Nimzo-Indian Defense

Play as BlackDefence

Pin the knight and fight for control of e4 rather than occupying the center with pawns.

The main line, move by move

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 O-O 5. Bd3 d5 6. Nf3 c5 7. O-O Nc6 8. a3 Bxc3 9. bxc3 dxc4 10. Bxc4 Qc7 11. Bd3 e5

1. d4 — Claim the center with the queen pawn and open lines for the queen and bishop.
1... Nf6 — Develop a knight and control e4.
2. c4 — White gains more space in the center.
2... e6 — Open the bishop and prepare ...Bb4.
3. Nc3 — White develops a knight.
3... Bb4 — Pin the knight so White cannot easily control e4.
4. e3 — A solid move that develops the bishop and supports the center.
4... O-O — Castle: your king gets safe and a rook joins the game.
5. Bd3 — Develop the bishop toward the kingside.
5... d5 — Take a share of the center.
6. Nf3 — Develop the knight toward the center.
6... c5 — Challenge the d4 pawn.
7. O-O — Castle: your king gets safe and a rook joins the game.
7... Nc6 — Develop the knight and add pressure on d4.
8. a3 — Ask the bishop what it wants to do.
8... Bxc3 — Give up the bishop pair to double the pawns.
9. bxc3 — Recapture and take the center.
9... dxc4 — Take the pawn.
10. Bxc4 — Win the pawn back with a developing move.
10... Qc7 — Develop the queen and prepare ...e5.
11. Bd3 — Develop the bishop toward the kingside.
11... e5 — Strike in the center.

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 O-O 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. Qxc3 b6 7. Bg5 Bb7 8. e3 d6 9. Nf3 Nbd7 10. Be2