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  3. /Nimzo-Indian Defense: St. Petersburg Variation (E43)
E43

Nimzo-Indian Defense: St. Petersburg Variation

Key moves: 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3

The Rubinstein System (4.e3) is the most solid approach to the Nimzo-Indian. White accepts the potential doubled pawns in exchange for the bishop pair and solid development.

History & Notable Players

One of the most important variations in chess theory. The Hübner, Fischer, and Keres variations all arise from this move order.

Top Players in this Opening

Keres, Paul15 gamesPortisch, Lajos14 gamesSmyslov, Vassily13 gamesSpassky, Boris V12 gamesReshevsky, Samuel Herman12 gamesBronstein, David I11 gamesLarsen, Bent10 gamesNajdorf, Miguel10 gamesTimman, Jan H8 gamesCaruana,F7 games

Related Openings

E40 - Nimzo-Indian Defense: Rubinstein System76E41 - Nimzo-Indian Defense: Rubinstein System152E42 - Nimzo-Indian Defense: Rubinstein System, Rubinstein Variation202E44 - Nimzo-Indian Defense: St. Petersburg Variation122E45 - Nimzo-Indian Defense: St. Petersburg Variation, Fischer Variation102E46 - Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation464E47 - Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation131E48 - Nimzo-Indian Defense: Ragozin Defense283E49 - Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Botvinnik System174

Best Games

Harikrishna,P vs Ivanchuk,V0-1
FIDE WCh KO 2004Notable
Kamsky, Gata vs Ivanchuk, Vassily1/2-1/2
Amber-blind 4th 1995Notable
Gelfand, Boris vs Adams, Michael1/2-1/2
Biel Interzonal 1993Notable
Tal, Mihail vs Nogueiras, Jesus1-0
Wch-blitz 1988Notable
Reshevsky, Samuel Herman vs Larsen, Bent1/2-1/2
Palma de Mallorca Interzonal 1970Notable
Petrosian, Tigran V vs Keres, Paul1/2-1/2
Gothenburg Interzonal 1955Notable
Botvinnik, Mikhail vs Bronstein, David I0-1
World Championship 19th 1951Notable
Sarana,A vs Grischuk,A1/2-1/2
Grand Prix PlusCity Rapid 2025
Lodici,Lorenzo vs Giri,A1-0
45th Olympiad 2024 2024
Nakamura,Hi vs Firouzja,Alireza1/2-1/2
SpeedChess Final 2024 2024
Abdusattorov,Nodirbek vs Caruana,F0-1
CCT Final Survival Winner 2023
Sadler, Matthew vs Adams, Michael1-0
Tilburg Fontys 1998
Jussupow, Artur vs Kengis, Edvins1/2-1/2
Tal mem 1995
Gelfand, Boris vs De Firmian, Nick E1/2-1/2
Biel 1995
Bareev, Evgeny vs Karpov, Anatoly1-0
Tilburg 1994
Kortschnoj, Viktor vs Ivanchuk, Vassily1/2-1/2
Amber-rapid 2nd 1993
Jussupow, Artur vs Ivanchuk, Vassily1-0
Candidats qf3 1991
Jussupow, Artur vs Timman, Jan H0-1
Candidats qf2 1986
Smyslov, Vassily vs Ribli, Zoltan1/2-1/2
Dortmund 1986
Tal, Mihail vs Short, Nigel D1/2-1/2
Candidats Tournament 1985

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