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The Knockout Nimzo-Indian vs. Nimzo-Indian: Kasparov Variation Reviewed by Mike Rosensaft
To answer that question, we’ll see a face-off today of GM Chris Ward’s book: Nimzo-Indian: Kasparov Variation with a video published by Bad Bishop and narrated by Tony Kosten entitled The Knockout Nimzo. It may be unfair to compare these two works as each has a slightly different focus, but for the club player with only a small amount of money to spend, comparisons must be made. So, without further ado, a little indulgence, and apologies to anyone who isn’t a fan of boxing . . . the main event. In one corner, weighing in at 160 pages, Nimzo-Indian: Kasparov Variation, a book focusing on the variation of the Nimzo-Indian popularized by none other than Garry Kasparov, aka Gazza, Garry the Terrible, the Beast of Baku. Written by Grandmaster Chris Ward, former British Champion and author of Starting Out in the Nimzo Indian, this book is more than ready for the match. In the opposite corner, weighing in at 100 minutes, The Knockout Nimzo, narrated by British GM Tony Kosten, author of numerous chess books himself including two others on the Nimzo-Indian. The name of the video says it all, and is definitely showing a take-no-prisoners attitude today. This will be a battle of media, but also a battle of British GMs. We will have a five round match. Three knockouts will end the match. If there is no victor after five rounds, the decision will go to the judges. Let’s keep it clean and come out fighting! Round 1: The Writing/Speech Speech and writing are not so important in boxing. In fact, many boxers can’t read and most have trouble uttering the word “Adrian.” (My apologies to anyone that has never watched Rocky). Communication, however, is important in boxing. A good boxer is nothing without a good trainer, and a good trainer must be able to communicate in an easy to understand manner. It is the same with chess books. Even with the best strategic ideas or the most expansive opening trees, a book or video is meaningless if it isn’t easy to digest, and if the authors don't keep it interesting for the player. GM Tony Kosten narrates The Knockout Nimzo, and it is so refreshing to actually see the face of the author! His speech is impeccably British and very easy to understand. Additionally, it is a fun video to watch. He sprinkles his chess commentary with experiences he has had with other Grandmasters, somewhat arrogantly noting that “Bareev had good results with the Leningrad [a Nimzo-Indian line] a few years ago -- he beat me with it!” He also explains what he sees as the current trends and most popular moves in the opening. However, GM Chris Ward is no stranger to excellent chess writing, having already produced many superb works. Nimzo Indian: Kasparov Variation is no exception. He has a very easy to understand style of writing, and also shares with the reader his own experiences with other top Grandmasters, noting the phenomenal talent of Mickey Adams, or what he calls Ivan Sokolov’s sneaky ideas. He pulls out the knockout punch on the last page of the book, referencing the popular “hedgehog” setup of the Nimzo-Indian, and noting: “There are plenty of ‘hedgehogs’ around, but on the busy roads of the 4. Nf3 c5 5. g3 Nimzo they often end up squashed!” Although both works are well done and easy to watch or read, Chris Ward has barely edged out Tony Kosten’s The Knockout Nimzo, as the ironically titled video takes the first fall in the match as the bell rings, ending round 1. Round 2: Understanding Strategy and Planning Chris Ward’s Kasparov Variation, struck first in the last round, but will bad jokes about rodents carry the day? Already the International Hedgehog Association has lodged a formal protest. There is no more important quality for an opening book or video than its ability to explain the ideas behind the opening. A club player will hardly ever get even to the 10th book move, and it is exceptionally important that he or she be able to understand the key plans and strategies for each side. Nimzo Indian: Kasparov Variation does a very good job of explaining the major themes that reoccur in this variation. The book does not cover the entire Nimzo-Indian, and thus does not usually go into lengthy explanations of transpositions or common themes in the defense as a whole. It only covers a specific setup that white can choose with the moves 1. d4 Nf6; 2. c4 e6; 3. Nc3 Bb4; 4. Nf3.
For a more complete understanding of the Nimzo-Indian, a club player should go to a more general book such as John Emms The Easy Guide to the Nimzo Indian, which has seventeen pages devoted to general strategies and themes compared to only six pages in Chris Ward’s book. Still, Ward does a good job throughout of explaining most of the advantages and disadvantages to the lines after 4. Nf3. For example, in the following position:
Campos vs Moreno-Adams, Spain Team Championship 2001 Ward eloquently describes exactly what is going on in the position: “White has tested Black’s resolve and his opponent has stuck to his guns. Now his bishop is on a5, Black can always trade pawns with d4 without fear of Qxb4. The downside is that ...Be7 will no longer be available to help escape the f6-pin and, should the white queen ever move, Black must beware of b2-b4.” (p. 73). This is just one example of the usually high level of commentary that Ward gives throughout his book. Although Ward does an exceptional job, Tony Kosten’s The Knockout Nimzo blows his opponent out of the water when it comes to conveying the plans for each side to a club player. The real advantage to a video is that you get visual and auditory input at the same time. It may be difficult to memorize lines in a video, but as far as understanding the concepts, the video wins hands down. Game after game, you see similar moves and patterns -- almost as if you have played the game yourself. Tony Kosten takes almost every opportunity to explain the ideas behind each move and to relate it to the other games on the video. In addition, he highlights squares, draws arrows, and visually creates diagrams that allow the ideas of each line to sink in. Instead of just being told that Black is ahead in development, we can see on the board how quickly Black’s pieces can attack and mobilize as Kosten takes us down different sidelines. He points to common attacking themes like the bishop’s move to f5 in Qc2 lines, explains the history and reasoning behind strange moves like Capablanca’s 9...Ne8 (see diagram), uses the video to highlight key squares and files, and even goes through a bit of related endgame theory. 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 c5 5. Bd3 Nc6 6. a3 Bxc3+ 7. bxc3 0-0 8. Ne2 b6 9. e4
Yusupov-Karpov, Linares 1993 9 ... Ne8 is a move popularized by Capablanca, preventing the pin Bg5, and preparing to go to d6 where it can be more active. Although Ward’s Kasparov Variation drew first blood in round one, Kosten’s Knockout Nimzo has lived up to its name to even up the match in round 2. This is one place a book has a hard time beating out a video, and Kosten uses the media to the utmost in presenting the key strategies for each side. Round 3: Tactics Tactics are key to any boxing match. The fighters must know when to make a sudden jab, when to move away from the opponent with fancy footwork, and when to go for the kill with the uppercut. Chess is the same, and any good opening book should present common tactics for each side so that the club player can recognize the reoccurring tactical themes. The Nimzo-Indian is full of explosive tactics in many lines, and in general is one of the more exciting defenses to 1.d4. Kosten’s video presents this starkly, and Kosten almost never fails to point out the tactical dangers and advantages of each line. GM Kosten also uses the unique aspects of a video to give us a chance to figure out the tactics for ourselves before he shows what was played on the screen, pausing shortly before carrying out the tactical blow so that we can find it ourselves. This is a great device, and although he does this three or four times, I wish he would have done it every time tactics come into play. As a quick example, see if you can spot the best move for black below (answer here):
Kramnik-Kasparov, Moscow 1998 after 13. b4 Ward’s book cannot be faulted, though, and is full of its own fireworks. Although it can’t as easily test your tactical ability as it goes through each game, Ward almost without exception shows all the traps and pitfalls that previous Nimzo-Indian players have fallen into. In addition, Ward can present many more examples in his book than Kosten can in 100 minutes, and most pages are full of tactical melees. As the end of round 3 approaches, The Knockout Nimzo sneaks in a sucker punch. Slightly better at presenting tactics due mainly to the advantages of video, Ward’s book is again down on the mat as the bell rings, signifying the end of round 3. Round 4: Thoroughness and Research The experienced boxer knows that all the energy, strength, and technique in the world is no substitute for hard work. It takes years to become a good boxer, and a good chess product should evidence lots of hard work as well. Especially to be useful for the higher rated players, if the book or video doesn’t cover the latest lines and include a lot of original research, it won’t bring anything new to the market. Kosten has tried to include a lot of recent games in his video. The earliest game he presents is from 1992, and the majority of his games are from the last five years. He even includes one game from 1997 of Chris Ward playing black. Of course, when Kosten made this video, he didn’t know he would be competing today against his fellow countryman! Kosten also includes a short booklet with his video that lists the moves for the 14 main games that he covers. At one point, he even presents one of his own ideas in a game, noting that the line has never been tried, and suggesting you research it further at home. (I did, and actually don’t like the move too much, but that’s a club player arguing with a GM!) Chris Ward’s Kasparov Variation, though, is in a fighting mood for this round, and will not be brought to the floor again. In terms of thoroughness, providing ideas for future study, and providing the club player with an opening tree he can use, Ward has landed another knockout punch. GM Ward has played countless games with the Nimzo-Indian, and has included ten of his own games as main games in his book. Just turning randomly to page 142 of his book, though, I count four of his own games listed as sidelines. Ward has done an immense amount of research into the Nimzo-Indian over the years, and it really shows in print. To be fair, Kosten’s video covers much more ground generally, not being limited to the Nf3 variation, but the amount of things Ward has to say about the Nf3 variation is really startling. Ward points out what moves are “all the rage” and which ones are due for a comeback. He often shows where other moves may soon be played, and the opening trees at the end of each chapter tower over Kosten’s small pamphlet that lists the moves of each game he goes over. For anyone trying to create an opening tree or do intense research into the Nimzo-Indian, Ward’s book is a must buy, and Kosten’s video isn’t very helpful, sending The Knockout Nimzo to the matt and tying up the match with two knockouts a piece. Round 5: The Final Round Eyeing each other with fixed stares, so far it has been a pretty even fight. Tony Kosten’s The Knockout Nimzo landed deadly blows due to its visual prowess. It does a much better job of explaining the common ideas in each line and showing how tactics can erupt at any second. Chris Ward’s Nimzo-Indian: Kasparov Variation blew his opponent out of the water when it came down to the writing itself, and even more importantly for higher rated players, how thorough and well-researched the book is. Circling each other like vultures ready to go for the kill, Tony Kosten signs off his video with the following: “White should maintain a slight advantage no matter what black will play . . . . So, good luck with the Nimzo.” Then, blasted from my television set, was some exceptionally out-of-date, cheesy music that sounds like it came right from an 80's television show. Finally, the Director tries to add a last minute joke as the credits roll by: “The Director was disrupted by Pocket Fritz . . . which he beat . . . but no Nimzo games.” Not the best sign off in the world, but its combination of cheesy fun, good English wishes, and slightly painful humor might just be enough to sway the judges. Not to be outdone, Chris Ward signs off in his book with: “‘4.Nf3 Nimzo’, ‘Flexible System’, ‘Kasparov Nimzo’, call it what you will. The knights are out and they’re ready to shout! In truth, I have learnt a lot in the course of writing this book and I can only hope that you, the reader, have been similarly enlightened. Thanks for sticking with me throughout.” Will bad rhyming and a tearful goodbye beat out the cheesy 80's music? The final bell rings without another knockout and the judges are ready to make their decision: “We’ve taken a lot into account to decide who should win this match. Obviously, both fighters were well prepared. The Knockout Nimzo has the benefit of being easy to watch, and the explanations for each side really make it a great resource for the club player. However, Ward’s Nimzo Indian: Kasparov Variation is incredibly detailed and complete. It would be very useful for any advanced player who really wants to know every wrinkle of the variation. Both are well trained fighters, and anyone seriously playing the Nimzo-Indian defense could benefit from either. However, considering we are making this decision for the average club player, the decision must go to . . . The Knockout Nimzo-Indian.” The crowd
cheers wildly, and Chris Ward’s Nimzo-Indian: Kasparov Variation
slowly walks out of the ring, disappointed in the outcome, but knowing that
it put in a good fight and probably would have won in a classier venue.
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