Stop Struggling Against d4 - Try This!

[@sleepmind9292]

Look at my horse, my horse is amazing.

[@sweetdangerzack]

Give it a lick.

[@magister_scaccorum]

But... how does it taste?

[@oni7488]

Salty

[@AlienBros]

​@@magister_scaccorum just like raisins.

[@rmay55]

This is, by far, the most instructive video I have ever seen on the Nimzo-Indian. Not that I've watched every video ever made on the Nimzo, but I have watched many. This is my favorite opening against 1. d4. Thank you for ALL of your instructive videos.

[@s1mon_234]

Thank you very much, i always struggle against 1 d4. I have to try this out. I always play your scotch, hexo gambit and scandi lines and they work really well

[@nicothechum7982]

Just what I needed! d4 makes me so uncomfortable that I used to always start with some sort of Englund Gambit at a disadvantage. Mirroring also leads to yucky games for me so it’s cool to see a different concept.

[@andrewbennett5911]

Thank you for this Nelson , again very instructive & hope your head is better than last night 😊

[@SteveK-ir9zw]

I went from 1200 to 1400 ELO by watching your channel. You and lgor Smirnov at remote chess academy are my favorite chess teachers! You and Igor should play one another. I would love to see that match!

[@jimcrockett9296]

Me: I how can I trick my opponent? Nelson: How can I strengthen my position? I've learned so much from these videos.

[@TwoHonest]

Thanks for the video Nelson, I usually play the Kings Indian against d4 and tend to struggle on what to do in the middlegame, definitely gonna try this out instead

[@andrewlewis4863]

At roughly 8min, g5 didn't pop out in response to f3 blocking the queen. What I noticed was Ng4. It threatens a royal fork on Ne3+ and if the king moves to prevent there's still a fork of queen and rook and the pawn can't take because of the pin, so white is forced to move the queen first. In any case you can then reinforce with f5 and prepare a rook lift for a nice kingside attack. If they kick the knight by either leaving the pin or pushing h3 you've reclaimed strong control of the long diagonal and can threaten f4 to assault the kingside because their dark bishop is on the other side of the board.

[@kjaslow]

I'm really liking the way you introduce these openings. Ever consider just making a catalog of 5-min videos where you just describe a particular opening, highlight the key squares the way you normally do in these videos, then maybe call out one or two key features, such as setting the pin, and then planning to trade the bishop for the knight to create the doubled pawns. Just that much information about the opening would be amazing, without having to go through all the various lines that could occur. That could be interesting for a more in-depth video, but so many others already do the in depth review without giving that overview of the general idea of the opening... (would also be great to mention opponent openings that make this one ineffective and why).

[@moz2589]

Instead of pawn g5 at 7:07, would knight g4 have been a good move as well, threatening a royal fork and they can’t take back with pawn since the queen pins?

[@Robbyrool]

This is not the only opening named after Aron Nimzovich. He was a top player in his day and, more importantly, contributed more than anyone before him to spreading chess knowledge to the masses. He taught the secrets that top players knew. His book My System is essential reading for serious chess players.

[@rmay55]

I remember my father had this book when I was 5 years old. (That's when Dad started teaching me how to play chess) I used to get this book out and try to go through it, but it didn't make much sense to me as a child. I would try to memorize lines, if white moves there, then I need to move here. It wasn't until I was a teenager that Nimzovich's book started making sense to me and helped my playing. I might have to find that old book and read through it again.

[@johnmunster4028]

Very informative! Thanks for the great video Sir

[@thomasmartin7542]

As a D4 player with White, I've only rarely been confronted with Nimzo. Let's see how White can deal with it. It would be nice to see it again from the White perspective, although I usually play London or Zuckertort. Another great video, thanks.

[@andrewlewis4863]

I usually play for a catalan so I often find myself playing antinimzo lines. Usually I'll simply delay Nc3 which will bait them into attempting a nimso with Bb5+, in which I respond with Bd2. Most players at my rating don't realize how bad a mistake it is to trade those bishops so after Bxd2+ Nxd2 and then fiancetto I'm pretty much always better.

[@mariuszpudzianowski8400]

You can always go d4, c4, Nf3 - anti-nimzo

[@msolec2000]

at 2:08 what's wrong with ...Ne4 since the white knight is pinned? You can then take knight with Nxc3 and white can't take back because of the bishop fork...

[@bertrc2569]

Yes! This was a one for me. Thank you.

[@snowyandwispa3890]

Thanks nelson, never know what to do against the queens pawn!!!

[@GRiznitDShiznit]

Not even a big chess fan and I love this guys vid. Got me playing chess on my phone now haha

[@tianrunzhang6557]

8:20 knight to g4 because the pawn is pinned. That's what came into my mind

But there is no gain after white deals with KQ fork threat. g5 was a bad idea, but no need to plan a superattack at that moment.

[@learningisfun2108]

Ya, me too. But on further inspection, the knight can be chased away by the h pawn.

[@szlatnik]

Every chess player worth their salt should learn Descriptive Notation (on top of obviously algebraic notation). It opens up a whole bunch of books for reading, and is most definitely worth knowing

[@rmay55]

Descriptive Notation is how I learned as a child. 😉

[@KamKam8383]

Can you do one for modern defence, please? It seems very flexible (against both e4 and d4, if I am not mistaken).

[@andrewf7822]

Really instructive, thanks.

[@ralkadde]

Another great instructive game! Thank you, Nelson.

[@goonerboy93]

Just came at the right time as I've been trying out the nimzo since I have been struggling with d4. Could you do another video where your opponent doesn't play c3? Would you recommend the bogo Indian or would you play something else?

[@mariuszpudzianowski8400]

Nimzo is great if you are looking for slower positional games, had some great games with it but KID is love KID is life.

[@zelandakhniteblade5436]

While it is true that most of the time black will have the chance to play 3...Bg4 after white starts with the classical d4 + c4, it is not true to say that most of the time this will be a Nimzo. At higher levels, the most popular third move 2...e6 is 3. Nf3. ...Bg4 now is called the Bogo-Indian and has a rather different character to the Nimzo. If you prep the Nimzo, you MUST have an answer to this move order, whether that be the Bogo-Indian (3...Bg4), Queen's-Indian (3...b6), Queen's Gambit (3...d5), Modern Benoni (3...c5), or some sideline. The Nimzo is a great opening and rewards good prep but you should never go into a game under the expectation of being able to play it.

[@rudradevsingh228]

The main thing i dont like about the Nimzo Indian is that there is the Catalan. The question is how do you defeat the Catalan?

[@dukex9269]

Great vid. I usually create that double pawn playing the Dutch defense or Bird's opening but did not know how to take advantage of it. Another idea to my arsenal. Tnx for the vid

[@zzzaphod8507]

About that book--for some people, old school notation might be a benefit rather than a weakness.

[@colecube8251]

why

[@zzzaphod8507]

@@colecube8251 Because they grew up with it and find it more useful?

[@colecube8251]

@@zzzaphod8507 oh I see what u mean

[@mariuszpudzianowski8400]

Fun fact: Capablanca's book for beginners was released two times, one for each version of notation.

[@jaybird1806]

Thank you thank you thank you. Id been brooding over what to do to fix my black d4 problems and recently “discovered” the Nimzo Indian (without knowing its name!). I haven’t played it yet but this video gives me a lot of expectations of how to handle it.

[@hishamhamed5033]

The trouble is 3. Nf3 taking the game into a Queen's Indian or BogoIndian. Plenty of theory there. Hope you can also do a couple of videos on them.

[@arrowofkira5658]

I play the nimzo for black too and i learned a lot of variations where you have a similar gameplan but do it differently by playing d5 instead of d6, you also focus on the queenside but you immediately stop e4 which technically white can try at some point if you play d6 and they know theory. And e4 is a problem because that's a huge accomplishment if white gets that in without consequences. Worst case they get to play e5 too and push your knight on f6 away and then it's basically gameover already

[@borisslager1906]

At 12:42 white should put the bishop on e3. It defends both knights. If black trades, white will hold on and might be ahead.

[@blue_red_screen]

White will have doubled pawns

[@SPriyadharshini-f4r]

Can you create a kings indian defense video?

[@graememcpherson6980]

Gave this a whirl today on Lichess and went on to win pretty easily. Lichess described it as QID Spassky system though so I guess the move order ended up being a bit different?

[@hungry4more1]

Hey how about a video for us who play e4 as well. Thanks, love the videos

[@rbper9384]

What about 4. Bd2 defending the knight? White won't have double paws this way, and I either trade my bishop for a knight without proper compensation, or I need to go back with it.

[@Sandfox07]

In that case, going back to d6 or e7 if you get attacked is the best Option

[@AndyDavisTechnicalDiving]

I love the Charlick Gambit against D4 in faster time formats. Very, very few players have seen it before and there's some great attacks against efforts to develop rationally. It's fun. There's very little theory to learn and it leads to a sharp tactical game. D4 players tend to prefer a solid positional game; and the Charlick Gambit throws a proverbial hand grenade into their plans. Thus far, as I move to intermediate level, it's granted me victories against players 300 elo higher.

[@askarzabirov4551]

Thanks a lot! I’m struggling with d4 so much…

[@asrafulfardin5332]

Nelson is my Chess Tutor 😅

[@cablestick]

You're the best Nelson

[@ResllerAccount]

What move should jump out at you? Knight to g4.

[@nelsonlopez1228]

Another great video ❤

[@kruksog]

I feel like when i see d4, its the london. Not the QG. Can i still use this, or something like it?

[@drewfenton866]

When playing as black I always go for a kings Indian type set up so I will be trying this out! Would you recommend the Nimzowitsch defense?

[@mariuszpudzianowski8400]

Nimzowitsch is good if you enjoy closed games similar to french advance - most games go e4, Nc6, d5 e5 and center locks up.

[@Zywl]

7:03 how about Ng4?

[@soriano3361]

What if white attacks the bishop / defends the knight with his queen instead, preventing the double pawns?

[@Chill_Enigma]

Some of the best chess content

[@chris_harvey]

Not a ton of Queens gambit in the lower levels. Definitely a lot more London. That is my problem with the Nimzo as I would rarely get to play it.

[@sandeepverygoodvedeo8693]

Thanks Sir

[@lionleochessofficial]

Nimzo-Indian is essentially the opening that all professional chess players use.However, it is always preventable, and you can allow a catalan opening

[@lionleochessofficial]

Preventable being in shaped of Nf3 then a bogo indian

[@Ghost-pr4fq]

As 1750 rated player I used dutch defense against 2000 rated bot and I absolutely cooked it

[@mutualist2049]

And he said an easy way to defend D4 and made a 30 minute match with 50 moves

[@jaredmaciej7315]

Against d4 I usually just play e6 right away and it usually turns it into a French defense

[@garahan4298]

But opponent can defend with bishop to prevent double pawn?

[@milkyfernandez5505]

This works against the london too?

[@tanguerochas]

I have the book. Which game is this?

[@yaguza3614]

Nach fehlerhaftem Plan mit g3, zusätzlich fehlerhaftem Sh4 kann man das spielen. Ansonsten ist es eine Eröffnung. Mehr nicht.

[@dew9103]

I honestly should have a better play against the second most popular first move than the englund gambit

[@camilorojas1744]

I like your videos and I learn a lot, but I think that in this one you not always play the best move for white

[@NJDJ1986]

RIP white was on the losing position ✝️ very interesting Nimzo-Indian game, Nelson!

[@thetransferaccount4586]

nimzo is the OG indian

[@mehranshahbazi7175]

Best ever❤

[@TheCubingGrandmaster]

May d4s be with you.

[@prplt]

nah I'm still going with the Englund gambit 😂

[@Zyrexia]

Playthe Budapest against 2.c4, Play 2...c5 against 2.Bf4 and figure out the rest

[@mavenpro]

What if White plays Nf3 instead of Nc3? Whoops.

[@sky-burial]

It's the most flexible.

[@farouqbaiti4315]

d4 was better b4.😊 Now Nimzo-Indian is perfect more.😎

[@JosephDansha]

Something good

[@russelferdous8252]

wow

[@jineylixon8297]

Nelson white has higher winrate in this opening

[@plokenv]

In the lichess database?

[@snekye5419]

in the lichess db, out of 14M games the winrate comes out 49%/5%/46%, which is the best winrate for black except for 3. c5 which is probably much harder to play ; in the masters db, which here is kinda irrelevant but whatever, out of 75k games it scores 30%/46%/24% which is the best winrate

[@snekye5419]

these score are better than for example, a classical queen's gambit declined

[@noplays2480]

Black never has a higher winrate in a real opening, maybe with a few exceptions

[@elperro3683]

In chess, White has an inherit advantage by playing the first move. “Since 1851, compiled statistics support this view; White consistently wins slightly more often than Black, usually achieving a winning percentage between 52 and 56 percent.” Wikipedia, “First-move advantage in chess”

[@XxAryaxX]

you read my mind wat da hell

[@sergeimashkov2022]

Приятно видеть защиту Нимцовича на канале. Cheers from Russia!

[@DerzhavnyBuduj]

I always struggle against d4 and after this video I've decided to give Nimzo-Indian a try. That's AMAZING! For 4 days and 20+ games I didn't see d4 even once :/

[@rmay55]

That's the way it always goes. 🙂

[@nerdsunscripted624]

I don’t understand why people resign, can you imagine never getting a checkmate because every time your opponents got into the final losing position they just quit? When I’m losing I fight even when I know the end is near because I want to give the satisfaction of checkmate to my opponent, just like I would want in return.

[@runhighyohaninstrella2037]

I am the 99th viewer

[@theexaminer4784]

The knights had the king check mate , did you miss it?