Nimzo-Indian Defence
E20–E59Black1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4
E20–E59 · 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4
The idea
A sophisticated, flexible defence and one of Black's most respected answers to 1.d4. Instead of meeting pawns with pawns, Black pins the c3-knight with the bishop and fights for the central squares — above all e4 — with pieces. Black is willing to give up the bishop for the knight to damage White's pawn structure and seize lasting control of the light and central squares.
Your plan (Black)
Pin and pressure the c3-knight, dispute the e4-square, and be ready to trade the bishop for the knight to leave White with doubled, vulnerable pawns. Strike at the centre with ...c5 and ...d5 once developed.
Heading into the middlegame
The Nimzo is a battle over e4 and White's pawns. Your bishop pins c3 and, at the right moment, takes it — saddling White with doubled, immobile c-pawns. Then play against them: clamp with ...c5 and ...d6, route a knight to a5 (or ...Na6–c7) to hit c4, and blockade the light squares (...b6, ...Ba6, ...Qa6 piling on c4). If instead you keep the bishop (Rubinstein), break with ...d5 and ...c5 for a classical centre fight. Either way: control e4, and make those doubled pawns a long-term target.
Lines
0/3 masteredAgainst the quiet e3 set-up you keep the bishop and fight for the centre, striking with ...d5 and ...c5 for a balanced classical battle.
White keeps a healthy structure with Qc2 and gains the bishop pair after ...Bxc3+; you fight back by controlling the light squares with ...b6 and ...Bb7.
White spends a tempo on a3 to win the bishop pair immediately, taking on doubled c-pawns to build a big centre; you target those pawns and blockade with ...c5, ...b6 and ...Nc6.