1 of 6
Track this line:
The position
What Nimzo-Indian Defense puts on the board
Material is level, with white to move.
White has central pawns on d4.
White can still castle either side; Black can still castle either side.
White’s plan
What White is trying to build
Use the bishop pair when it is gained and decide how to manage doubled c-pawns.
Develop quickly enough that the centre cannot be attacked before it is supported.
Black’s plan
How Black challenges it
Pressure e4 and control the centre with pieces.
Choose whether to damage White’s structure with …Bxc3 or preserve the bishop.
The idea
The tactical pattern to recognise
A pin on c3 can make e4 difficult to establish.
Doubled c-pawns can control central squares while leaving fixed targets.
The mistake
What to check before committing
Treating doubled pawns as automatically bad instead of using their central control.
Giving up the dark-squared bishop without gaining structure or time.
Continue
Choose the next book move
Hover a move to preview it. Click it to play it.
Reference links and alternate move orders
Move orders
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb41.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 O-O 5.Nf3