E51 · Indian · a defense for Black

Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Ragozin Variation

10/10
1.d4Nf62.c4e63.Nc3Bb44.e3O-O5.Nf3d5
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Ragozin Variation545k games · White to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
41%222k54%
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Sämisch Deferred15%79k53%
13%68k53%
12%63k53%
8.6%47k52%
6.9%38k55%
2.2%12k53%
1.3%7.2k46%
0.4%2.2k47%
0.3%1.8k52%
Famous games in this line2.4k master games
Aronian, Levon (2767) – Carlsen, Magnus (2863)2020½–½Caruana, F.. (2820) – Nepomniachtchi, I.. (2792)2021½–½Caruana, Fabiano (2835) – Dominguez Perez, Leinier (2758)20201–0Kramnik, Vladimir (2788) – Morozevich, Alexander (2788)20081–0Kramnik, Vladimir (2799) – Morozevich, Alexander (2765)20081–0Karjakin, Sergey (2763) – So, W. (2799)20181–0So, W. (2778) – Karjakin, Sergey (2782)2018½–½Ivanchuk, V. (2738) – So, W. (2812)2017½–½
Heroes of this opening Kramnik, Vladimir · Caruana, Fabiano · Karjakin, Sergey
Family
Nimzo-Indian Defense
Category
Indian
First move
1.d4
ECO
E51
Line
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 O-O 5. Nf3 d5
PositionalHypermodern
★ Read the guide: Nimzo-Indian DefenseExplore all 99 Nimzo-Indian Defense lines →
Keep exploring
Go deeper — named lines from here
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Sämisch DeferredE51 6.a3
Nearby lines in the family
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Classical DefenseE48 5.Bd3 d5Nimzo-Indian Defense: Spielmann Variation, Romanovsky GambitE23 4.Qb3 c5 5.dxc5 Nc6Nimzo-Indian Defense: Three Knights Variation, Euwe VariationE21 4.Nf3 c5 5.d5 Ne4
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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