E38 · Indian · a defense for Black
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Berlin Variation
8/8
1.d4Nf62.c4e63.Nc3Bb44.Qc2c5
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Berlin Variation406k games · White to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
33%135k51%
32%129k54%
16%64k51%
14%57k49%
3.6%15k43%
0.9%3.8k36%
0.2%67738%
0.1%56339%
0.1%37248%
0.1%24233%
Famous games in this line5.2k master games
Kasparov, Garry (2838) – Kramnik, Vladimir (2802)Kasparov, Garry (2820) – Kramnik, Vladimir (2770)Vachier Lagrave, M.. (2784) – Aronian, L.. (2781)Mamedyarov, S. (2759) – Firouzja, Alireza (2804)So, W.. (2770) – Aronian, L.. (2781)Mamedyarov, S.. (2770) – Aronian, L.. (2781)Mamedyarov, S. (2772) – Aronian, L. (2772)Shankland, S. (2709) – Caruana, F. (2806)Heroes of this opening Kasparov, Garry · Mamedyarov, S.. · Shankland, S.
- Family
- Nimzo-Indian Defense
- Category
- Indian
- First move
- 1.d4
- ECO
- E38
- Line
- 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 c5
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, Berlin Variation, Pirc VariationE39 5.dxc5 O-O · 1 deeper lineNimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Berlin Variation, Steiner VariationE38 5.dxc5 Bxc3Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Berlin Variation, Macieja SystemE39 5.dxc5 O-O 6.a3 Bxc5 7.Nf3 b6
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