ECO E36 · Nimzo-Indian Defense

Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Noa Variation, Botvinnik Variation

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 d5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. Qxc3 Nc6

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White to move. The arrow shows Stockfish’s best move.
Best move

7. Nf3+0.48

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Noa Variation, Botvinnik Variation (E36), reached after 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 d5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. Qxc3 Nc6, Stockfish 18 recommends 7. Nf3 for White. White is slightly better (+0.48).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.487. Nf3 b6 8. Bg5 Qd7 9. Bh4 dxc4 10. Qxc4 Bb7 11. e3 Na5
  2. +0.397. e3 e5 8. Nf3 e4 9. Ne5 Ne7 10. a4 O-O 11. b3 Re8
  3. +0.207. Bg5 dxc4 8. Bxf6 Qxf6 9. e3 e5 10. d5 Ne7 11. Bxc4 c6

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Noa Variation, Botvinnik Variation?
After 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 d5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. Qxc3 Nc6, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 7. Nf3 for White, continuing b6 8. Bg5 Qd7 9. Bh4 dxc4 10. Qxc4 Bb7 11. e3 Na5. White is slightly better (+0.48). The next best moves are 7. e3 (+0.39) and 7. Bg5 (+0.20).
Is the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Noa Variation, Botvinnik Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.48: white is slightly better. Evaluations this early in the game are small, so practical results depend far more on knowing the plans and typical structures than on the engine's number.
What is the ECO code of the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Noa Variation, Botvinnik Variation?
E36. ECO codes classify chess openings from A00 to E99; E is the volume for indian defenses.

Opening names from the Lichess opening book (CC0). Pieces by Colin M.L. Burnett (GPLv2+).