E49 · Indian · a defense for Black

Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Botvinnik System

13/13
1.d4Nf62.c4e63.Nc3Bb44.e3O-O5.Bd3d56.a3Bxc3+7.bxc3
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Botvinnik System26k games · Black to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
25%6.4k46%
20%5.1k47%
16%4.0k45%
11%2.9k45%
9.6%2.5k45%
6.2%1.6k43%
3.1%80443%
2.6%66948%
2.4%61244%
1.8%46342%
Famous games in this line1.7k master games
Carlsen, M. (2832) – Aronian, L. (2793)20171–0Carlsen, M. (2837) – Anand, V. (2782)20170–1Ding Liren (2774) – Carlsen, M. (2837)20170–1So, W.. (2770) – Aronian, L.. (2781)2021½–½Grischuk, Alexander (2777) – Aronian, Levon (2773)2020½–½So, W.. (2770) – Giri, A.. (2780)2021½–½Duda, J.. (2738) – Nepomniachtchi, I.. (2792)2021½–½Jakovenko, Dmitrij (2760) – Leko, Peter (2756)2009½–½
Heroes of this opening Carlsen, M. · Anand, V.
Family
Nimzo-Indian Defense
Category
Indian
First move
1.d4
ECO
E49
Line
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 O-O 5. Bd3 d5 6. a3 Bxc3+ 7. bxc3
SharpPositionalHypermodern
★ Read the guide: Nimzo-Indian DefenseExplore all 99 Nimzo-Indian Defense lines →
Keep exploring
Nearby lines in the family
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Ragozin DefenseE48 6.Nf3 Nc6 7.O-ONimzo-Indian Defense: Rubinstein System, Rubinstein Variation, Main LineE42 4…c5 5.Ne2 cxd4 6.exd4 O-O 7.a3Nimzo-Indian Defense: Rubinstein System, Rubinstein Variation, Sherbakov AttackE42 4…c5 5.Ne2 cxd4 6.exd4 O-O 7.c5
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
Videos on YouTube ↗Wikipedia: Nimzo-Indian Defense ↗