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  3. /Nimzo-Indian Defense: Leningrad Variation (E30)
E30

Nimzo-Indian Defense: Leningrad Variation

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

Spassky, Boris V12 gamesTimman, Jan H10 gamesPortisch, Lajos8 gamesRapport,R7 gamesShort, Nigel D4 gamesJussupow, Artur4 gamesKorchnoi,V3 gamesAlekhine, Alexander3 gamesNajdorf, Miguel3 gamesDuda,J2 games

Related Openings

E31 - Nimzo-Indian Defense: Leningrad Variation, Benoni Defense64E32 - Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation1154E33 - Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Zurich Variation116E34 - Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Noa Variation212E35 - Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Noa Variation208E36 - Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Noa Variation111E37 - Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Noa Variation92E38 - Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Berlin Variation141E39 - Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Berlin Variation, Macieja System219

Best Games

Mititelu, Gheorghe vs Larsen, Bent1/2-1/2
WchT U26 1957Notable
Portisch, Lajos vs Donia, M.1-0
Wch U20 prel-B 1955Notable
Spassky, Boris V vs Portisch, Lajos1-0
Wch U20 final-A 1955Notable
Georgiev,Vl vs Leko,P0-1
40th Olympiad Open 2012
Jussupow, Artur vs Adams, Michael1/2-1/2
Garmisch 1994
Timman, Jan H vs Jussupow, Artur1/2-1/2
KRO m 1986
Timman, Jan H vs Karpov, Anatoly1/2-1/2
Amsterdam 1976
Spassky, Boris V vs Timman, Jan H1/2-1/2
Tallinn 1973
Spassky, Boris V vs Tal, Mihail0-1
Tallinn 1973
Euwe, Max vs Fischer, Robert James1-0
New York m3 1957
Caruana,F vs Bharath,Subramaniyam H1-0
Julius Baer Gen Cup D3 W 2024
Caruana,F vs Zhu,Linxi1-0
Titled Tue 7th May Late 2024
Kretov,E vs Kamsky,G0-1
Titled Tuesday 8th June 2021
Sarkar,J vs Keymer,Vincent0-1
Titled Tuesday 5th May 2020
Kretov,E vs Morozevich,A0-1
TCh-RUS Rapid 2018 2018
Ivanchuk,V vs Wojtaszek,R1-0
IMSA Blitz 2016 2016
Ivanchuk,V vs Wang Yue1/2-1/2
SportAccord Basque 2014 2014
Kretov,E vs Karjakin,Sergey0-1
Moscow Blitz Final 2014 2014
Batchimeg,Tuvshintugs vs Hou Yifan0-1
4th WGP 2014 2014
Rapport,R vs Shengelia,D1-0
2nd Danube Rapid Cup 2013 2013

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