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 Variation4…d5 · 6 deeper linesNimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Zurich Variation4…Nc6 · 1 deeper lineNimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Berlin Variation4…c5 · 3 deeper linesNimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Milner-Barry Variation4…Nc6 5.Nf3 d6
Nearby lines in the family
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.
Study this opening