If White refuses to occupy the center in a Hypermodern opening, Black can switch roles.
Lembit Oll White
Mikhail Ialian Black
USSR Cup 1984
Nimzo-Indian, Classical Variation E38
1 d4 ♘f6 2 c4 e6 3 ♘c3 ♗b4 4 ♕c2 c5 5 dxc5
White liquidates his best center pawn in hopes of exerting pressure on the d-file (♖d1) and the d6 square in particular (♗f4).
5...♗xc5 6 ♘f3 0-0 7 ♗f4 ♘c6 8 ♖d1 d5 9 a3 e5!?
BIack fills the center void, based on 10 ♘xe5 ♘xe5 11 ♗xe5 ♗xf2+ 12 ♔xf2 ♘g4+. The situation after 13 ♔e1 ♘xe5 14 cxd5 would be unclear.
10 ♗g3?
White should realize that the roles have changed – and become the Hypermodernist with 10 ♗g5!. The Black center is threatened by ♗xf6, and 10...d4 11 ♘d5 leads to fairly balanced play, e.g. 11...♗e7 12 ♗xf6 ♗xf6 13 e3!.
10...♘d4! 11 ♘xd4 exd4 12 ♘xd5 ♘xd5 13 cxd5 ♗b6!
White may have counted on 13...♕xd5 14 e4 ♖e8 15 ♗d3 with adequate chances. But now he can’t push his e-pawn safely (14 e4 dxe3 15 fxe3 ♖e8).
14 f3? ♗d7 15 ♗e5 ♖c8
The initiative can’t be stopped now (16 ♕b3 ♕e8! followed by ...♕xe5 or ...♗a4).
16 ♕d3 ♗a4! 17 ♖d2 ♖c1+ 18 ♔f2 ♗c2
Question 390: What happens on 19 ♖xc2 ?
19 ♕b5 a6 White resigns.
It’s over (20 ♕b4 ♗a5 or 20 ♕c4 ♕h4+! and 21...d3+).
Ikka Kanko White
Harri Hurme Black
Espoo 1984
1 d4 d5 2 c4 e6 3 ♘c3 ♘f6 4 ♘f3 ♗e7 5 ♗f4 0-0 6 e3 c5 7 dxc5 ♗xc5 8 ♕c2 ♘c6 9 ♖d1 b6? 10 a3 ♗b7 11 ♗e2 ♕c8 12 cxd5 exd5 13 0-0 ♘d8 14 ♗g5! ♗e7 15 ♘d4 g6 16 ♗h6 ♖e8 17 ♗b5 ♘c6 18 ♘xd5! ♘xd5 19 ♘xc6 ♗f6 20 ♖xd5 a6 21 ♗a4 ♖e6 22 ♖c1 b5 23 ♖c5! and wins. (23...bxa4 24 ♘e7+ and ♖xc8+).