Indian · a defense for Black

Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Milner-Barry Variation

10/10
1.d4Nf62.c4e63.Nc3Bb44.Qc2Nc65.Nf3d6
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Milner-Barry Variation26k games · White to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
36%9.4k48%
23%5.9k48%
20%5.3k47%
9.6%2.5k45%
7.5%2.0k53%
2.9%74552%
1.1%27751%
0.2%4534%
0.1%3539%
0.1%1547%
Famous games in this line1.2k master games
Carlsen, Magnus (2776) – Ivanchuk, Vassily (2779)2009½–½Gelfand, Boris (2729) – Navara, David (2719)2006½–½Wang Hao (2729) – Fressinet, L. (2717)20141–0Malakhov, Vladimir (2706) – Ponomariov, Ruslan (2739)2009½–½Ding, Liren (2702) – Fressinet, Laurent (2700)20120–1Firouzja, Alireza (2804) – Gareev, T. (2573)20211–0Georgiev, Ki (2644) – Fressinet, L. (2717)20140–1Mamedyarov, S. (2743) – Ivanisevic, I. (2613)20141–0
Heroes of this opening Fressinet, Laurent · Wang Hao · Firouzja, Alireza · Mamedyarov, S.
Family
Nimzo-Indian Defense
Category
Indian
First move
1.d4
ECO
E33
Line
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 Nc6 5. Nf3 d6
PositionalHypermodern
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Nearby lines in the family
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Classical Defense4.e3 O-O 5.Bd3 d5Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Ragozin Variation4.e3 O-O 5.Nf3 d5Nimzo-Indian Defense: Spielmann Variation, Romanovsky Gambit4.Qb3 c5 5.dxc5 Nc6
From the archives

Aron Nimzowitsch's ...Bb4 pin was little known when the 1920s began and one of Black's favoured defences by the time they ended; it reached a world-championship match in 1929. Its idea was radical: control the centre with PIECES, trade the bishop for structural damage, and grind.

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