ECO E25 · Nimzo-Indian Defense

Nimzo-Indian Defense: Sämisch Variation, Romanovsky Variation

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. f3 d5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 c5 7. cxd5 Nxd5 8. dxc5 f5

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

9. Nh3+0.28

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

Analyze this position

In the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Sämisch Variation, Romanovsky Variation (E25), reached after 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. f3 d5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 c5 7. cxd5 Nxd5 8. dxc5 f5, Stockfish 18 recommends 9. Nh3 for White. The position is roughly equal (+0.28).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.289. Nh3 Qa5 10. Bd2 Nf6 11. c4 Qc7 12. Bc3 Qxc5 13. Bb4 Qe3
  2. +0.159. e3 O-O 10. c4 Nf6 11. Qd6 Nc6 12. Ne2 e5 13. Qxd8 Rxd8
  3. −0.019. Qd2 O-O 10. c4 Nf6 11. Qxd8 Rxd8 12. Bf4 Nc6 13. Bd6 e5

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Sämisch Variation, Romanovsky Variation?
After 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. f3 d5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 c5 7. cxd5 Nxd5 8. dxc5 f5, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 9. Nh3 for White, continuing Qa5 10. Bd2 Nf6 11. c4 Qc7 12. Bc3 Qxc5 13. Bb4 Qe3. The position is roughly equal (+0.28). The next best moves are 9. e3 (+0.15) and 9. Qd2 (−0.01).
Is the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Sämisch Variation, Romanovsky Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.28: 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: Sämisch Variation, Romanovsky Variation?
E25. 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+).