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, Berlin Variation, Macieja System
E39 14 plies
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 c5 5. dxc5 O-O 6. a3 Bxc5 7. Nf3 b6
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Berlin Variation, Pirc Variation
E39 10 plies
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 c5 5. dxc5 O-O
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Rubinstein System
E40 7 plies
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Rubinstein System, Taimanov Variation
E40 8 plies
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 Nc6
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Rubinstein System
E41 8 plies
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 c5
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Rubinstein System, Hübner Variation
E41 14 plies
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 c5 5. Bd3 Nc6 6. Nf3 Bxc3+ 7. bxc3 d6
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Rubinstein System, Hübner Variation
E41 16 plies
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 c5 5. Bd3 Nc6 6. Nf3 Bxc3+ 7. bxc3 d6 8. O-O O-O
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Rubinstein System, Rubinstein Variation
E42 9 plies
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 c5 5. Ne2
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Rubinstein System, Rubinstein Variation, Main Line
E42 13 plies
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 c5 5. Ne2 cxd4 6. exd4 O-O 7. a3
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Rubinstein System, Rubinstein Variation, Sherbakov Attack
E42 13 plies
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 c5 5. Ne2 cxd4 6. exd4 O-O 7. c5
Nimzo-Indian Defense: St. Petersburg Variation
E43 8 plies
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 b6
Nimzo-Indian Defense: St. Petersburg Variation
E43 11 plies
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 b6 5. Bd3 Bb7 6. Nf3
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