 27.Rf2 Nf6 28.Qf1 Qxf1+ 29.Rexf1 Rc2 30.Be3 Rxf2 31.Bxf2 Nf3 32.Be3 Ne5 33.Bd4 Ned7 34.Rf4 [

34...a5 [½–½ (34) Sundqvist,C (2333)-Popov,E (2355) ICCF email 2021]