E54

Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Gligoric System, Smyslov 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.

Best Games

Gelfand,B vs Kramnik,V1/2-1/2
FIDE Candidates • 2013★ Notable
Radjabov,T vs Kramnik,V1/2-1/2
FIDE Candidates • 2013★ Notable
Gelfand,B vs Anand,V1/2-1/2
WCh 2012 • 2012★ Notable
Gelfand,B vs Anand,V1/2-1/2
WCh 2012 • 2012★ Notable
Topalov,V vs Karjakin,Sergey1/2-1/2
20th Amber Blindfold • 2011★ Notable
Gelfand,B vs Karjakin,Sergey1-0
20th Amber Rapid • 2011★ Notable
Milov,V vs Polgar,Ju1-0
FIDE WCh KO • 2001★ Notable
Kramnik,V vs Kasparov,G1-0
Braingames WCC • 2000★ Notable
Ljubojevic, Ljubomir vs Ivanchuk, Vassily0-1
Amber-blind 5th • 1996★ Notable
Polgar, Judit vs Karpov, Anatoly1/2-1/2
Amber-blind 4th • 1995★ Notable
Polgar, Judit vs Karpov, Anatoly0-1
Amber-blind 3rd • 1994★ Notable
Kamsky, Gata vs Karpov, Anatoly1-0
Amber-rapid 3rd • 1994★ Notable
Gelfand, Boris vs Karpov, Anatoly0-1
Linares • 1994★ Notable
Gulko, Boris F vs Short, Nigel D1/2-1/2
PCA-Wch Candidats m3 • 1994★ Notable
Jussupow, Artur vs Karpov, Anatoly1/2-1/2
Tilburg • 1993★ Notable
Ivanchuk, Vassily vs Karpov, Anatoly1-0
Linares • 1991★ Notable
Portisch, Lajos vs Petrosian, Tigran V1/2-1/2
Biel Interzonal • 1976★ Notable
Portisch, Lajos vs Smyslov, Vassily1/2-1/2
Palma de Mallorca Interzonal • 1970★ Notable
Tal, Mihail vs Portisch, Lajos1-0
WchT U26 • 1958★ Notable
So,W vs Duda,J1/2-1/2
Superbet ROM Classic 2025 • 2025

Explore More

All OpeningsAll Players