1h2g3f4e5d6c7b8a

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4

Shown from Black's side. ECO E20.

Opening guide · an opening for Black

Nimzo-Indian Defense

The Nimzo-Indian Defense starts 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4. Black pins the knight on c3, which stops White from playing e4, and is ready to trade bishop for knight and double White's c pawns. Black fights for the centre with pieces first and pawns later. It is one of the most respected defences to 1. d4.

Games in our sample
8,750
White wins
47.7%
Draws
5.9%
Black wins
46.4%
Open this position on the analysis boardResults by rating

How the Nimzo-Indian Defense scores at each rating

Each row is one rating band. The share is how much of all the games in that band started with this opening.

RatingGamesShareWhite winsDrawsBlack wins
under 1000350.0%65.7%2.9%31.4%
1000 to 11991810.1%45.9%5.5%48.6%
1200 to 13993900.1%50.5%3.8%45.6%
1400 to 15999220.2%48.6%3.3%48.2%
1600 to 17991,6430.3%47.0%4.5%48.4%
1800 to 19992,2950.4%48.5%5.1%46.4%
2000 to 21991,8150.7%48.0%6.3%45.6%
2200 and over1,4691.3%45.1%10.4%44.5%
All ratings8,7500.3%47.7%5.9%46.4%

Counted from 3,156,949 rated blitz, rapid and classical games played on Lichess from 2026-10-01 to 2026-10-02 (the first 5,000,000 games of the month's public file; bullet and unrated games left out). The rating is the average of the two players' Lichess ratings. Source: the Lichess open database (public domain).

Main lines

The named lines of the Nimzo-Indian Defense that were played most in our sample, each with the position it reaches.

  • 1h2g3f4e5d6c7b8a

    Three Knights Variation

    1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Nf3

    1,184 games · White 48.3% · draws 5.6% · Black 46.1%

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  • 1h2g3f4e5d6c7b8a

    Leningrad Variation

    1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Bg5

    1,139 games · White 47.7% · draws 4.8% · Black 47.5%

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  • 1h2g3f4e5d6c7b8a

    Sämisch Variation

    1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. a3

    863 games · White 47.7% · draws 4.2% · Black 48.1%

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  • 1h2g3f4e5d6c7b8a

    Classical Variation

    1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2

    728 games · White 50.4% · draws 7.4% · Black 42.2%

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  • 1h2g3f4e5d6c7b8a

    Rubinstein System

    1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3

    428 games · White 48.6% · draws 6.5% · Black 44.9%

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  • 1h2g3f4e5d6c7b8a

    Classical Variation, Noa Variation

    1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 d5

    349 games · White 48.7% · draws 8.9% · Black 42.4%

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Ideas for White

  • 4. Qc2 avoids doubled pawns; 4. e3 is the solid main line.

Ideas for Black

  • After taking on c3, play against the doubled c pawns, especially the one on c4.

Questions

What are the moves of the Nimzo-Indian Defense?
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4. In the ECO classification it is filed under E20.
How does the Nimzo-Indian Defense score?
In 8,750 games with it in our sample, White won 47.7%, 5.9% were drawn and Black won 46.4%.
At which ratings is the Nimzo-Indian Defense played most?
Among players rated 2200 and over it is 1.3% of all games in our sample, its highest share. Its lowest share, 0.0%, is among players rated under 1000.
Which line of the Nimzo-Indian Defense is played most?
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Three Knights Variation (1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Nf3), with 1,184 games in our sample.

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