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  3. /Nimzo-Indian Defense: Sämisch Variation (E25)
E25

Nimzo-Indian Defense: Sämisch 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

Shirov, Alexei19 gamesMamedyarov,S13 gamesPortisch, Lajos9 gamesCarlsen,M7 gamesTimman, Jan H6 gamesKarpov, Anatoly6 gamesIvanchuk,V6 gamesKramnik,V5 gamesAronian,L5 gamesPolugaevsky, Lev5 games

Related Openings

E20 - Nimzo-Indian Defense566E21 - Nimzo-Indian Defense: Three Knights Variation467E22 - Nimzo-Indian Defense: Spielmann Variation38E23 - Nimzo-Indian Defense: Spielmann Variation, Romanovsky Gambit29E24 - Nimzo-Indian Defense: Sämisch Variation115E26 - Nimzo-Indian Defense: Sämisch Variation53E27 - Nimzo-Indian Defense: Sämisch Variation36E28 - Nimzo-Indian Defense: Sämisch Variation81E29 - Nimzo-Indian Defense: Sämisch Variation77

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