Nimzo-Indian

The Nimzo-Indian Defence is a chess opening characterised by the moves 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 (in algebraic notation). In the Encyclopedia of Chess Openings scheme, the Nimzo-Indian is classified as E20-E59.

This hypermodern opening was developed by Latvian Grandmaster Aron Nimzowitsch who introduced it to master-level chess in the early 20th century. Unlike most Indian openings the Nimzo-Indian does not involve an immediate kingside fianchetto but instead Black attempts to undermine White's pawn centre using his bishop and doing so inflict doubled pawns.

The delay in Black committing to a pawn structure means the Nimzo-Indian is a very flexible defence to 1.d4 and can also transpose into lines of the Queen's Gambit, Queen's Indian Defence, and the Dutch Defence.

White usually responds with one of the following moves;

• 4.Qc2 - Classical Variation
• 4.a3 - Sämisch Variation
• 4.e3 - Rubinstein Variation