Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar – Hou, Yifan

The f3 of the Nimzo! I think this move has somewhat disappeared recently from the top level, but Mamedyarov has surprised us multiple times with his opening choice in this tournament. The move is definitely sharp.

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Date: February 27, 2017
Location: Sharjah UAE
Tournament: Sharjah Grand Prix 2017
Round: 9.4
Opening: E20 Nimzo-Indian
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Published on: June 11, 2023

[Event "Sharjah Grand Prix 2017"] [Site "Sharjah UAE"] [Date "2017.02.27"] [Round "9.4"] [White "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"] [Black "Hou, Yifan"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "E20"] [WhiteElo "2766"] [BlackElo "2651"] [PlyCount "63"] [EventDate "2017.02.18"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. f3 {The f3 of the Nimzo! I think this move has somewhat disappeared recently from the top level, but Mamedyarov has surprised us multiple times with his opening choice in this tournament. The move is definitely sharp.} c5 5. d5 O-O 6. e4 b5 $1 {[pgndiagram] In my personal opinion this move is the sharpest and this whole variation really the most challenging for White} (6... Re8 {Is what i encountered today in the blitz over internet} 7. Nge2 {And White is slightly better} (7. e5 {IS what I played and I had to resign} exd5 8. f4 d6 (8... d4 {Is even stronger}))) 7. e5 Ne8 8. f4 d6 (8... exd5 {First might be more precise, forcing White to take with the pawn} 9. cxd5 (9. Qxd5 Nc7 {Doesn't have too much sense here})) 9. Nf3 exd5 $2 10. cxd5 {[pgndiagram]Now we revert to the mainline} (10. Qxd5 {White could have exploited Black's move order with this recapture} Qc7 $1 {But perhaps Mamedyarov didn't want to enter Hou's preparation} 11. cxb5 (11. Qxa8 Bb7 12. Qxa7 Nc6 {And the queen is gone}) 11... Bb7 12. Qd3 dxe5 13. fxe5 Nd7 14. Bf4 Nef6 {And Black has serious counterplay for the pawn}) 10... Nc7 {It is time to take a moment and look at the outcome of the opening. White has an impressive, but shaky centre. In this variation there is often exchange of the b pawn for the d pawn} (10... c4 {Is the alternative}) 11. a4 $1 {The point of White's play. Taking control of either c4 or b5 square} Bb7 {Also the best. Believe it or not, everything here has been played before} (11... bxa4 {Is faulty. We will shortly see the difference} 12. Bd3 Bb7 (12... dxe5 13. d6) 13. Bxh7+ Kxh7 14. Ng5+ Kg8 15. Qh5) (11... dxe5 {Is met strongly by} 12. d6 Ne6 13. fxe5 {And White is much better}) 12. Bd3 {Threatening Bxh7+. Black has to move a pawn in front of the king} h6 $6 {Only this is a new move, although I am not certain whether we will see its repetition in the future} (12... g6 { Has been played almost exclusively here} 13. O-O (13. axb5 Nxd5) 13... c4 14. Be4 {Holding the pawn} (14. Bc2 Bxc3 15. bxc3 Nxd5 16. axb5 dxe5 17. Nxe5 Nxc3 18. Qxd8 Rxd8 19. Nxc4 {And the evaluation of this endgame is probably close to equal. But I guess that there are some deeply hidden improvements somewhere} ) 14... Nd7 15. f5 $1 {And White has serious initiative}) (12... Nxd5 13. Bxh7+ Kxh7 14. Ng5+ Kg8 15. Qh5 {Is probably better for White} Qxg5 16. fxg5 Nxc3 17. O-O {And queen should probably be stronger than three pieces}) 13. O-O {