White bets on the power of his passer.
1. d2d4  1... g8f6  2. c2c4  2... e7e6  3. b1c3  3... f8b4  4. a2a3  4... b4c3  5. b2c3  5... c7c5  6. f2f3 Whenever the name Samisch is concerned, the white f-pawn modestly moves to the f3-square. It does, however, help White build the strongest center possible, which might translate into a decisive kingside attack. At least, this is what White is dreaming about. 6... b8c6 Black, on his turn, realizes that the opponent has burned some bridges and that the pawn on c4 might well be attacked with every single black piece. More or less, this pawn is doomed, dreams Black, and he has visions of a won queenside battle. 7. e2e4  7... d7d6  8. c1e3  8... b7b6  9. f1d3  9... e6e5 Kasparov named this the Portish-Hubner wall, and my database indicates that 9. ...0-0 is vanishing. Rightly so, why castle into White's attack? 10. d4d5  10... c6a5  11. g1e2  11... e8d7 A nice novelty! The king often walks toward the queenside on its own in the Nimzo-Indian Defense, not necessarily using the castling crutch. 12. e1g1  12... d7c7  13. f3f4 Vitiugov hurries to open the center. 13... f6g4 While Oparin tries to keep everything under blockade. 14. e3d2  14... e5f4  15. d2f4  15... f7f6 White's play seems done. 16. e2d4 Not so fast, there is this sacrifice that intends to open up the black king's guard. The price of a knight to set the center in motion and open up the bishops is totally worth it. 16... g4e5 At least the knight got closer to the black king. 17. d4b5  17... c7b7  18. f4e5  18... d6e5 In any case, Vitiugov needs to demonstrate immense creativity in order to keep his initiative looming. 19. d5d6  19... a8b8  20. d3e2  20... c8e6  21. b5c7  21... e6f7 Black is just in time. 22. a1b1 Almost all the white pieces are active, but is it enough? 22... d8d7 Oparin also brings his pieces out and wants to deal with the d6-pawn once and for all. 23. e2g4  23... d7c6 