Openings 1.d4 Nf6: Indian defenses
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Rubinstein, Classical and Stats by Rating
3...Bb4 pins the knight that would support e4. Black is often happy to give the bishop for the knight and leave White with doubled c-pawns. It is one of the most respected defenses against 1.d4.
E20Nimzo-Indian Defense
Games from this position (1600–1999): 19k
- 1.
- 2.
- 3.
| Move | Played | Games | White · Draw · Black |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18% | 3,510 | ||
| 17% | 3,337 | ||
| 17% | 3,175 | ||
| 16% | 3,029 | ||
| 10% | 1,924 | ||
| 10% | 1,893 | ||
| 3% | 652 | ||
| 3% | 570 | ||
| 3% | 478 | ||
| 1% | 229 | ||
| 1.0% | 188 |
Plans for both sides
White
- 4.e3 (Rubinstein) and 4.Qc2 (Classical) are the main lines.
- 4.Qc2 avoids doubled pawns by taking back on c3 with the queen.
- The bishop pair is your long-term trump; open the position for it.
Black
- Pin, castle, then choose ...c5, ...d5 or ...b6 and ...Bb7.
- If you take on c3, attack the doubled pawns with ...c5, ...b6 and ...Ba6.
- Control e4 with ...Ne4, ...d5 or ...Bb7.
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Nimzo-Indian Defense at each rating
How often the position after 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 comes up in rated Lichess games, how it scores and what players answer next.
| Rating | Games (Share of games) | White · Draw · Black | Top next move |
|---|---|---|---|
| <1200 | 742<0.1% | 4.Bd232% | |
| 1200–1599 | 5,704<0.1% | 4.Bd221% | |
| 1600–1999 | 19k0.3% | 4.Bg518% | |
| 2000+ | 17k0.8% | 4.Qc226% | |
| All | 43k0.2% | 4.Qc219% |
What usually comes next
The most played moves from here, all ratings together. Thicker line = played more often.
Main variations
Classical development. Often leads to an isolated-pawn middlegame.
Too rare in our data for numbers.
Show on the board: 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 O-O 5.Bd3 d5 6.Nf3 c5White keeps the pawns intact and gets the bishop pair.
456 games from this position (all ratings, any move order). White won 48%, 11% were drawn, Black won 41%.
Show on the board: 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qc2 O-O 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.Qxc3White accepts doubled pawns at once for the bishop pair and a big center.
3,674 games from this position (all ratings, any move order). White won 48%, 4% were drawn, Black won 48%.
Show on the board: 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.a3 Bxc3+ 5.bxc3
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At club level
The Nimzo is rare below 1600, mostly because 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 is rare there. When it does happen, know what to do against doubled c-pawns: that is what Black is playing for.
Practice it
The trainer answers with the replies people at your rating choose, in the same proportions, and brings back your mistakes on a schedule.
Related openings
- Indian Defense: 1.d4 Nf6
1.d4 Nf6
- King’s Indian Defense
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6
- Old Indian Defense
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 d6
- Trompowsky Attack
1.d4 Nf6 2.Bg5
- Budapest Gambit
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e5
- Grünfeld Defense
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5