Opening Overview

Nimzo-Indian Defense

98 lines
black repertoire

About This Opening

Black pins the knight and immediately attacks White's central structure.

The opening usually invites White to occupy space, then challenges that center with piece pressure, pawn breaks, and flexible development.

In practice, the key is to know when to strike at the center and when to keep pieces flexible, because the wrong timing can leave the position passive.

Key ideas
  • Typical theme: pressure on the center rather than immediate occupation.
  • Common plans include fianchetto setups and timely pawn breaks.
  • Best for players who like asymmetry and counterplay.
  • Study the transition from setup to active central challenge.

Choose a variation

Nimzo-Indian Defense: St. Petersburg Variation
E43 11 plies
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Nf3 b6 5. e3 Ne4 6. Qc2
Nimzo-Indian Defense: St. Petersburg Variation
E43 12 plies
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 b6 5. Bd3 Bb7 6. Nf3 O-O
Nimzo-Indian Defense: St. Petersburg Variation
E43 13 plies
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 b6 5. Bd3 Bb7 6. Nf3 O-O 7. O-O
Nimzo-Indian Defense: St. Petersburg Variation
E43 14 plies
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 b6 5. Bd3 Bb7 6. Nf3 O-O 7. O-O c5
Nimzo-Indian Defense: St. Petersburg Variation
E43 14 plies
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 Ne4 5. Qc2 f5 6. Nf3 b6 7. Bd3 Bb7
Nimzo-Indian Defense: St. Petersburg Variation
E43 15 plies
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Nf3 Bxc3+ 5. bxc3 b6 6. e3 Bb7 7. Bd3 O-O 8. O-O
Nimzo-Indian Defense: St. Petersburg Variation
E43 16 plies
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 O-O 5. Bd3 c5 6. Nf3 b6 7. O-O Bb7 8. Na4 Qe7
Nimzo-Indian Defense: St. Petersburg Variation
E43 17 plies
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Nf3 b6 5. e3 Ne4 6. Qc2 Bb7 7. Bd3 Bxc3+ 8. bxc3 f5 9. O-O
Nimzo-Indian Defense: St. Petersburg Variation
E43 18 plies
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 b6 5. Bd3 Bb7 6. Nf3 O-O 7. O-O c5 8. Na4 cxd4 9. a3 Be7
Nimzo-Indian Defense: St. Petersburg Variation, with Ne4
E43 12 plies
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 b6 5. Bd3 Bb7 6. Nf3 Ne4
Nimzo-Indian Defense: St. Petersburg Variation
E44 9 plies
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 b6 5. Ne2
Nimzo-Indian Defense: St. Petersburg Variation, American Variation
E44 10 plies
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 b6 5. Ne2 Ne4
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