Indian · a defense for Black
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation
8/8
1.d4Nf62.c4e63.Nc3Bb44.e3O-O
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation432k games · White to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
7%30k49%
5%22k48%
2.5%11k49%
0.6%2.6k48%
0.3%1.2k47%
0.3%1.1k50%
0.2%99347%
Famous games in this line23k master games
Caruana, Fabiano (2835) – Carlsen, Magnus (2863)Ding Liren (2806) – Carlsen, M. (2864)Carlsen, M. (2843) – Caruana, F. (2822)Carlsen, Magnus (2864) – Anand, Viswanathan (2786)Carlsen, M. (2832) – So, W. (2812)Nakamura, Hi (2787) – Carlsen, M. (2853)Nakamura, Hi (2787) – Carlsen, M. (2853)Carlsen, M. (2861) – Anand, V. (2774)Heroes of this opening Carlsen, Magnus · So, W.
- Family
- Nimzo-Indian Defense
- Category
- Indian
- First move
- 1.d4
- ECO
- E46
- Line
- 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 O-O
PositionalHypermodern
★ Read the guide: Nimzo-Indian DefenseExplore all 99 Nimzo-Indian Defense lines →Keep exploring
Go deeper — named lines from here
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Reshevsky Variation5.Ne2 · 1 deeper lineNimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Classical Defense5.Bd3 d5 · 12 deeper linesNimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Ragozin Variation5.Nf3 d5 · 1 deeper lineNimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Sämisch Deferred5.Nf3 d5 6.a3
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