Diary of a One Loss Opening

Hello. I’m the Queen’s Indian Defense. Sam decided to take me up a few weeks ago when he was changing his opening repertoire. Of course, I was just a mere sidekick to his Nimzo-Indian (for 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3, and then Bb4). The Nimzo-Indian was to be the backbone of his new defense to 1.d4. I was just a “back room deal.” If white inconveniently played 3.Nf3, then I – the QID – could come to play with 3... b6.

So, two weeks ago, white did just that! Woo-hoo! I was out of the gate. After 3.Nf3 – bang – out came 3...b6. Like a shot across the bow I was fired and borne into action. It was about time. Sam had already had a “Nimzo” over the board (and, yes, he won). Now it was my turn.

But, of course, Sam, like most men, neglected me these past few weeks. With the Nimzo as his backbone he spent most of his time with that opening, and little with me. Now it was his chance to parade me. But, how can you parade that which you do not know? With all of his time spent on the Nimzo-Indian, how on earth could he show me off, the Queen’s Indian? Men all too often know little about their bastards and their mistresses; and wasn’t that exactly what I was? A mistress, relegated to the back rooms.

Since Sam didn’t take the time to know me – he only knew that after 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6, when white plays 3.Nf3, then he should play b6 – he did NOT understand me. But, of course, since he did not know me, he was not able to use me (properly). An opening is like a person. You have to know, remember, and understand. Sam really had NONE of these. After my introduction with 3.Nf3 b6, he was lost. Several inaccurate moves from his opponent were met with just as (or more) inaccurate moves by Sam.

What was just as sad – or more sad – is that like his chosen one, I also had many of the same traits; he just could not see them. He did not understand our relation. Why he chose me. I was chosen because of my strong resemblance, like so many mistresses. In the Nimzo, black fights to control the e4 square, same with me. Sam was blind to this. Sam was blind to our similarities. Sam was unsure what to do with me.

SAM LOST THIS GAME!

It was a strategic and tactical loss. On all fronts Sam failed. He was shamed. He was humiliated. He felt he needed more – isn’t that what all people seek from their “others” – from the mistresses? He had not gotten that from me. But, was that my fault? He did not know me, remember me or understand me – and these three nots were not my fault.

After the loss Sam was ready to toss me out, to throw me under, to do away with me. He was ready to move on. What went wrong? He could not understand.

Instantly, Sam was looking for alternatives. He saw that he could leave me several ways. He could meet 3.Nf3 with c5 and get a Modern Benoni. Also, he could play d5 and go (back) to a Queen’s Gambit Declined. He even briefly considered meeting 1.d4 with c5 straight away thus settling into the Benoni complex and maybe not even getting his aggressive “modern” Benoni.

Since that loss Sam has been looking at all of these other openings, all of these ways to leave me. I hope he can take the time to reconsider why it was that he chose me in the fist place. Maybe he can – instead of looking at them (these new new openings) – come back and look at me and see what I have to offer...

If he just takes the time to know me...