Meštrović Variation of the Nimzovich Defense

The Meštrović Variation

I had been planning for some time to write a piece on the Meštrović Variation of the Nimzovich Defense (1.e4 Nc6 2.d4 d6!?) as a follow-up to my articles on The Panther (which can begin 1.d4 Nc6 2.Nf3 d6!?). So I was pleased to watch the game Stoyko-Taylor, Las Vegas Masters 2006, as it unfolded live on my computer the other day, knowing full well that I'd be happy either to see my friend FM Steve Stoyko win as White or the Meštrović emerge victorious for Black. In the end it was the Meštrović.