Nimzo-Indian Defense

A pin instead of a centre

Positional play
Hypermodern

Black pins the c3 knight with the b4 bishop and stops White from playing e2-e4. The centre is controlled by pieces, not pawns. Often Black trades the bishop for the knight to double White's pawns on the c-file: in return White gets the bishop pair, and Black gets a solid position and targets. The defence is flexible, reliable and very precise: equality is within reach, but you have to know how.

Interactive Opening Board

7…Nc6

♚

Black

♔

White

7…Nc6

Speed:

Moves

(14 plies • 7 moves)

7…Nc6Tabiya

The knight aims at d4 too. A positional struggle begins: Black will trade the bishop for a knight, White will get the bishop pair.

1–7moves
#WhiteBlack
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1.d4 The queen's pawn takes the centre.

1…Nf6 The knight controls e4 without committing the pawn structure.

2.c4 White grabs space.

2…e6 The e6 pawn opens the road for the f8 bishop.

3.Nc3 The knight prepares e2-e4.

3…Bb4 The pin. White can no longer play e4: the Nimzo-Indian begins.

4.e3 White avoids doubled pawns and prepares the bishop. This is the Rubinstein System.

4…O-O The king is safe.

5.Bd3 The bishop takes a good diagonal.

5…d5 Black enters the fight for the centre.

6.Nf3 The knight develops.

6…c5 A strike at d4: White's centre is under pressure.

7.O-O White castles: the king is safe, the tension remains.

7…Nc6 The knight aims at d4 too. A positional struggle begins: Black will trade the bishop for a knight, White will get the bishop pair.

Defining move

3…Bb4! — the pin

The move that makes the defence Nimzo-Indian

The b4 bishop stops White from playing e2-e4 and also threatens to trade on c3, after which White's pawns are doubled. White must either tolerate the pin or pay with the pawn structure. The idea belongs to Aron Nimzowitsch.

Tabiya

The main position of the Rubinstein System

The classic Nimzo-Indian position. Black has a pawn on d5 and presses on d4 with the c5 pawn and the c6 knight. Next come …dxc4 and …Bxc3 doubling White's pawns. White gets the bishop pair, Black simple plans and targets.

The centre

A centre of pieces against a centre of pawns

White holds d4 and e3, Black d5 and c5. If the bishop takes on c3, White gets doubled c-pawns, but also the bishop pair.

Key squaresc3d4e4

Outposts

c3The doubled target
After the trade on c3 Black gets the c3 and c4 pawns as targets that can be attacked for years.
e4The key square
Black controls e4 with the knight and bishop. Whoever holds e4 holds the centre.

Thematic breaks

c3Black
Trading the bishop for the knight
Double White's pawns and create targets.
What follows: White gets the bishop pair and wants an open position; Black wants a closed one.
c5Black
The …c7-c5 strike
Press on d4 and open the c-file.
What follows: If White captures on c5, Black gets active pieces.
e4White
The e3-e4 central advance
Relieve the b4 bishop's pressure and get free play.
What follows: If White gets e4 in, Black loses a key square and the position becomes harder.

White’s plan

Keep the bishop pair and open the position.
Develop and play e3-e4 or d4xc5.
Defend the c3 and c4 pawns against pressure.

Black’s plan

Control e4 and d5 so that White cannot take the centre.
Trade the bishop for a knight and attack the weak pawns.
Close the position: White's bishops lose their strength in a closed game.

History

The defence was brought into master practice by Aron Nimzowitsch. It first appeared in a world championship match in 1929, in the second game between Alekhine and Bogoljubov. Since then every world champion from Capablanca on has played it.