E29

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.

Best Games

Grischuk,A vs Praggnanandhaa,R1/2-1/2
Tata Steel IND Rapid Open • 2023★ Notable
Carlsen,M vs Aronian,L0-1
WCh Candidates s/f • 2007★ Notable
Radjabov,T vs Leko,P0-1
Amber Rapid • 2007★ Notable
Radjabov,T vs Nielsen,PH1/2-1/2
FIDE WCh KO • 2004★ Notable
Milov,V vs Polgar,Ju1-0
FIDE WCh KO • 2001★ Notable
Jussupow, Artur vs Karpov, Anatoly0-1
Linares • 1993★ Notable
Timman, Jan H vs Polugaevsky, Lev0-1
Tilburg • 1983★ Notable
Botvinnik, Mikhail vs Reshevsky, Samuel Herman0-1
World Championship 18th • 1948★ Notable
Caruana,F vs Praggnanandhaa,R1-0
chess.com SpeedChess 2025 • 2025
Le,Quang Liem vs Ponomariov,R0-1
FIDE World Cup 2023 • 2023
Grischuk,A vs Karjakin,Sergey1/2-1/2
19th Moscow Stars Prelim • 2023
Abdusattorov,Nodirbek vs So,W1/2-1/2
WR Chess Masters 2023 • 2023
Gukesh,D vs Nakamura,Hi0-1
Airthings Masters Div 1 W • 2023
Grischuk,A vs Nakamura,Hi1/2-1/2
Titled Tue 24th May Early • 2022
Praggnanandhaa,R vs Esipenko,Andrey1-0
84th Tata Steel Masters • 2022
Carlsen,M vs Nakamura,Hi0-1
Carlsen Tour Final 2020 • 2020
Svidler,P vs Kramnik,V1/2-1/2
Alekhine Mem • 2013
Ipatov,Alexander vs Kamsky,G0-1
40th Olympiad Open • 2012
Jussupow, Artur vs Larsen, Bent1-0
Bad Homburg • 1998
Jussupow, Artur vs Salov, Valery1/2-1/2
Linares • 1993

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