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Chessville
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Books on the Nimzo have generally been overviews of the morass which defines the opening as a whole. Only a couple of authors had attempted to write "repertoire" books on the Nimzo, and those authors didn't receive the praise due them. So when I saw that a new book "Play the Nimzo Indian" was out, I expected another compendium of material that was only useful when I played somebody else who had read the book. Instead, I was surprised, delighted and wrong. Dearing has gone quite a long distance in writing this book, if the introduction is any indication. Initially reluctant to write a book from the Black point of view, Dearing offers some insights into his thinking about opening selection. The real effect of this is to help the reader gain a proper perspective on the approach taken in writing the book and on how variations were selected. It would be simplest to write a book on the currently most fashionable lines, something akin to the "trends" series, but Dearing has actually done the work necessary to define a selection of lines for Black and then describe them in a clear framework. The Nimzo Indian has a bit of a reputation of being a "solid" defense to the Q-pawn, not as dynamic as the King's Indian or Benoni. This book shows that to be a silly notion. The lines chosen for Black tend to be on the less trodden side, but offering excellent grist for the aggressive player's mill. Here are three examples of this "off road" approach. To combat the Classical/Capablanca variation (4.Qc2) Dearing has chosen 4...d5 and the Romanishin variation 5.cxd5 Qxd5. This line had a period of popularity in the mid 90's when it was even part of the Kasparov-Short match. Against the Rubinstein 4.e3 the line suggested is 4...b6, and here the two main suggestions are quite interesting. Another of Romanishin's approaches is used in the 4.e3 b6 5.Nge2 line, specifically 5...c5!? This line has not been commonly approved of, yet a number of strong GM's have played it. The line has some very sharp edges to it, which is exactly what the Black player should be seeking. My view was brought into sharp focus in the work on the mainline 4.e3 b6 5.Bd3 Bb7 6.Nf3 line, where my old favorite 6...0-0 7.0-0 d5 is presented. My first exposure to this particular line was a game from Lone Pine 1978 (I think) Portish - Petrosian. The position after Black plays d5 is actually a "tabiya" or common position that can arise from different openings or move orders.
More offbeat lines for White are covered, with Black getting good reference and advice in those lines. For me there was some concern about the recommendations against the Samisch (4.a3) and 4.f3 variations, which share some territory. Also, there are two chapters titled "Classical fianchetto" and "Fianchetto" which might be confusing (the first is 4...b6 for Black and the second is 4.g3 for White.) I have read a book
on the Dragon by Dearing and have come to appreciate his style. The
material in the book is well presented and endeavors to make the reader more
comfortable with the opening. This book can be recommended to any
player of Class A (1800 USCF) strength or up who wishes to play an opening
that will achieve a good position fairly easily while still having plenty of
chances to win.
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