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1.Opening

Nimzo-Indian Defense

You play BlackE54StrategicIntermediate

Pin the c3 knight and fight for e4 with pieces. One of the most respected defenses in chess.

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 O-O 5.Bd3 d5 …

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Rubinstein Main Line: position after 10 moves1h2g3f4e5d6c7b8a
Rubinstein Main Line: position after 10 moves
2.Ideas

What the opening is about

Key ideas

  1. ...Bb4 pins the knight and stops e4.
  2. Black happily trades bishop for knight to double White's c-pawns.
  3. ...c5 and ...d5 strike the center.
3.Main line

Main line · 20 moves

Rubinstein Main Line

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Your moves Opponent
No. White Black1
d4White claims the center.
Nf6Flexible: develops, stops e4 for now, and keeps Black's pawn choices open — the start of every "Indian" defense.
2
c4White gains queenside space and adds control of d5.
e6Prepares ...Bb4 or ...d5.
3
Nc3White prepares e4.
Bb4The Nimzo: pins the knight, stopping e4.
After 3…Bb4
After 3…Bb4
No. White Black4
e3The Rubinstein: solid development.
O-OBlack castles.
5
Bd3White develops, aiming at h7.
d5Black takes the center.
6
Nf3White develops.
c5Strikes at d4.
After 6…c5
After 6…c5
No. White Black7
O-OWhite castles.
Nc6More pressure on d4.
8
a3Asks the bishop to decide.
Bxc3Black takes, doubling White's pawns.
9
bxc3White recaptures.
dxc4Black opens the position, winning time on the d3 bishop.
After 9…dxc4
After 9…dxc4
No. White Black10
Bxc4White recaptures.
Qc7Prepares ...e5, fighting for the center.
After 10…Qc7
After 10…Qc7
4.Play

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5.More

More defenses against 1.d4