Don Chess

Learn the Nimzo-Indian Defense

A bishop that pins instead of waiting: with …Bb4 you fight for e4 and threaten to double White’s pawns. One of the best answers to 1.d4.

You play with Black. How you learn it with Don Chess: watch first, then play it with an arrow, then from memory – with spaced repetition until it sticks. Free, no sign-up.

Train the Nimzo-Indian Defense now →

The main line

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 O-O 5.Bd3 d5 6.Nf3 c5 7.O-O

E53 · Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Gligoric System

The position after the main line

The moves explained

Why is each move played? The explanations come from the opening trainer – there you play the moves yourself afterwards.

  1. 1.d4 Occupies the centre with a pawn on d4.
  2. 1…Nf6 Develops the knight to f6 – pieces out first, then attack.
  3. 2.c4 Fights for the centre from the side with the pawn on c4.
  4. 2…e6 Prepares the pawn move to d5.
  5. 3.Nc3 Develops the knight to c3 – pieces out first, then attack.
  6. 3…Bb4 Develops the bishop to b4 – pieces out first, then attack.
  7. 4.e3 Supports the pawn on d4 – the centre stands firm.
  8. 4…O-O Castles: the king is safe and the rook joins the game.
  9. 5.Bd3 Develops the bishop to d3 – pieces out first, then attack.
  10. 5…d5 Attacks the pawn on c4 – the fight for the centre begins.
  11. 6.Nf3 Develops the knight to f3 – pieces out first, then attack.
  12. 6…c5 Attacks the pawn on d4 – the fight for the centre begins.
  13. 7.O-O Castles: the king is safe and the rook joins the game.

Idea and plans

The idea

With …Bb4 Black pins the c3 knight and controls e4. Black often gives up the bishop pair for a worse White pawn structure.

Plan for White

Use the bishop pair and the centre, expand with f3 and e4.

Plan for Black

Attack the doubled pawns on c3/c4, control e4 and keep the position closed.

The 9 lines in the course

Grey: the moves shared with the main line. Bold: the move where the line leaves it.

Train the Nimzo-Indian Defense now →

More openings