Indian · a defense for Black
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Three Knights Variation
7/7
1.d4Nf62.c4e63.Nc3Bb44.Nf3
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Three Knights Variation1.9M games · Black to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
29%560k49%
18%351k50%
16%301k52%
13%242k49%
7.4%144k46%
1.3%26k47%
0.9%18k48%
0.8%16k48%
0.6%11k43%
Famous games in this line8.1k master games
Carlsen, M. (2882) – Ding Liren (2805)Carlsen, M. (2855) – Caruana, F. (2804)Topalov, V. (2772) – Carlsen, M. (2881)Carlsen, M. (2877) – Topalov, V. (2772)So, W. (2812) – Carlsen, M. (2832)Carlsen, M. (2855) – Nakamura, Hi (2787)Carlsen, Magnus (2823) – Anand, Viswanathan (2817)Carlsen, Magnus (2863) – Grischuk, Alexander (2777)Heroes of this opening Caruana, F. · Carlsen, M.
- Family
- Nimzo-Indian Defense
- Category
- Indian
- First move
- 1.d4
- ECO
- E21
- Line
- 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Nf3
PositionalHypermodern
★ Read the guide: Nimzo-Indian DefenseExplore all 99 Nimzo-Indian Defense lines →Keep exploring
Go deeper — named lines from here
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Three Knights Variation, Korchnoi Variation4…c5 5.d5 · 1 deeper lineNimzo-Indian Defense: Three Knights Variation, Euwe Variation4…c5 5.d5 Ne4Nimzo-Indian Defense: Romanishin Variation, English Hybrid4…c5 5.g3 cxd4 6.Nxd4 O-O 7.Bg2 …
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