E20
Nimzo-Indian Defense
Key moves: 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4
The Nimzo-Indian Defence is one of the most respected and popular responses to 1.d4. Black pins the knight on c3 with ...Bb4, controlling e4 and creating dynamic imbalances. It leads to rich strategic and tactical positions.
History & Notable Players
Named after Aron Nimzowitsch, the great hypermodern pioneer. It has been a favourite of virtually every World Champion from Capablanca onwards, and remains one of the most important chess openings.
Top Players in this Opening
Related Openings
E21 - Nimzo-Indian Defense: Three Knights Variation467E22 - Nimzo-Indian Defense: Spielmann Variation38E23 - Nimzo-Indian Defense: Spielmann Variation, Romanovsky Gambit29E24 - Nimzo-Indian Defense: Sämisch Variation115E25 - Nimzo-Indian Defense: Sämisch Variation134E26 - Nimzo-Indian Defense: Sämisch Variation53E27 - Nimzo-Indian Defense: Sämisch Variation36E28 - Nimzo-Indian Defense: Sämisch Variation81E29 - Nimzo-Indian Defense: Sämisch Variation77
Best Games
Erigaisi,Arjun vs Gukesh,D1-0
13th Norway Chess 2025 2025Notable
So,W vs Keymer,Vincent1/2-1/2
Tata Steel India Rapid 2024Notable
Aronian,L vs Praggnanandhaa,R1/2-1/2
Saint Louis Rapid 2024 2024Notable
Keymer,Vincent vs Grischuk,A0-1
Tata Steel IND Rapid Open 2023Notable
Erigaisi,Arjun vs Nakamura,Hi1-0
Tata Steel India Blitz 2022Notable
Mamedyarov,S vs Nakamura,Hi1/2-1/2
Tata Steel India Blitz 2022Notable
Erigaisi,Arjun vs Praggnanandhaa,R1-0
Tata Steel India Blitz 2022Notable
Erigaisi,Arjun vs Dominguez Perez,L1-0
44th Olympiad 2022 2022Notable
Mamedyarov,S vs Caruana,F0-1
8th Sinquefield Cup 2021 2021Notable
Gareev,T vs Le Quang Liem1-0
PNWCC Online Blitz JP 21 2021Notable
Le Quang Liem vs Tsydypov,Z0-1
PNWCC Online Blitz JP 21 2021Notable
Caruana,F vs Aronian,L0-1
8th Norway Chess 2020 2020Notable
Firouzja,Alireza vs Carlsen,M0-1
Saint Louis Rapid 2020 2020Notable
Aronian,L vs Grischuk,A1-0
Saint Louis Rapid 2020 2020Notable
Caruana,F vs Alekseenko,K1-0
FIDE Candidates 2020 2020Notable
Firouzja,Alireza vs Anand,V0-1
82nd Tata Steel GpA 2020Notable
Mamedyarov,S vs Rapport,R0-1
Saint Louis Rapid 2019 2019Notable
So,W vs Karjakin,Sergey1/2-1/2
Riga FIDE Grand Prix 2019 2019Notable
Mamedyarov,S vs Aronian,L1/2-1/2
Tata Steel India Blitz 2018Notable
Mamedyarov,S vs Karjakin,Sergey1-0
Tata Steel India Rapid 2018Notable