Nimzo-Indian & Bogo-Indian Defense

Aron Nimzowitsch's hypermodern masterpiece: pin the c3 knight to dominate the central squares e4 and d4.

One of the most respected and solid defenses against 1.d4, played by every World Champion from Capablanca to Carlsen. Learn to handle the bishop pair against White's doubled pawns on c3/c4.

Chapter 1: Classical Nimzo-Indian (4.Qc2) & Rubinstein System (4.e3)

White's two most popular answers: avoid the doubled pawns with the queen, or support the center with e3.

  1. 1. Capablanca Variation 4.Qc2 with the ...c5 Counterattack 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qc2 c5 5.dxc5 O-O…
  2. 2. Classical Variation with 4...d5 and Solid Structure 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qc2 d5 5.cxd5 Qxd5…
  3. 3. Hübner System (4.e3 c5 5.Bd3 Nc6 6.Nf3 Bxc3+ 7.bxc3 d6) 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 c5 5.Bd3 Nc6…
  4. 4. Rubinstein Main Line (4...O-O 5.Bd3 d5 6.Nf3 c5) 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 O-O 5.Bd3 d5…
  5. 5. Karpov Variation with 4...b6 (Fianchetto of the c8 Bishop) 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 b6 5.Ne2 Ba6…
  6. 6. Fischer-Taimanov System (4.e3 c5 5.Nge2) 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 c5 5.Ne2 cxd4…

Chapter 2: Sämisch Variation (4.a3), Leningrad (4.Bg5) & Kasparov (4.Nf3)

Sharp systems where White accepts the doubled pawns to gain the bishop pair and attack the center.

  1. 7. Sämisch Variation 4.a3 (Botvinnik Attack and Counterplay on c4) 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.a3 Bxc3+ 5.bxc3 c5…
  2. 8. Kasparov Variation with 4.Nf3 c5 5.g3 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Nf3 c5 5.g3 cxd4…
  3. 9. Leningrad Variation (4.Bg5 h6 5.Bh4 c5) 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Bg5 h6 5.Bh4 c5…
  4. 10. Romanishin Variation with 4.g3 c5 5.Nf3 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.g3 c5 5.Nf3 cxd4…
  5. 11. Mikenas Variation with 4.Qd3 (Rare and Poisonous) 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qd3 c5 5.dxc5 O-O…
  6. 12. The rare 4.Qa4: the exposed queen 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qa4 Nc6 5.Nf3 O-O…

Chapter 3: Bogo-Indian Defense & Queen's Indian Defense (QID)

When White avoids the Nimzo with 3.Nf3: how to reply with 3...Bb4+ (Bogo) or 3...b6 (Queen's Indian).

  1. 13. Classical Bogo-Indian Defense (3.Nf3 Bb4+ 4.Bd2 Qe7) 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Bb4+ 4.Bd2 Qe7 5.g3 Nc6…
  2. 14. Bogo-Indian 4.Bd2 c5: the pawn on b4 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Bb4+ 4.Bd2 c5 5.Bxb4 cxb4…
  3. 15. Bogo-Indian with the 4.Nbd2 Interposition (...b6 Counterplay) 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Bb4+ 4.Nbd2 b6 5.a3 Bxd2+…
  4. 16. Classical Queen's Indian Defense (3.Nf3 b6 4.g3 Ba6) 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.g3 Ba6 5.b3 Bb4+…
  5. 17. Classical Queen's Indian Defense (4.g3 Bb7 5.Bg2 Be7) 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.g3 Bb7 5.Bg2 Be7…
  6. 18. Petrosian System with 4.a3 (Kasparov Special) 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.a3 Bb7 5.Nc3 d5…
  7. 19. Miles Variation with 4...Ba6 5.Qa4 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.g3 Ba6 5.Qa4 Bb7…
  8. 20. Queen's Indian 4.e3: the pawn trap on e4 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.e3 Bb7 5.Bd3 Ne4…