Nimzo-Indian Defense

Overview

The Nimzo-Indian Defense (1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4) is one of the most respected openings at every level of chess. Black pins the c3-knight to control e4 and is willing to give up the bishop pair for structural concessions from White.

Position after 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4

Key Ideas

• Black pins the c3-knight, preventing the natural e4 push and fighting for central control.
• If White plays a3 to provoke Bxc3+, the doubled c-pawns can be a long-term target for Black.
• Black often plays ...d5 and ...c5 to challenge the center, with flexible piece placement.
• White's main approaches include 4. e3 (Rubinstein), 4. Qc2 (Classical), and 4. f3 (Samisch).

Main Variations

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History

Developed by Aron Nimzowitsch in the 1910s, the Nimzo-Indian embodies his hypermodern principles. It has been a staple weapon for Botvinnik, Fischer, Karpov, Kramnik, and Carlsen.