Nimzo - Grischuk Gambit! The strong novelty that has stayed off the radar, until now...

Full blog post: lichess.org/@/LittleSoap...
Full analysis: lichess.org/study/5TFdJD...

18.e3 f5= (D)
The small material deficit is hardly felt. We aren’t relying on just one plan. We could go ...Rd6 and ...f4. But ...Qf6 followed by ...Rd8 is also possible. Our c8-bishop can trade for the f1-bishop with ...Ba6, after which White’s light squares get even weaker.

13.Qd6 Rb8 14.b4 Rb6 15.Bxf6 gxf6 16.Qd2 e4
Making ...Ne5 possible.

17.Nd4 Ne5 (D)
Threatening the wonderful …Nd3+.

11…Nbd7
Developing with gain of tempo.

12.Qd4 e5 (D)
Not the only move, but let's stick with this as it was played in Grigoryan,K - Yu Yangyi (2022). It should be noted that 13.Nxe5 loses to 13…Qa5+.

10.dxc5
Taking the pawn is the only critical move. Otherwise Black would immediately be proven right that c7-c5 is playable.

10…bxc5 11.Qxc5! (D)
The best try for an advantage. But if well prepared, we face no issues. On top of that: Black currently has a two out of two score in this line!

Nimzo 4.Qc2 0-0 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.Qxc3 d5 7.Nf3 b6 8.Bg5 dxc4 9.Qxc4 c5!? (D)

I will refer to this move as 'The Grischuk Gambit'. c7-c5 is the break Black wants to get in at some point. So why not do it directly? It would be awesome if we can get away with this, and it turns out: we can!

Nimzo - Grischuk Gambit!♟️

Some time ago I revisited an idea Grischuk used in 2022 and checked its popularity. Surprisingly, it has appeared only ten times, with just one game in 2025. The idea is sound, and in the frequently played Nimzo, chances to adopt it have been plentiful.

Thread🧵👇

Rxd7 Kxd7 Bg4 Ke6 f4! h5 Bh3. Next is bringing the king to e4.

Not played indeed.
30.Qc2 instead of 30.Bc5

Folks! Qxh7 stuff is in the air😮
#chess #ding #gukesh #chesspunks

Re3!

Considering to buy Giri’s French course…

Indeed. And Ding is doing great!

Gukesh decides to defend against the …Rxd4 threat by protecting his c2-rook by 25.Qb1. There was nothing better. Ding can now snack a pawn on c3.
#chess #ding #gukesh #chesspunks

Ding is threatening 25…Rxd4. Eliminating the defender of the c2 rook.
#chess #ding #gukesh #chesspunks

Wch game 1.
Ding is currently winning! Ding shares have spiked upwards.
#chess #ding #gukesh #chesspunks

Good luck man!

Check check check mate!

Oh lol🤣 Is there a bug in Ashley’s chesscom board?

Thanks! That’s new knowledge for me🤓

I prepared it before the game as I knew my opponent would play Sveshnikov☺️

Following up on @nairwolf-chess.bsky.social’s idea to share OTB miniatures.

In this game I got the honor to crush the Sicilian Sveshnikov with a typical Bxb5 trick!

Share your games!
#chess #chesspunks

Good point! Don’t see how to refute that one…

Love the old school method!

Bh6+ Kg8 g7 Kf7 g8=Q+ Kxg8 Ke6 Kh8 Kf7 e5 Bg7#🎉

🤣🤣🤣

Another 6.f4 🐉

Sure! I got to play one of my favourite traps against the Dragon in OTB😎

Indeed! And 1…e5 is simply the most principled move. No need for funky/fanzy stuff🙂 (No offense Scandi lovers😉)

Yes, I think it’s because White is having a c-pawn and thus it’s hard to put pressure on c6. As Rc1 is not hitting c6.