Nimzo-Indian — Leningrad Variation (4.Bg5)
Against 4.Bg5, Black kicks the bishop away with ...h6, gaining time.
Nimzo-Indian — Rubinstein Variation (4.e3)
Against 4.e3, Black castles and keeps the bishop on b4, preparing ...c5 or ...d5.
Nimzo-Indian — Sämisch, Keres (...d5)
Against the Sämisch, ...d5 seeks to open the center, exposing White's structural weaknesses.
Nimzo-Indian — Sämisch with ...b6
Against the Sämisch, ...b6 prepares a fianchetto instead of the ...c5 attack.
Nimzo-Indian — Rubinstein Taimanov (...Nc6)
Against the Rubinstein, ...Nc6 develops actively while preparing ...e5.
Nimzo-Indian — Sämisch Variation (4.a3)
White forces the exchange on c3, accepting doubled pawns. Black attacks the structure with ...c5.
Nimzo-Indian — Classical with ...Nc6
Against Qc2, ...Nc6 develops naturally, preparing ...e5 or ...Nb4.
Nimzo-Indian — Classical with ...c5
Against Qc2, ...c5 is the most ambitious reply — it challenges the center immediately.
Nimzo-Indian — Modern Rubinstein (5.Bd3)
Against the Rubinstein with Bd3, Black prepares ...d5 or ...c5 depending on the structure.
Nimzo-Indian — 4.Nf3 Variation
White develops the king's knight while keeping flexibility — Black chooses among several defenses.
Nimzo-Indian — 4.Bd2 Variation
With 4.Bd2, White prepares to trade bishops — a less ambitious variation.
Nimzo-Indian — 4.f3 Variation
With 4.f3, White prepares e4 while accepting a risky structure — Black needs precision.
Nimzo-Indian — Rubinstein with ...b6
Against the Rubinstein, ...b6 prepares a fianchetto — a solid, strategic structure.
Nimzo-Indian — Hübner System
After Rubinstein, Black exchanges on c3 and closes the center with ...d6 — strategic play.
Nimzo-Indian — Qb3 Variation
With 4.Qb3, White defends a3 and attacks b4 — a less theoretical variation.
Nimzo-Indian — Classical with ...d5
Against Qc2, ...d5 immediately challenges White's center.
Nimzo-Indian — Ragozin via Nimzo
With 4.Nf3 d5, the position transposes to the Ragozin — a QGD-type structure with the bishop on b4.
Nimzo-Indian — Classical Variation (4.Qc2)
Against 4.Qc2 (avoiding doubled pawns), Black castles and chooses between ...d5 or ...c5.
Nimzo-Indian — Kmoch Variation
Against 4.Nf3, ...c5 challenges the center immediately.
Nimzo-Indian — Mikenas Variation (Qb3 c5)
After Qb3, ...c5 challenges the center and offers a material sacrifice for the initiative.
Nimzo-Indian Defense
The elegant Nimzo-Indian with Bb4.