Noa Variation of the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical

Описание: Noa Variation of the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical ‪@GodardTalsChessGames‬

Opening (Nimzo-Indian, E34 - Noa Variation)

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qc2 d5
Classic Classical Nimzo. White chooses Qc2 to avoid doubled pawns and keep flexibility.

5.cxd5 Qxd5?!
This is already a small concession. Black brings the queen out early and slightly violates Nimzo principles. More solid is 5…exd5.

6.e3 c5 7.Bd2 Bxc3 8.Bxc3 cxd4 9.Bxd4
White gets smooth development and the bishop pair. Structure is clean, and Black hasn’t equalized fully.

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Early Middlegame

10.Bc3 O-O 11.Nf3 Rd8 12.Be2 Qe4?!
The queen keeps dancing. Each tempo matters—White is happy to gain development for free.

13.Rc1 Qxc2 14.Rxc2
Queen trade strongly favors White: better structure, bishop pair, no weaknesses.

14…Ne4 15.Ne5 Bd7 16.Nxc6 Bxc6
Good practical decision by White—eliminate the knight and keep central control.

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Strategic Phase: White Outplays Black

17.Bd4 Nd6 18.O-O Bb5 19.Bxb5 Nxb5
White willingly gives up the bishop pair to damage Black’s coordination and keep squares.

20.Be5 f6 21.Bg3 e5
Black builds a center, but it’s brittle.

22.f4!
Excellent break. White challenges the center at the right moment.

22…exf4 23.Bxf4
Now White’s pieces become very active, while Black’s rooks are passive.

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Rook Activity Decides

23…Rd3 24.a4 Nd6 25.Rc7!
This is a strong positional rook lift. White invades the 7th rank.

26.Bxd6 R8xd6 27.Rxb7
Material gain + active rooks = nightmare for Black.

28…Rc2 29.Rf3 Rdd2
Black tries counterplay, but it’s already too late.

30.Rg3 g5 31.h4!
Very strong. White opens lines while Black’s king has no shelter.

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Tactical Finish

31…Rd1+ 32.Kh2 Rc4 33.hxg5 f5 34.g6!
This pawn is a monster. Black’s kingside collapses.

35.Rh3 Rxh3+ 36.Kxh3 hxg6
Endgame transition—but Black is losing badly.

37.Rxa7 Rd3 38.b4 Rxe3+
Desperation tactics.

39.Kh2 Kf8 40.a5 Ke8 41.a6 1–0

The passed a-pawn decides. Black cannot stop promotion without losing material.

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Big Picture Takeaways
• White’s advantages:
• Cleaner structure
• Better piece coordination
• Active rooks
• Excellent timing with f4 and Rc7
• Black’s problems:
• Early queen activity = lost tempos
• Passive rooks
• Weak kingside structure
• No real counterplay once rooks invaded

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One-line summary:

A textbook positional win: queen trade, better structure, active rooks, and a clean passed pawn finish.