Thread by @NikolaosNtirlis

♟️New Ideas in the Opening

The revolutionary idea of the Niemann-Kramnik team.

Recently, Italian makes a claim to dethrone the Ruy Lopez as the best White system after 1.e4 e5.

But only this new idea seems to actually manage to do it!

What's that? Let's see🧵👇

The main line of the Modern Italian for ages, has been

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. d3 Nf6 5. c3 d6 6. O-O h6 7. Re1 a6 8. Nbd2 O-O 9. Nf1 Ba7 (D)

This defensive set up (sources attribute it to Karpov) is unbreakable.

Black's threat is Na5, as well as Re8+Be6. 🧵👇

In the old times, White played how Bb3 (saving the bishop), but top-level players figured out that better is 10.a4 (D) gaining space at the queenside.

Black now has many plans, but the simplest is Re8+Be6, with 100s of top-level games and still no advantage to be found...🧵👇

But, good new ideas always break the established rules! And this is what the Niemann-Kramnik does.

White can ignore the Na5 threat and continue with 10.h3! (D)

Of course, Niemann (and others, like @anishgiri and So ) has experimented with 10.Ng3.

But, let me show you...🧵👇

...what I consider best, according to my own research and analysis.

So, what happens after 10.h3 Na5? Let's see:

11.Bb3! Nxb3 12.axb3 (D)

Engines don't think that's much, but there is a sneaky idea for White: Bd2-Qc1-Bxh6!

It doesn't work just like that, but it can be...🧵👇

...combined with positional play in the queenside and in the center with b4, d4 and c4.

White's center is flexible, while for Black it isn't easy to make a meaningful break.

Let's see some details🧵👇

12...Nh7 (12...Nh5 is met in the same way) 13.d4! (D) threatens to take e5, and if 13...exd4 14.Nxd4, White had an edge in So-Lavavik, 2024

Or, 12...c6 13. Ng3 Re8 14.Bd2 Bb8 (14...d5 14.exd5 with initiative for White) 15.d4 Bc7 16.b4 Be6... 🧵👇

Niemann had two games in this line vs Prag and Nasuta. He went

17.Qc1! (D) threatening Bxh6 and c3-c4 with the better position.

So far, this idea seems promising, right?

Let's see how @MagnusCarlsen played against it 👇🧵

In their recent SCC match, Calrsen played 10...Re8, not caring to take that bishop with the knight, but Niemann was well prepared and played

11.Bd2! (D)

Based on what we saw above, we understand how strong and flexible this move is. 11...Na5 12.Bb3 isn't a threat ...🧵👇

...but what is Black continues their plan with 11...Be6?

Then 12.Bxe6 Rxe6 and 13.c4! (D)

Unlike the main line with 10.a4, White has time here to stop Black's equalizing ...d5 break!

Carlsen played 13...Nd4, while SF gives 13...Nd7 as another choice.

But...🧵👇

...after spending some time in these positions, I think that White has a good claim for an edge and an easier position to play with more space.

@HansMokeNiemann (and possibly his coach) should get credit for this 😊

Time for White to bring down other Italian main lines!🧵👇

What do you think? Do you like this idea?

Let me know what other openings you would like me to cover with new ideas by top players!