Indian · a defense for Black

Nimzo-Indian Defense: Leningrad Variation, Averbakh Gambit

12/12
1.d4Nf62.c4e63.Nc3Bb44.Bg5h65.Bh4c56.d5b5
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Leningrad Variation, Averbakh Gambit1.0k games · White to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
29%29253%
25%25241%
19%19448%
13%12641%
5%5040%
2.6%2658%
1.8%180%
1.4%1450%
1.1%1132%
0.8%850%
Famous games in this line124 master games
Spassky, Boris V (2660) – Tal, Mihail (2625)19730–1Timman, Jan H (2620) – Jussupow, Artur (2660)1986½–½Moiseenko, Alexander (2711) – Ghaem Maghami, Ehsan (2554)2013½–½Onischuk, Alexander (2678) – Hess, Robert L (2565)20110–1Jussupow, Artur (2660) – Christiansen, Larry Mark (2570)19950–1Bareev, Evgeny (2590) – Gelfand, Boris (2615)1990½–½Li, Shilong (2531) – Harikrishna, Penteala (2673)20071–0Spassky, Boris V (2655) – Unzicker, Wolfgang (2535)1973½–½
Heroes of this opening Tal, Mihail · Hess, Robert L · Christiansen, Larry Mark · Li, Shilong
Family
Nimzo-Indian Defense
Category
Indian
First move
1.d4
ECO
E30
Line
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Bg5 h6 5. Bh4 c5 6. d5 b5
GambitPositionalHypermodern
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Nearby lines in the family
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Simagin Variation4.e3 O-O 5.Ne2 d5 6.a3 Bd6Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Gligoric System4.e3 O-O 5.Bd3 d5 6.Nf3 c5Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Keres Defense4.Qc2 O-O 5.a3 Bxc3 6.Qxc3 b6
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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