E31 · Indian · a defense for Black

Nimzo-Indian Defense: Leningrad Variation, Benoni Defense

12/12
1.d4Nf62.c4e63.Nc3Bb44.Bg5h65.Bh4c56.d5d6
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Leningrad Variation, Benoni Defense4.7k games · White to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
28%1.3k53%
21%99948%
18%84044%
10%48442%
6.3%29949%
4.5%21248%
3.9%18343%
3.6%16946%
1.8%8755%
1%4627%
Famous games in this line459 master games
Ponomariov, Ruslan (2764) – Meier, Georg (2656)2011½–½Sasikiran, Krishnan (2653) – Gashimov, Vugar (2759)20101–0Grachev, Boris (2672) – Naiditsch, Arkadij (2704)20120–1Azmaiparashvili, Zurab (2672) – Volokitin, Andrei (2671)2005½–½Morozevich, A. (2676) – Oparin, G. (2616)2016½–½Bareev, Evgeny (2680) – Chandler, Murray G (2605)19911–0Berkes, Ferenc (2678) – Chuchelov, Vladimir (2565)20111–0Timman, Jan H (2650) – Romanishin, Oleg M (2590)1985½–½
Heroes of this opening Sasikiran, Krishnan · Naiditsch, Arkadij · Bareev, Evgeny · Berkes, Ferenc
Family
Nimzo-Indian Defense
Category
Indian
First move
1.d4
ECO
E31
Line
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Bg5 h6 5. Bh4 c5 6. d5 d6
PositionalHypermodern
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Nearby lines in the family
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Simagin VariationE46 4.e3 O-O 5.Ne2 d5 6.a3 Bd6Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Gligoric SystemE53 4.e3 O-O 5.Bd3 d5 6.Nf3 c5Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Keres DefenseE32 4.Qc2 O-O 5.a3 Bxc3 6.Qxc3 b6
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.

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