My deepest, humblest apologies ...

Also the 1. b3 Nimzo-Larsen attack group is a fantastic group.  Wormrose and Linksspringer have very well organized data on how to handle the opening and how it has evolved.  It might not be the 'strongest' opening move, but these guys handle it like pros and we have great games.

Danny, I am sooooooo offended by you insulting the 1.b3 systems. I happen to be a b3 player myself and I'll have it known that GM BENT LARSEN plays it too. If you insult the b3 systems, you'll have to deal with Bent Larsen. 

"Cackle" is simply a word I use to replace "castle"... Why? Because I can !!!

what's a cackle long ? at 5:56

It's called the Nimzowitsch-Larsen Opening.

Is there a reason (after the 5. f4 variation) that you can't play 6...Bg4 pinning the knight on f3 and securing e5? Looks like black would be alright there, but I'm sure I could be missing something.

cool vid

nice

As was already noted, White missed out on the strongest move 5.f4, and after 5...Qe7, he also missed 6.c4! In Jacob's and Tait's "Nimzo-Larsen Attack", 6.d4?! is given the mark of dubiosity because after 6...e4 7.Ne5 Black has 7...Qg5! which Danny missed - though it's interesting to see in the video how he felt there must be something better here than giving up the bishop pair.

Hillarious, instructive, and entertaining! Thanks

Related to

@rupnaylak 

After 4.f4 in your line Black has 4...exf4 and then 5.exf4 Qd7+ and White has problems.

thanks

That's cool - I wasn't having a pop at your analysis as I coach juniors and a few adults myself so my comments were just to reassure but yes, you derfinitely raised some good points!

@timlawson - I am only a ~1700 player myself. I was not challenging IM Rensch's analysis so much as speaking in defense of the Nimzo-Larsen Attack which is my favorite opening. What I have submitted are lines from my books on the NLA and of course there is more.

I felt the line 5.Nf3 did not serve as a good example of the potential of the opening and IM Rensch's analysis has demonstrated that.

My intent was to stimulate some interest. Thanks.

Hi wormrose - Sorry, my analysis was just down the line that Danny mentioned during the video. Of course, you are correct that you wouldn't expect anyone to play a "??" move so you make a very good point of course.

However, looking at this again, black doesn't have to capture the c6 bishop right away because the g2 bishop is also hanging therefore I would give your suggestion of 10.... bxc6 a "??" as well! To even things up, black can STILL play 10.....Kd8! and that leaves both of white's bishops en-prise. Now things start to get a bit more complicated (beyond my meagre skills) so we might need Danny to step in and offer some analysis (or maybe, Danny, produce one of your excellent vids on a couple of these hyper modern openings - any Danny vid is a great vid in my opinion!!)

For what it's worth and bear in mind I'm not an IM/GM etc....

If b2xe5 then after Qxe5 the rook on a1 hangs so that must be defended, probably with Nc3 and then the bishop on c6 can be captured. I should have included this as a sideline in the analysis - apologies but I was so excited at having actually found a good move for a change, I went ahead of myself!

Update:-

I've now put this position through fritz (albeit briefly) and it does turn the position into a bit of a mess but fritz actually prefers black. Here's the update - because I didn't consider that after 9 Bxc6 - Kd8 that white can play 10. d4! and this saves the position for white but fritz does still like black's position.

I have amended the game here with some more analysis (some of it mine and admittedly some of it in collaboration with fritz).

It's not a case of "ner ner ner ner ner" or "I told you I was right" because you pointed out the best response for white. The analysis after 10. Kd8 in this next game is most likely flawed in some way as it's been cobbled together fairly quickly but it does look to me like black is slightly better in all of the "sensible" lines (i.e. where neither side is playing "??" moves!)

What do you think guys?

kind of like the fishingpile trap