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Black repertoireImproving to club

The Practical Nimzo-Indian

A flexible Black repertoire that combines the Nimzo pin with central pressure and queenside counterplay.

We meet 1.d4 with a Nimzo-Indian repertoire built around pressure on the centre rather than immediate occupation. The b7 bishop and the e4 square guide many of our plans, while sharp f3 systems require active queenside play. We learn when to exchange the b4 bishop and when to preserve it, giving White the bishop pair only when our structure or activity explains the trade. The course begins once White chooses 3.Nc3; other third moves require a separate defence.

ClassicalCounterattack
chapters
7
lines
60
moves to know
355
Try the first line free

1. Rubinstein System 4.e3: pressure through the centre

9 lines

White's e3 setup keeps the centre compact and prepares smooth development with Bd3 or Ne2. We use ...b6 and ...Bb7 to contest e4, then choose between ...c5 and a supported central occupation. The decision to exchange our b4 bishop depends on White's recapture: doubled pawns are useful targets, while an easy piece recapture often makes a retreat more attractive. We keep king safety ahead of speculative pawn play.

  1. Line 11.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 b6 5.Bd3 Bb7 6.Nf3 O-O 7.O-O c5 8.a3 Bxc3 9.bxc3 Ne4 10.Qc2 f5 11.Nd2 Nxd2 12.Bxd2 Nc6FreeLearn
  2. Line 2… 7…c5 8.Bd2 cxd4 9.Nxd4 Nc6 10.a3 Be7Premium
  3. Line 3… 8…cxd4 9.exd4 d5 10.a3 Bxc3 11.bxc3 dxc4 12.Bxc4 Ne4 13.Be1 Nd7Premium
  4. Line 4… 10…Bxc3 11.Bxc3 dxc4 12.Bxc4 Nc6Premium
  5. Line 5… 9…d5 10.cxd5 Nxd5 11.Qe2 Nd7 12.Nxd5 Bxd2 13.Qe4 g6 14.Ne7+ Qxe7 15.Qxb7 Bf4Premium
  6. Line 6… 7…c5 8.Na4 cxd4 9.exd4 Re8 10.a3 Bf8 11.b4 d6Premium
  7. Line 7… 4…b6 5.Ne2 Bb7 6.a3 Be7 7.d5 O-O 8.e4 Re8 9.g3 b5 10.cxb5 Nxe4 11.Bg2 Nxc3 12.Nxc3 exd5 13.O-O c6Premium
  8. Line 8… 10…Nxe4 11.Nxe4 exd5 12.Nd2 d4 13.f3 c5Premium
  9. Line 9… 7…O-O 8.Ng3 Re8 9.Be2 Bf8 10.e4 d6 11.O-O Nbd7 12.Be3 c6Premium

2. Classical Variation 4.Qc2: challenge the queen and centre

12 lines

The queen on c2 supports e4 and allows White to recapture on c3 without damaging the pawn structure. We answer with ...b6 and active central pressure, using ...Ne4 when it gains time against the queen. White's immediate e4 advance requires a more concrete response with ...c5 and central exchanges. Our compensation for the bishop pair must come from useful piece activity, rather than assuming that every bishop trade creates weak pawns.

  1. Line 11.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qc2 b6 5.e4 c5 6.d5 Qe7 7.Ne2 exd5 8.exd5 O-O 9.Bd2 d6 10.O-O-O Ng4 11.Be1 Qg5+ 12.Qd2 Qxd2+ 13.Kxd2 Nd7Premium
  2. Line 2… 9…d6 10.f3 Nbd7 11.O-O-O Re8Premium
  3. Line 3… 5…c5 6.e5 cxd4 7.a3 Bxc3+ 8.bxc3 Ng8 9.cxd4 Bb7 10.Bb2 Ne7 11.Ne2 Nbc6 12.Ng3 Rc8Premium
  4. Line 4… 5…c5 6.a3 Bxc3+ 7.bxc3 Bb7 8.e5 Ng8 9.Nf3 Bxf3 10.gxf3 Nc6 11.Be3 Nge7Premium
  5. Line 5… 7…Bb7 8.d5 d6 9.Nf3 Nbd7 10.Bd3 h6 11.O-O Qc7Premium
  6. Line 6… 4…b6 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.Qxc3 Bb7 7.Nf3 Ne4 8.Qc2 O-O 9.g3 f5 10.Bg2 c5 11.Be3 Nc6Premium
  7. Line 7… 8…O-O 9.e3 f5 10.Be2 d6 11.O-O Rf6Premium
  8. Line 8… 6…Bb7 7.f3 d5 8.Bg5 O-O 9.cxd5 exd5 10.e3 Re8Premium
  9. Line 9… 6…Bb7 7.Bg5 h6 8.Bh4 g5 9.Bg3 Ne4 10.Qc2 d6 11.e3 Nd7Premium
  10. Line 10… 4…b6 5.Bg5 Bb7 6.e3 h6 7.Bh4 c5 8.d5 exd5 9.cxd5 Bxc3+ 10.Qxc3 Bxd5 11.Bxf6 Qxf6 12.Qxf6 gxf6Premium
  11. Line 11… 8…exd5 9.Ne2 d4 10.exd4 Be4 11.Qa4 Nc6Premium
  12. Line 12… 4…b6 5.Nf3 Bb7 6.e3 O-O 7.Be2 Ne4 8.O-O Bxc3 9.bxc3 f5 10.c5 Rf6Premium

3. Kmoch Variation 4.f3: counterplay on the queenside

12 lines

With f3, White intends a broad pawn centre but spends time before developing the kingside. We challenge that ambition with ...c5 and often ...b5, aiming to open lines while our king is already safe. Some variations lead to concrete queen-and-rook conversions, so counting material at the current position matters. Against an early a3, our quieter plan combines a knight on a5 and bishop on a6 against c4.

  1. Line 11.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.f3 c5 5.d5 d6 6.e4 O-O 7.Bd3 b5 8.Ne2 bxc4 9.Bxc4 exd5 10.Bxd5 Nxd5 11.Qxd5 Be6 12.Qxa8 Qb6 13.O-O Nc6 14.Qxf8+ Kxf8Premium
  2. Line 2… 11…Be6 12.Qd1 Bc4 13.O-O Bxc3 14.bxc3 Nc6Premium
  3. Line 3… 7…b5 8.cxb5 exd5 9.exd5 Nbd7 10.Ne2 c4 11.Bxc4 Ne5 12.Bd3 Qb6Premium
  4. Line 4… 6…O-O 7.Bd2 exd5 8.cxd5 Nh5 9.g3 f5 10.Bg2 Nf6Premium
  5. Line 5… 6…O-O 7.Bg5 b5 8.dxe6 fxe6 9.cxb5 d5Premium
  6. Line 6… 7…b5 8.a3 Bxc3+ 9.bxc3 h6 10.Bh4 Re8Premium
  7. Line 7… 7…b5 8.cxb5 h6 9.Bh4 exd5 10.exd5 Re8+ 11.Be2 Nbd7Premium
  8. Line 8… 6…O-O 7.Ne2 b5 8.Ng3 Re8 9.Bf4 exd5 10.cxd5 c4 11.a4 bxa4 12.Rxa4 a5 13.Bxc4 Nbd7Premium
  9. Line 9… 8…Re8 9.Be2 bxc4 10.Bxc4 exd5 11.Bxd5 Nxd5 12.Qxd5 Be6 13.Qxa8 Qd7Premium
  10. Line 10… 4…c5 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.bxc3 Nc6 7.e4 d6 8.Ne2 b6 9.Ng3 Na5 10.Bd3 Ba6Premium
  11. Line 11… 7…d6 8.d5 Na5 9.Bd3 b6 10.Ne2 Ba6Premium
  12. Line 12… 7…d6 8.Be3 b6 9.Bd3 Na5 10.Ne2 Ba6Premium

4. Sämisch Variation 4.a3: play against the doubled pawns

8 lines

White chooses the bishop pair by exchanging the c3 knight immediately, leaving pawns on a3, c3 and c4 that can become targets. We develop the remaining bishop through b7 or a6 and select a central knight route against that structure. The kingside can become sharp when White pins with Bg5, so pawn advances must fit our intended king placement. Pressure on c4 remains a useful guide throughout.

  1. Line 11.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.a3 Bxc3+ 5.bxc3 b6 6.Nf3 Bb7 7.Bg5 h6 8.Bh4 d6 9.e3 Nbd7 10.Bd3 g5 11.Bg3 h5 12.h3 h4 13.Bh2 Rg8Premium
  2. Line 2… 6…Bb7 7.e3 O-O 8.Bd3 Ne4 9.Qc2 f5 10.O-O d6 11.Nd2 Nxd2 12.Bxd2 Nc6Premium
  3. Line 3… 5…b6 6.Bg5 Bb7 7.f3 h6 8.Bh4 d6 9.e4 Nc6 10.Bd3 g5 11.Bf2 Qe7 12.Ne2 O-O-OPremium
  4. Line 4… 6…Bb7 7.e3 h6 8.Bh4 d6 9.Nf3 Nbd7Premium
  5. Line 5… 5…b6 6.e3 Bb7 7.Ne2 d6 8.Ng3 h5 9.h4 Qe7 10.a4 Nc6 11.e4 Nd7 12.Nxh5 g6 13.Ng3 Rxh4 14.Rxh4 Qxh4Premium
  6. Line 6… 6…Bb7 7.f3 Nc6 8.e4 d6 9.Bd3 Qe7 10.Be3 Na5Premium
  7. Line 7… 5…b6 6.f3 Nc6 7.e4 Na5 8.Bg5 h6 9.Bh4 d6 10.Bd3 g5 11.Bf2 Ba6Premium
  8. Line 8… 7…Na5 8.e5 Ng8 9.Nh3 Ba6 10.Qa4 Ne7 11.Ng5 h6 12.Ne4 O-OPremium

5. Leningrad Variation 4.Bg5: meet the pin with activity

5 lines

The bishop on g5 pins our f6 knight and encourages active kingside play from both sides. We develop through ...b6, then use ...h6 to ask the bishop for a decision. A further ...g5 can release the knight for e4, but commits our own king cover. We learn when to exchange on c3, when to preserve the bishops, and how central activity supports the pawn advances rather than excuses them.

  1. Line 11.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Bg5 b6 5.e3 Bxc3+ 6.bxc3 h6 7.Bh4 Bb7 8.f3 d6 9.Bd3 Nbd7 10.Ne2 Qe7Premium
  2. Line 2… 4…b6 5.Nf3 h6 6.Bh4 g5 7.Bg3 Ne4 8.Qc2 Bb7 9.e3 Bxc3+ 10.bxc3 d6 11.Bd3 f5 12.d5 Na6 13.Bxe4 fxe4 14.Qxe4 Qf6Premium
  3. Line 3… 8…Bb7 9.Nd2 Bxc3 10.bxc3 Nxg3 11.hxg3 d6 12.e4 Nd7Premium
  4. Line 4… 4…b6 5.f3 h6 6.Bh4 c5 7.d5 O-O 8.e4 Re8 9.Ne2 exd5 10.cxd5 d6Premium
  5. Line 5… 4…b6 5.e4 h6 6.Bxf6 Qxf6 7.Ne2 Nc6 8.e5 Qh4 9.Qd3 Bb7 10.a3 Bxc3+ 11.Qxc3 O-O-OPremium

6. Three Knights Variation 4.Nf3: coordinate the bishops

8 lines

White develops the knight to f3 and keeps several central structures available. The queen's early move to b3 asks a concrete question of our b4 bishop, which we meet through central pressure and careful tactics. Against Bd2, we can often exchange on c3 and gain time with ...Ne4 against the recapturing bishop. We keep the central pawn breaks tied to development and avoid assuming that every trade damages White's structure.

  1. Line 11.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Nf3 b6 5.Qb3 c5 6.dxc5 Bxc5 7.Bg5 Bb7 8.e3 h6 9.Bh4 Be7 10.Be2 O-O 11.O-O Na6Premium
  2. Line 2… 6…Bxc5 7.Bf4 O-O 8.e3 Bb7 9.Be2 d5 10.O-O dxc4 11.Qxc4 Qe7Premium
  3. Line 3… 5…c5 6.a3 Ba5 7.Bg5 h6 8.Bh4 g5 9.Bg3 g4 10.Nd2 cxd4 11.Nb5 Ne4 12.Nc7+ Kf8 13.O-O-O Nxd2 14.Rxd2 Bxd2+ 15.Kxd2 Bb7 16.Bd6+ Kg7Premium
  4. Line 4… 5…c5 6.Bg5 h6 7.Bh4 g5 8.Bg3 Ne4 9.e3 Bxc3+ 10.bxc3 Nc6 11.Bd3 Nxg3 12.hxg3 Bb7Premium
  5. Line 5… 4…b6 5.Bd2 Bb7 6.e3 O-O 7.Bd3 d5 8.cxd5 exd5 9.O-O Bd6Premium
  6. Line 6… 5…Bb7 6.g3 Bxc3 7.Bxc3 Ne4 8.Qc2 Nxc3 9.Qxc3 O-O 10.Bg2 d6 11.O-O Nd7Premium
  7. Line 7… 7…Ne4 8.Rc1 O-O 9.Bg2 d6 10.O-O Nd7Premium
  8. Line 8… 5…Bb7 6.a3 Bxc3 7.Bxc3 Ne4 8.Rc1 O-O 9.g3 d6 10.Bg2 Nd7 11.O-O f5Premium

7. Others (4.g3 & 4.Bd2): answer the quiet systems

6 lines

The fianchetto with g3 and the unpinning move Bd2 lead to quieter-looking positions with different strategic demands. Against g3, we use a supported ...d5 and choose between preserving both bishops and creating doubled c-pawns. Against Bd2, exchanges on c3 can gain central tempi rather than pawn weaknesses. Our goal is coordinated development and useful central files, with the queen and bishop placed according to White's exact recapture choices.

  1. Line 11.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.g3 O-O 5.Bg2 d5 6.Nf3 dxc4 7.O-O Nc6 8.a3 Be7 9.e4 Na5 10.Be3 c6Premium
  2. Line 2… 5…d5 6.cxd5 exd5 7.Nf3 c6 8.O-O Re8 9.a3 Bd6Premium
  3. Line 3… 5…d5 6.a3 Bxc3+ 7.bxc3 dxc4 8.Nf3 c5 9.O-O cxd4 10.Qxd4 Nc6 11.Qxc4 e5Premium
  4. Line 4… 7…dxc4 8.Qa4 Bd7 9.Qxc4 Bc6 10.Nf3 Bd5Premium
  5. Line 5… 3…Bb4 4.Bd2 b6 5.a3 Bxc3 6.Bxc3 Ne4 7.Qc2 Bb7 8.e3 Nxc3 9.Qxc3 d6Premium
  6. Line 6… 4…b6 5.Nf3 Bb7 6.e3 O-O 7.Bd3 d5 8.cxd5 exd5 9.O-O Bd6Premium