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Ponderchess / Openings

Nimzo-Indian Defense

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4. Black pins the knight to control e4, often giving up the bishop to double White's c-pawns.

Watch it in 3D

3D lesson · 14 steps · 60 seconds

The Nimzo-Indian Defense in 3D

Nimzo-Indian Defense: Simagin Variation, move by move: d4 Nf6 c4 e6 Nc3 Bb4 e3 O-O …

Preparing your opening…

Key ideas

  • The fight revolves around e4 and around White's bishop pair versus Black's healthier pawns.
  • The main White systems are the Rubinstein (4.e3) and the Classical (4.Qc2), which avoids doubled pawns.

Plans for White

Open the position for your bishops, and use the c-pawns to control the centre.

Plans for Black

Blockade White's pawns on dark squares, and use the knights to target the weak c-pawns.

Main variations of the Nimzo-Indian Defense