E32 · Indian · a defense for Black
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation
7/7
1.d4Nf62.c4e63.Nc3Bb44.Qc2
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation1.8M games · Black to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
33%596k48%
12%209k47%
5%90k46%
0.9%16k50%
0.8%14k46%
0.5%8.6k40%
0.2%4.2k50%
Famous games in this line30k master games
Carlsen, Magnus (2863) – Caruana, Fabiano (2828)Radjabov, Teimour (2793) – Carlsen, Magnus (2872)Kramnik, Vladimir (2783) – Carlsen, M. (2881)Mamedyarov, S. (2760) – Carlsen, M. (2881)Kasparov, Garry (2838) – Kramnik, Vladimir (2802)Kasparov, Garry (2838) – Kramnik, Vladimir (2802)Mamedyarov, S. (2804) – Carlsen, M. (2834)Carlsen, Magnus (2835) – Kramnik, Vladimir (2801)Heroes of this opening Carlsen, Magnus · Kasparov, Garry
- Family
- Nimzo-Indian Defense
- Category
- Indian
- First move
- 1.d4
- ECO
- E32
- Line
- 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2
PositionalHypermodern
★ Read the guide: Nimzo-Indian DefenseExplore all 99 Nimzo-Indian Defense lines →Keep exploring
Go deeper — named lines from here
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Noa VariationE34 4…d5 · 6 deeper linesNimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Zurich VariationE33 4…Nc6 · 1 deeper lineNimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Berlin VariationE38 4…c5 · 3 deeper linesNimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Milner-Barry VariationE33 4…Nc6 5.Nf3 d6
Nearby lines in the family
From the archives
Aron Nimzowitsch's ...Bb4 pin is the most respected reply to 1.d4 in chess history — practically every world champion from Capablanca to Carlsen has kept it in their repertoire. Its idea was radical in 1920: control the center with PIECES, trade the bishop for structural damage, and grind.
Study this opening