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: Classical Variation, Noa Variation
E34 8 plies
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 d5
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Noa Variation
E35 10 plies
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 d5 5. cxd5 exd5
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Noa Variation
E36 9 plies
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 d5 5. a3
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Noa Variation, Botvinnik Variation
E36 12 plies
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 d5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. Qxc3 Nc6
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Noa Variation, Main Line
E36 12 plies
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 d5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. Qxc3 Ne4
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Romanishin Gambit
E36 12 plies
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 d5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. Qxc3 c5
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Modern Variation
E37 14 plies
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 d5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. Qxc3 Ne4 7. Qc2 c5
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Noa Variation
E37 13 plies
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 d5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. Qxc3 Ne4 7. Qc2
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Noa Variation, San Remo Variation
E37 16 plies
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 d5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. Qxc3 Ne4 7. Qc2 Nc6 8. e3 e5
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Berlin Variation
E38 8 plies
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 c5
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Berlin Variation
E38 12 plies
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 O-O 5. e3 d5 6. Nf3 c5
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Berlin Variation, Steiner Variation
E38 10 plies
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 c5 5. dxc5 Bxc3+
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