Body: <p>In the Kmoch Nimzo Indian (sometimes called the f3 nimzo)</p>
  <pre><code>[FEN &quot;&quot;]  
  1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. f3 d5 5. a3 Bxc3 6. bxc3 c5 (6... dxc4!? 7. e4)
  </code></pre>
  <p>The move <code>6...c5</code> is the most popular continuation at master level according to Lichess's master database by far. However, stockfish &quot;cloud&quot; analysis lists <code>6...dxc4</code> as the top choice, which less than 1% of masters chose (and scored poorly). Since this is a cloud evaluation it is presumed to be deep analysis done beforehand, not a shallow depth search running in a browser.</p>
  <p>At first glance, it looks like the cloud analysis is simply wrong. <code>dxc4</code> allows the immediate <code>e4</code>, which makes white's opening look like a strategic success! On the other hand, it seems unlikely to me that a high depth engine would make such a positional error.</p>
  <p>Is it possible to say that <code>dxc4</code> is a valid continuation that hasn't been explored? Or is this simply a case where an engine misevaluates a position?</p>
  
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2024-02-07T17:23:42.967Z
Comments.Text: I guess sometimes masters aren't comfortable in certain positions that an engine is comfortable in. After 6...dxc4 7.e4 b5 8.a4 c6 9.Ba3 I'd rather be White.
Comments.UserDisplayName: Leonard Blackburn
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2024-02-08T21:56:44.330Z
Comments.Text: Knowing what I know about engines, I would say it sees the opportunity to create an isolated a pawn weakness as a larger advantage than the central disadvantage. Also, having pushed f3, it might evaluate your long-term king safety as lower. I don't know of any engine v engine games in this position, but I don't think you can say the engine evaluation is wrong. The best you can say is it's not very human.
Comments.UserDisplayName: JP Alioto
Tags: <engines><theory><evaluation><database><nimzo-indian>
Title: What is this wide split in the Kmoch nimzo between stockfish's evaluation and master-level move choice?
ThreadText: # What is this wide split in the Kmoch nimzo between stockfish's evaluation and master-level move choice?
  
  (Asked by: username_0 on 2024-02-07)
  
  In the Kmoch Nimzo Indian (sometimes called the f3 nimzo)
  
  ```
  [FEN ""]  
  1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. f3 d5 5. a3 Bxc3 6. bxc3 c5 (6... dxc4!? 7. e4)
  
  ```
  
  The move `6...c5` is the most popular continuation at master level according to Lichess's master database by far. However, stockfish "cloud" analysis lists `6...dxc4` as the top choice, which less than 1% of masters chose (and scored poorly). Since this is a cloud evaluation it is presumed to be deep analysis done beforehand, not a shallow depth search running in a browser.
  
  At first glance, it looks like the cloud analysis is simply wrong. `dxc4` allows the immediate `e4`, which makes white's opening look like a strategic success! On the other hand, it seems unlikely to me that a high depth engine would make such a positional error.
  
  Is it possible to say that `dxc4` is a valid continuation that hasn't been explored? Or is this simply a case where an engine misevaluates a position?
  
  **Tags:** engines, theory, evaluation, database, nimzo-indian
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_1**: I guess sometimes masters aren't comfortable in certain positions that an engine is comfortable in. After 6...dxc4 7.e4 b5 8.a4 c6 9.Ba3 I'd rather be White.  
  > **username_2**: Knowing what I know about engines, I would say it sees the opportunity to create an isolated a pawn weakness as a larger advantage than the central disadvantage. Also, having pushed f3, it might evaluate your long-term king safety as lower. I don't know of any engine v engine games in this position, but I don't think you can say the engine evaluation is wrong. The best you can say is it's not very human.  
  
  ---
  
  ## 0 answers
  
  