Please help me unbore the Nimzo-Indian

Hello everyone!

The problem is This:

I usually play a Catalan, and it's boring. What is the most dynamic / interesting way for White to go for, here on move 3?

[don't hasitate to answer because you're lower-rated, I won't say anything, and I'm listening. please save me from bore - be a pal, like Mr. Benko].

(I understood that joke) 1930 l*chess player here, there are 2 main moves here if you want to skip the Catalan: 3 Nc3 and 3 Nf3. 3 Nc3 allows the Nimzo which is hard to crack but at least its only an independent line (I guess you are prepared on the QGD or Semi-Slav which Black has the option to play here) and in the Nimzo if you want to avoid main-lines then the Samisch and 4 f3 are very interesting and very aggressive. 3 Nf3 avoids the Nimzo but allows a lot of other defenses like the QID or the Bogo which are a bit inferior to the Nimzo but that means more study to do. As a former Nimzo player I found it annoying when White avoided it so I think 3 Nf3 has a good practical value

Very well!

I'll try the Nf3 - The harder it is for the opponent - the better. That's how I chose the French Defense - big success!

Just for fun:

I don't believe I can pull it off in a game, but time will tell

The Catalan is only boring because you don't know how to play it!

The 7.Ne5 lines lead to a lot of dynamic play.  Theory has it figured out to equality, but at the Amateur level, Black ain't going to equalize if you know what you are doing!

Im master level. Beaten 2 masters:

https://lichess.org/TfAHCQgS

https://lichess.org/nASOHEnl

Thx though.

The Devin Gambit is pretty fun opening to play. The point of 3. g4 is to gain the center with e4.

you cant play e4 immediately due to Qh4, so you have to play 4.Nf3 after 3...Nxg4. The main plan after this is to gain more center with Nc3 and attack g7 with Rg1.

Just because you have beaten 2 masters does not make you master level.

I am an expert, not a master, though I have 46 wins (a LOT more than your 2 - pffffft!), but that does not make you a master.

Also, not all masters know every opening.  So again I say, clearly your knowledge of the Catalan is severely limited, master or not!

Just to give you another idea, which I don't think anyone's mentioned, is a3 on the third move there. 

Petrosian played this move and Kasparov famously took it up after him, with great results. It prevents a Nimzo, and you follow it up with Nc3. Much more dangerous than it looks...

Awesome! I wanted to play it, but needed some confimation.

You scorn everything. I'm a master.

3.Bd2 is also possible with one idea being trying to lose the bishop pair via 3...Ne4 but gaining some extra development. And since you are already white gaining development might make that gaining of development actually dangerous since you are sorta already ahead in development by being white a teeny bit.

if you want a lead in development then the samisch is really good, its also relatively unexplored and could be a surprise weapon

Thanks, you guys.

Very unique, I like that.

Solmyr1234, you are so full of it it's not even funny!  1375 blitz across 416 games?  1805 rapid across almost 800 games?  NO FIDE RATING AT ALL!  (It's not hard to see your profile, find your last name, and look it up on FIDE.com).

And then you mis-quote me in post 12 (WHICH I HAVE REPORTED YOU FOR!)

WHAT AN UTTER DISGRACE!!!!!

Thanks, Mr. Anger.

So what's my last name?

What's my First name?

Please, say it.

I had anger problems too, I suffer from high blood-pressure, and take "Normalol 25 mg" daily. how about you?

You mean "Shamir Shamazel" that's a genie from King's Quest 6 - The most beautiful computer-game I've ever played. That's not my name.. I don't get how you're married.. men can't stand you.

Shamir Shamazel

Here you are:

You're the boss!