Somehow I found A King's Indian Defense book by David Bronstein, one of the most creative chess players of all time, it is callled "Bronstein y la India de Rey" (Bronstein and the King's Indian). In one of the games he shows this game in which he introduces a new idea, he 'mina" (mines) the center with c2-c4.
Here are the first 10 moves:
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d3 Nc6 4.g3 Be7 5.Bg2 Nf6 6. 0-0 d5 7.Qe2 b6 8.e5 Nd7 9.c4
Why did Bronstein went for this? I really dont like the position after dxc4 or d4 yet engines think it is favorable for white, can someone with a deeper chess understanding tell me what is happening here.
d5 is weak (!)
if black releases the tension then white's bishop will be activated and he gets a good structure, like 9..d4 10 Nfd2! Bb7 11 f4 and white has the easier game
@Lightsss #2
Yes, you are absolutely correct, seems like I just saw a backward pawn on d3 and my I automatically disliked the position, but it has great prospects. Indeed dxc4 would get black into some uncomfortable d-file pressure. And I also liked your idea with Nfd2, opening that monster bishop and f4, supporting that annoying e5 pawn. Thanks, you made me saw this position differently, white has just so many options and great ideas.
In general White has a lead in development and an edge in space towards the kingside. For his part Black has his share of the centre; if can safely castle he can challenge e5 and look to expand on the queenside.
But c4 asks questions of black before he is quite ready. It undermines the centre, threatening cxd5, then maybe d4 and opening up things for white superior development. If black doesn't like this he can exchange or advance.
dxc4 opens the h1-a8 diagonal and the centre before black can challenge.
d4 closes the centre pushing the play to the flanks. Again the diagonal is opened, which once the light squared bishops get exchanged (I feel black must otherwise squares like a8 and b7 are unavailable for supporting his Q-side play). Then squares like e4 look incredible for a knight. #2 mentions f4, but h4 looks just as good to me! Black can't move as fast on his wing!
In short (as lightsss said) d5 is weak, but to deal with it he must make other concessions, ie opening the game while behind development or making the e4 square super weak.
May I ask what happened in the rest of the game? If the is Bronstein I'm guessing there's some kind of crazy combination/ kingside sacrifice?
@Bearybear #4
I stopped looking at the game under I understood why he played c4, as he doesnt talk about why as if we were all Fischer's reading it. If you are interested here is the data for you to look for the game:
White: David Bronstein
Black: Ignacy Nowak
Sandomierz, 1976
That is all the book says, Im sure you will be able to find it with ChessBase or simply by looking on internet in
chessgames.com Thanks. Yes, found it in his 'the sorcerer's apprentice', given without notes. I'd recommend going back and looking at the whole game. His Finish is just insane!
@Bearybear #6, yes, up to what I know it doesnt have notes, seems like he had no words for it lol.
The actual game, Bronstein-Nowak :
http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1034787(p.s. Many years ago I played in Dieren Open, and Bronstein also played there. He was in the top group with a 2400+ rating. He also played in the Dieren blitz, but didn't win first price in that. Nice that he competed in it though. And I feel blessed that I saw this famous chess genius live in a tourney!)
@achja #9
Thanks for all the info, links, analysis and that nice story, I would love to play OTB with such a famous and epic figure like Bronstein!