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98_E30-E31_Nimzo-Indian Defense: Leningrad Varia I have often wondered why this variation does not get more attention and appreciation, because it seems one of the best ways to counter the ever-solid Nimzo-Indian. This was the first book to explore the possibilities inherent in the Leningrad system (an early Bg5 by White, a main theme in many d4 openings). The only great name knowledgeable chess fans are likely to recall in connection with this way of attacking the "Nimzo" is that of the tenth world champion, Boris Spassky, (1969-1972), who used it with good results, thanks probably to his trainer at the time, Vladimir Zak, who was apparently the pioneering theoretician of this variation. click for larger view Leningrader System Im Leningrader System beantwortet Weiß die Fesselung seines Springers mit der Gegenfesselung 4. Lc1-g5. Es ist eine interessante Möglichkeit, Schwarz aus dem Konzept zu bringen, weil sich das Spiel ganz anders entwickelt als in den anderen Systemen der Nimzowitsch-Indischen Verteidigung. Die Chance von Schwarz besteht darin, mit 4. ... h7-h6 5. Lg5-h4 den weißen Läufer abzudrängen, so dass er am Damenflügel nicht mehr eingreifen kann, und dann am Damenflügel den Angriff zu suchen. Auf c7-c5 antwortet Weiß meist mit d4-d5. In der Partie Spasski – Tal (Tallinn 1973) antwortete Tal nach 4. ... h7-h6 5. Lg5-h4 c7-c5 6. d4-d5 im Geiste des Blumenfeld-Gambits mit 6. ... b7-b5. Den Namen erhielt diese Variante, weil sie von starken Meistern aus Leningrad oft angewandt wurde, etwa Sak, Spasski, Kortschnoi und Tolusch. http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nimzow... <4. Bg5 - < The Leningrad Variation <>> received its name because its theory was developed extensively by players from that city, such as Boris Spassky. The main line runs <4...h6 5. Bh4 c5 6. d5 d6 7. e3 Bxc3+ 8. bxc3 e5>, click for larger view when Black has achieved a Hübner Variation-like blockade, the difference being that White's dark-squared bishop is outside the pawn chain. The pin on the f6-knight is very annoying, and Black often finds himself compelled to break it by playing the drastic <...g7-g5>, which also clamps down on a potential f2-f4 break by White. This move weakens Black's kingside, so he often will not castle, walking his king to c7 via d8. An alternative to <6...d6> is <6...b5>, much played in the 1970s after Mikhail Tal scored a crushing win over Spassky at Tallinn 1973. Spassky vs Tal, 1973 annotated: http://www.chess.com/blog/NimzoRoy/... = = = = = = = Nimzo-Indian, Leningrad (E30) Nimzo-Indian, Leningrad, Main line (E31) Opening Explorer = = = = = = = Spassky: http://www.chessgames.com/perl/ches... Timman: http://www.chessgames.com/perl/ches... Berliner: http://www.chessgames.com/perl/ches... Bagirov: http://www.chessgames.com/perl/ches... = = = = = = = 91 games, 1925-2017 98_E30-E31_Nimzo-Indian Defense: Leningrad Varia I have often wondered why this variation does not get more attention and appreciation, because it seems one of the best ways to counter the ever-solid Nimzo-Indian. This was the first book to explore the possibilities inherent in the Leningrad system (an early Bg5 by White, a main theme in many d4 openings). The only great name knowledgeable chess fans are likely to recall in connection with this way of attacking the "Nimzo" is that of the tenth world champion, Boris Spassky, (1969-1972), who used it with good results, thanks probably to his trainer at the time, Vladimir Zak, who was apparently the pioneering theoretician of this variation. click for larger view Leningrader System Im Leningrader System beantwortet Weiß die Fesselung seines Springers mit der Gegenfesselung 4. Lc1-g5. Es ist eine interessante Möglichkeit, Schwarz aus dem Konzept zu bringen, weil sich das Spiel ganz anders entwickelt als in den anderen Systemen der Nimzowitsch-Indischen Verteidigung. Die Chance von Schwarz besteht darin, mit 4. ... h7-h6 5. Lg5-h4 den weißen Läufer abzudrängen, so dass er am Damenflügel nicht mehr eingreifen kann, und dann am Damenflügel den Angriff zu suchen. Auf c7-c5 antwortet Weiß meist mit d4-d5. In der Partie Spasski – Tal (Tallinn 1973) antwortete Tal nach 4. ... h7-h6 5. Lg5-h4 c7-c5 6. d4-d5 im Geiste des Blumenfeld-Gambits mit 6. ... b7-b5. Den Namen erhielt diese Variante, weil sie von starken Meistern aus Leningrad oft angewandt wurde, etwa Sak, Spasski, Kortschnoi und Tolusch. http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nimzow... <4. Bg5 - < The Leningrad Variation <>> received its name because its theory was developed extensively by players from that city, such as Boris Spassky. The main line runs <4...h6 5. Bh4 c5 6. d5 d6 7. e3 Bxc3+ 8. bxc3 e5>, click for larger view when Black has achieved a Hübner Variation-like blockade, the difference being that White's dark-squared bishop is outside the pawn chain. The pin on the f6-knight is very annoying, and Black often finds himself compelled to break it by playing the drastic <...g7-g5>, which also clamps down on a potential f2-f4 break by White. This move weakens Black's kingside, so he often will not castle, walking his king to c7 via d8. An alternative to <6...d6> is <6...b5>, much played in the 1970s after Mikhail Tal scored a crushing win over Spassky at Tallinn 1973. Spassky vs Tal, 1973 annotated: http://www.chess.com/blog/NimzoRoy/... = = = = = = = Nimzo-Indian, Leningrad (E30) Nimzo-Indian, Leningrad, Main line (E31) Opening Explorer = = = = = = = Spassky: http://www.chessgames.com/perl/ches... Timman: http://www.chessgames.com/perl/ches... Berliner: http://www.chessgames.com/perl/ches... Bagirov: http://www.chessgames.com/perl/ches... = = = = = = = 91 games, 1925-2017 Amazing Positional Chess 3 games, 1930-1999 Back to Basics: Strategy 20 games, 1851-2006 maya2012's favorite games 1 game, 2011 Rook Endgames Practical Rook Endgames 11 games, 1902-2018