ECO E43 · Nimzo-Indian Defense

Nimzo-Indian Defense: St. Petersburg Variation, with Ne4

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 b6 5. Bd3 Bb7 6. Nf3 Ne4

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

7. O-O+0.46

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Nimzo-Indian Defense: St. Petersburg Variation, with Ne4 (E43), reached after 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 b6 5. Bd3 Bb7 6. Nf3 Ne4, Stockfish 18 recommends 7. O-O for White. White is slightly better (+0.46).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.467. O-O Nxc3 8. bxc3 Bxc3 9. Rb1 d6 10. Qc2 Ba5 11. c5 Bxf3
  2. +0.327. Qc2 f5 8. O-O Bxc3 9. bxc3 O-O 10. Nd2 Nxd2 11. Bxd2 Qh4
  3. +0.207. Bxe4 Bxc3+ 8. Bd2 Bxe4 9. Bxc3 O-O 10. O-O d5 11. cxd5 Bxd5

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Nimzo-Indian Defense: St. Petersburg Variation, with Ne4?
After 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 b6 5. Bd3 Bb7 6. Nf3 Ne4, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 7. O-O for White, continuing Nxc3 8. bxc3 Bxc3 9. Rb1 d6 10. Qc2 Ba5 11. c5 Bxf3. White is slightly better (+0.46). The next best moves are 7. Qc2 (+0.32) and 7. Bxe4 (+0.20).
Is the Nimzo-Indian Defense: St. Petersburg Variation, with Ne4 a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.46: 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: St. Petersburg Variation, with Ne4?
E43. 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+).