Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 O-O
Normal Variation
1.2.3.4.
What Is The Normal Variation?
4.e3 is the Rubinstein System, the most flexible answer to the pin: White develops with Nf3, Bd3 and O-O before committing the centre, holding a3 in reserve to force the trade on c3. 4...O-O keeps the king safe and delays Black's structure, so you choose between ...d5, ...c5 and ...b6 only after seeing White's setup. The doubled c-pawns after ...Bxc3 bxc3 decide the game.
Those doubled pawns are not a weakness to attack, they are a central mass supporting d4 and preparing e3-e4, and White's bishop pair comes alive the moment the centre opens. Blockade instead: strike with ...c5 and ...d5, trade off White's centre pawns and plant a knight on c4 or d5. Keep the position closed and the bishops stay passive.
What Do Players Choose At The Decision Point?
| Move | Share | Games | |
|---|---|---|---|
| O-O | 34% | 99 | |
| c5 | 20% | 59 | |
| Bxc3+ | 15% | 43 | |
| b6 | 13% | 39 |
How Does Play Continue From Here?
| Move | Share | Games | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bd3 | 43% | 43 | |
| Ne2 | 20% | 20 | |
| Nf3 | 14% | 14 | |
| Bd2 | 13% | 13 |
The Named Lines Of The Normal Variation
| Line | Moves |
|---|---|
| Classical Defense | 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 O-O 5.Bd3 d5 |
| Ragozin Variation | 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 O-O 5.Nf3 d5 |
| Sämisch Deferred | 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 O-O 5.Nf3 d5 6.a3 |
| Schlechter Defense | 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 b6 5.Bd3 Bb7 6.Nf3 O-O 7.O-O d5 |
| Gligoric System | 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 O-O 5.Bd3 d5 6.Nf3 c5 7.O-O Nbd7 |
| Botvinnik System | 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 O-O 5.Bd3 d5 6.a3 Bxc3+ 7.bxc3 |
| Gligoric System, Keres Variation | 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 O-O 5.Bd3 d5 6.Nf3 c5 7.O-O b6 |
| Gligoric System, Bernstein Defense | 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 O-O 5.Bd3 d5 6.Nf3 c5 7.O-O Nc6 8.a3 dxc4 9.Bxc4 cxd4 |
| Gligoric System, Exchange Variation | 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 O-O 5.Bd3 d5 6.Nf3 c5 7.O-O dxc4 8.Bxc4 cxd4 9.exd4 |
| Gligoric System, Smyslov Variation | 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 O-O 5.Bd3 d5 6.Nf3 c5 7.O-O dxc4 8.Bxc4 Qe7 |
| Gligoric System, Bronstein Variation | 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 O-O 5.Bd3 d5 6.Nf3 c5 7.O-O dxc4 8.Bxc4 Nbd7 |
| Bernstein Defense, Exchange Line | 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 O-O 5.Bd3 d5 6.Nf3 c5 7.O-O Nc6 8.a3 Bxc3 9.bxc3 |
| Bernstein Defense | 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 O-O 5.Bd3 d5 6.a3 Bxc3+ 7.bxc3 dxc4 8.Bxc4 c5 9.Nf3 Nc6 10.O-O Qc7 11.Qc2 |