ECO E53 · Nimzo-Indian Defense

Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Gligoric System

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 O-O 5. Bd3 d5 6. Nf3 c5

abcdefgh87654321
White to move. The arrow shows Stockfish’s best move.
Best move

7. O-O+0.17

The position is roughly equal. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Gligoric System (E53), reached after 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 O-O 5. Bd3 d5 6. Nf3 c5, Stockfish 18 recommends 7. O-O for White. The position is roughly equal (+0.17).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.177. O-O b6 8. dxc5 dxc4 9. Bxc4 Qxd1 10. Rxd1 Bxc5 11. b3 Bb7
  2. +0.157. cxd5 exd5 8. dxc5 Bg4 9. O-O Bxc5 10. h3 Bh5 11. Be2 Re8
  3. −0.077. Ne5 dxc4 8. Bxc4 b6 9. a3 Bxc3+ 10. bxc3 Nbd7 11. Nxd7 Qxd7

Other move orders

  • 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 O-O 5. Bd3 d5 6. Nf3 c5 7. O-O Nbd7

Variations

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Gligoric System?
After 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 O-O 5. Bd3 d5 6. Nf3 c5, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 7. O-O for White, continuing b6 8. dxc5 dxc4 9. Bxc4 Qxd1 10. Rxd1 Bxc5 11. b3 Bb7. The position is roughly equal (+0.17). The next best moves are 7. cxd5 (+0.15) and 7. Ne5 (−0.07).
Is the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Gligoric System a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.17: the position is roughly equal. 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: Normal Variation, Gligoric System?
E53. 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+).