THE NHS OPENING; does it need medical attention?
The Norbury Hippo System is more than merely a chess opening but a strategic plan for an entire game. It takes the first move of the Van Kruy variation 1. e3, but then moves away from all previous ideas and analysis into something resembling a cross between the Hippo and the Kings` Indian. The beauty of this new idea is that it can be used in any circumstance irrespective of whether the player is white or black. When played by the second player the first move is 1…e6, perhaps inducing the opponent into the mistaken belief that the game may follow French lines.
The move which initially differentiates the system is either 2. Ne2 as white or the reverse 2…Ne7.To many club players this may look strange illogical and has even been criticised by the uninitiated as being `bad`, because it would appear to block the development of both the Bishop and the Queen. Exactly the same could be said of the Alapin Opening, which starts 1. e4 e5 2.Ne2, but has never been proven unsound, and although unpopular has a remarkable high success rate in the right hands.
It is true that Van Kruy`s, Alapins` and the Hippo are fairly rare at GM level although, Spassky, Carlsen and several of what Nimzovitch termed the hyper-moderns have dabbled with the hedgehog and hippo positions and there has been considerable British interest in the Modern Defence as advocated by the like of Keene, Mestel and the late Tony Miles since the early 1970`s.
The NHS main line can be achieved by slight move order changes but is not merely a transposition of other ideas since it has from its inception a desired and intended pattern and particular and unique concept. Namely, this is to create a Kings Indian style Defence (Reversed or Standard) irrespective of the opponents` first move. Unlike the Modern this will almost always involve either a Knight on e2 or e7, and a Pawn push e4, or e5 somewhere between moves 5-10. By adopting this pattern the NHS player automatically gives himself the opportunity to compete for the centre through early Kingside castling, fianchetto and an unblocked double advance of the f pawn. Timing is everything, since with the White pieces the player is in effect utilising an extra tempo because he adopts a reverse system similar to The KIA, and as Black may be confident of steering the game into familiar territory.
Looking through past chess literature it is relatively easy to retrospectively find games which could with today `s knowledge be said to have NHS themes. For example Horowitz and Reinfeld in their excellent but slightly flawed primer `How to think ahead in Chess` cite an instructive game between Przepiorka and von Patay, Meran 1926. Their point is to illustrate `how superior mobility leads to a stormy breakthrough`. The opening moves are 1.d4 g6 2e4 d6 3Nf3 Bg7 4Bd3 e6 (with a? from H. and R. `who feel that the proper course` should have been `…e5. because after 5 de de or 5c3 Nc6 or Nd5 Nf3 `Black is by no means badly off. As soon as Black gets a solid position in the centre, his prospects for satisfactory development brighten perceptively!` Moving on a little the game progressed 5o-o Ne7 6 Be3 6….o-o b 7Qd2 Re8 8.Bh6 Bh8 9.Nc3 N8c6 10 Ne2 d5. The commentators rightly condemn d5 suggesting that Black chose the wrong pawn, and von Patay eventually loses after further mistakes. Notwithstanding the errors, Black had the basis of a plan, block, hold and push although his QN may have been better at d7, rather than c6 for this purpose, and he should not have been over concerned about the Be3/h6 invasion. Some cognition and respect should be given to potential counters resembling the 150, Barry and St George attacks when the attacker relies upon exchanging the defending Bishop and following through with an h pawn lance with the rook still behind it. The defender in these cases however is not without resources, particularly (when playing Black) if he has `over-protected the e5 square, and is ready with his f5 response and aware that he often has what Hans Kmoch in `Pawn Power in Chess` calls the sealer making a pawn chain d6,e5 and f4, especially with N from e7 to g6 to follow.
Many Kings Indian players will also know of strategies of maintaining the e5,f5 pawn duo, to maintain dynamic tension before allowing closed positions where opposing pawn chains block the centre but, at the same time potentially offer protected Knight outposts.
Generally, the NHS is not about putting as many pawns as possible on the third rank, nor necessarily making animal shapes, of hedgehogs, hippos,`monkey`s bottoms` nor even over emphasizing the significance of the dragon bishop. It is about piece co-ordination, soaking up pressure and being ready to spring back. Some shuffling may be needed, and thought given to whether the second fianchetto (QB) is always necessary. Experience might indicate that the c pawn should where possible, and more often than not be left at home, as the system relies heavily upon the e pawn feint, first one step and then again as soon possible thereafter.
Games typically with the opening, at club level tend to last 30 50 moves, and are about defence, gain of space and wing advancement and breaking out from closed situations. Manoeuvring for position is common, and requires some patience on both sides as the pieces often remain un-exchanged all the way through to the late middle-game. Knowing this and being aware of some basic plans however virtually eliminates the necessity for time scrambles and good, systematic moves can be made quickly.
There are no guarantees in chess, and sometimes it is possible to be outplayed quickly by a better stronger opponent, but if to paraphrase Kipling you can keep your head and hold on, the world, or at least the game will be yours. The name NHS is a deliberate joke because, some might say that this opening should come with a strong health warning, especially when a loss occurs after dogged defence much stress, and mental exertion. If you win with it you will probably have done so because of a mastery of the skills and an understanding of the ideas involved.
The move which initially differentiates the system is either 2. Ne2 as white or the reverse 2…Ne7.To many club players this may look strange illogical and has even been criticised by the uninitiated as being `bad`, because it would appear to block the development of both the Bishop and the Queen. Exactly the same could be said of the Alapin Opening, which starts 1. e4 e5 2.Ne2, but has never been proven unsound, and although unpopular has a remarkable high success rate in the right hands.
It is true that Van Kruy`s, Alapins` and the Hippo are fairly rare at GM level although, Spassky, Carlsen and several of what Nimzovitch termed the hyper-moderns have dabbled with the hedgehog and hippo positions and there has been considerable British interest in the Modern Defence as advocated by the like of Keene, Mestel and the late Tony Miles since the early 1970`s.
The NHS main line can be achieved by slight move order changes but is not merely a transposition of other ideas since it has from its inception a desired and intended pattern and particular and unique concept. Namely, this is to create a Kings Indian style Defence (Reversed or Standard) irrespective of the opponents` first move. Unlike the Modern this will almost always involve either a Knight on e2 or e7, and a Pawn push e4, or e5 somewhere between moves 5-10. By adopting this pattern the NHS player automatically gives himself the opportunity to compete for the centre through early Kingside castling, fianchetto and an unblocked double advance of the f pawn. Timing is everything, since with the White pieces the player is in effect utilising an extra tempo because he adopts a reverse system similar to The KIA, and as Black may be confident of steering the game into familiar territory.
Looking through past chess literature it is relatively easy to retrospectively find games which could with today `s knowledge be said to have NHS themes. For example Horowitz and Reinfeld in their excellent but slightly flawed primer `How to think ahead in Chess` cite an instructive game between Przepiorka and von Patay, Meran 1926. Their point is to illustrate `how superior mobility leads to a stormy breakthrough`. The opening moves are 1.d4 g6 2e4 d6 3Nf3 Bg7 4Bd3 e6 (with a? from H. and R. `who feel that the proper course` should have been `…e5. because after 5 de de or 5c3 Nc6 or Nd5 Nf3 `Black is by no means badly off. As soon as Black gets a solid position in the centre, his prospects for satisfactory development brighten perceptively!` Moving on a little the game progressed 5o-o Ne7 6 Be3 6….o-o b 7Qd2 Re8 8.Bh6 Bh8 9.Nc3 N8c6 10 Ne2 d5. The commentators rightly condemn d5 suggesting that Black chose the wrong pawn, and von Patay eventually loses after further mistakes. Notwithstanding the errors, Black had the basis of a plan, block, hold and push although his QN may have been better at d7, rather than c6 for this purpose, and he should not have been over concerned about the Be3/h6 invasion. Some cognition and respect should be given to potential counters resembling the 150, Barry and St George attacks when the attacker relies upon exchanging the defending Bishop and following through with an h pawn lance with the rook still behind it. The defender in these cases however is not without resources, particularly (when playing Black) if he has `over-protected the e5 square, and is ready with his f5 response and aware that he often has what Hans Kmoch in `Pawn Power in Chess` calls the sealer making a pawn chain d6,e5 and f4, especially with N from e7 to g6 to follow.
Many Kings Indian players will also know of strategies of maintaining the e5,f5 pawn duo, to maintain dynamic tension before allowing closed positions where opposing pawn chains block the centre but, at the same time potentially offer protected Knight outposts.
Generally, the NHS is not about putting as many pawns as possible on the third rank, nor necessarily making animal shapes, of hedgehogs, hippos,`monkey`s bottoms` nor even over emphasizing the significance of the dragon bishop. It is about piece co-ordination, soaking up pressure and being ready to spring back. Some shuffling may be needed, and thought given to whether the second fianchetto (QB) is always necessary. Experience might indicate that the c pawn should where possible, and more often than not be left at home, as the system relies heavily upon the e pawn feint, first one step and then again as soon possible thereafter.
Games typically with the opening, at club level tend to last 30 50 moves, and are about defence, gain of space and wing advancement and breaking out from closed situations. Manoeuvring for position is common, and requires some patience on both sides as the pieces often remain un-exchanged all the way through to the late middle-game. Knowing this and being aware of some basic plans however virtually eliminates the necessity for time scrambles and good, systematic moves can be made quickly.
There are no guarantees in chess, and sometimes it is possible to be outplayed quickly by a better stronger opponent, but if to paraphrase Kipling you can keep your head and hold on, the world, or at least the game will be yours. The name NHS is a deliberate joke because, some might say that this opening should come with a strong health warning, especially when a loss occurs after dogged defence much stress, and mental exertion. If you win with it you will probably have done so because of a mastery of the skills and an understanding of the ideas involved.