Nimzo-Indian Defense
ECO E20, E50 · 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4
The Nimzo-Indian Defense, 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4, pins White's knight to stop e4. It is one of the most respected defenses, combining sound structure with active piece play.
Plans for White
White chooses among the Rubinstein (4.e3), Classical (4.Qc2), Sämisch (4.a3) and other lines. White often keeps the bishop pair, accepts doubled c-pawns, and builds a center with f3 and e4.
Plans for Black
Black gives up the bishop for the c3 knight when it creates structural weaknesses, then targets the doubled c-pawns with ...c5, ...b6, ...Ba6 and ...Na5. Control of e4 is a central theme.
Typical pawn structures
After ...Bxc3 bxc3 White has doubled c-pawns and the bishop pair, Black a sound structure and blockading pieces.
Who it suits
Strategic players who like imbalances between bishops and knights, and those who want a sound but ambitious answer to 1.d4.
Common traps
In the Classical lines, ...d5 and ...c5 tactics can catch White's queen on c2; White must watch knight forks on b4 and d3.
Variations
- Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation — 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2
- Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation — 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 O-O
- Nimzo-Indian Defense: Rubinstein System — 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3
- Nimzo-Indian Defense: Sämisch Variation — 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. a3
- Nimzo-Indian Defense: St. Petersburg Variation — 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 b6
- Nimzo-Indian Defense: Spielmann Variation — 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qb3
- Nimzo-Indian Defense: Three Knights Variation — 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Nf3
- Nimzo-Indian Defense: Leningrad Variation — 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Bg5
- Nimzo-Indian Defense: Romanishin Variation — 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. g3
- Nimzo-Indian Defense: Dilworth Gambit — 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e4
- Nimzo-Indian Defense: Kmoch Variation — 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. f3
- Nimzo-Indian Defense: Mikenas Attack — 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qd3
- Nimzo-Indian Defense: Reshevsky Variation — 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 O-O 5. Ne2
- Nimzo-Indian Defense: Simagin Variation — 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 O-O 5. Ne2 d5 6. a3 Bd6
- Nimzo-Indian Defense: Ragozin Defense — 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 O-O 5. Bd3 d5 6. Nf3 Nc6 7. O-O
- Nimzo-Indian Defense: Ragozin Variation — 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 O-O 5. Bd3 d5 6. Nf3 Nc6 7. O-O dxc4