Classical Nimzo-Indian: The Ever-Popular 4 Qc2

by Bogdan Lalic

The 4 Qc2 Variation (or the Classical Variation, as it s commonly known) represents one of White s main choices against the ever-reliable Nimzo-Indian Defence. Its advocates include world-class... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1857442628
• ISBN13: 9781857442625
• Release Date: July 2001
• Publisher: Everyman Chess
• Length: 160 Pages
• Weight: 0.75 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 6.2" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

Excellent book, though incomplete

Lalic does an excellent job on explaining the more modern lines of the Classical Nimzo-Indian. There was a much-needed update in this area. For example...Sokolov's book on the Classical Variation mentions the line 4...d5 5.cxd5 Qxd5 6.Nf3 Qf5 in the notes to a game, and says that it "might" end up changing the assessment of the 4...d5 lines (which Sokolov basically says all 4...d5 lines lead to a significant advantage for White). Lalic gives a complete update on this line, with an entire chapter on 7.Qxf5, and half a chapter to each of 7.Qb3 and 7.Qd1. He also gives excellent coverage the exchange sacrifice line 4...d5 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.Qxc3 Ne4 7.Qc2 Nc6 8.e3 e5 9.cxd5 Qxd5 10.Bc4 Qa5+ 11.b4 Nxb4 12.Qxe4 Nc2+ 13.Ke2 Qe1+ 14.Kf3 Nxa1 15.Bb2 0-0 16.Kg3. Here he shows that Black has found an improvement on move 19 to bring the 16...h6 line back to life, since 16...Bd7 is too passive, and 16...Kh8 is basically refuted.Where this book gets its label "Incomplete" is in a couple of the older lines. For example, while after 4...d5 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.Qxc3 Ne4 7.Qc2 Nc6, White's best move is 8.e3, 8.Nf3 is a perfectly viable line, and it's not even mentioned in the notes anywhere, whereas it deserves at least 1 game. The lines with 5...exd5 I agree with the author of keeping to 1 game. It's an old line with White getting a good version of the Queen's Gambit Declined. Not what a Nimzo-Indian player wants anyway. The 4...c5 line though could use a little more coverage. I have played 4...c5 with 5...Na6 and continuing with the Knight sacrifice on e4. Lalic basically brushes this line off to a draw in the notes of a game. There are too many various ideas for both sides to just declare it a draw.If you play the Nimzo-Indian (Like me) or the Classical Variation against it (Like me), this is a must-have book for your shelf, but don't throw away your old ones if you are playing the Nimzo as Black (Sokolov's book on the Classical, Kosten's 2 books on the Nimzo, "Mastering the Nimzo Indian", and "New Ideas In the Nimzo Indian Defense"), as they will cover some of the older lines that White might throw at you (Like the 8.Nf3 line mentioned above).