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bucklehead
play-chess-online.com chess
1/17/2006
14:35:37
play online chess |  Subject: Nimzovich Variation
Message:
With Kramnik out of Wijk aan Zee, the potential for Petrovs dropped dramatically. So I was surprised yesterday to see Bacrot essay one in round three against Topalov. Topalov replied with the Nimzovich Variation of the Petrov: 1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nf6 3 Nxe5 d6 4 Nf3 Nxe4 5 Nc3 Nxc3 6 dxc3. Toppy went on to win thanks to Bacrot's bumbling, but it got me thinking: I've been seeing this variation pop up more and more frequently, and in the highest levels of chess.
I found 32 top-level games (2600+) that featured this variation in 2005, with a remarkable record of +11 =19 -2. And of course, these are not hack players: Topalov, Svidler, Anand, Leko, Karjakin, etc. have all given it a whirl. So my question is, is this now the hot "anti-Petrov"? I'd never really been afraid of it, but Topalov's performance yesterday gave me some pause.
It's got a lot to recommend it: it sidesteps much mainline Petrov theory and offers the possibility for opposite castling and the pawnstorms that may ensue. Does anyone here have experience with this line?
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mattdw
play-chess-online.com chess
1/17/2006
14:46:29
play online chess | What the score?
Message:
May I ask a beginners question, what does 'with a remarkable record of +11 =19 -2' mean? Thanks,
Matt
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thunker
play-chess-online.com chess
1/17/2006
15:18:01
play online chess | I believe it means
Message:
11 wins, 19 draws and 2 losses
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schaakhamster
play-chess-online.com chess
1/17/2006
23:33:54
play online chess | well
Message:
maybe they figure: if you play the Petrov you want a draw so let the guy at least work for it. The sideline you mentioned will probably not be better for white then the mainline but is not yet explored 15 moves into it so plenty to discover yet and leads, at first glance, to different positions then the mainline.
And if recent performances of Topalov showed us anything, it is that he can go for a win in any position.
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gloomy_den
play-chess-online.com chess
1/19/2006
11:40:23
play online chess | The reason is
Message:
5...Nc3 is not the best. White usually plays Bf4, Qd2 O-O-O with strong pressure on the kingside. There is nothing strange with such statistics in this line.
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