Caissa Codex
E39

Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Berlin Variation, Pirc Variation

Chess diagram: Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Berlin Variation, Pirc Variation after 5…O-O

Type a move and press Enter: e4, Nf3, O-O, or from and to squares like g1f3 (e7e8q to promote). The board is also played with the mouse.

Play any move on the board to explore from there, or step through the line with ‹ › and the arrow keys.

Statistics from Lichess

36,531 games: White 47.0% / Draw 8.3% / Black 44.7%

The moves played next. Pick one to see it on the board.
Next moveGamesWhite / Draw / BlackW / D / B
16,47716K
12,73013K
3,8103,810
844844
782782
558558
503503
415415

Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Nov 1, 2026

Engine evaluation

+0.24 The position is about equal

Best play: 6. a3 Bxc5 7. Nf3 d5 8. cxd5 exd5 9. Bg5 Be6 10. e3 h6

Stockfish 19, depth 30, after the line's last move. Scores are in pawns, from White's side.

Overview

Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Berlin Variation, Pirc Variation (ECO E39, Indian Defenses) is a variation of the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Berlin Variation, reached after 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 c5 5. dxc5 O-O (5 moves).

In 36,531 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 47.0%, Black 44.7% and 8.3% were drawn. White's most played move here is 6. Nf3, in 45% of those games.

It continues into one named variation, Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Berlin Variation, Macieja System.

Written from the Lichess opening list and explorer. Know this line well? Write about it.

Write a description or report a mistake
What would you like to send?

Markdown supported (headings ###, bold, lists, links). Submissions are reviewed before publishing.

How to play against the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Berlin Variation, Pirc Variation

6. a3 scores best for White: 53.2%, with White winning 49.2% and Black 42.7% of 13K games. The most played, 6. Nf3, scores 50.6% in 16K games, and 6. Bg5 scores lowest: 49.1%. Stockfish's first choice is also 6. a3.

Main answers: those played in at least 5% of these games. Score: White's wins plus half the draws, in rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500. How to play against other popular openings

Variations (1)

Other lines from the same position

Instead of 5. dxc5 O-O, the position after Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Berlin Variation also goes on to:

Cite this page

Caissa Codex. “Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Berlin Variation, Pirc Variation (E39)”. Lichess data as of 1 Nov 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/nimzo-indian-defense-classical-variation-berlin-variation-pirc-variation

https://chesscodex.org/openings/nimzo-indian-defense-classical-variation-berlin-variation-pirc-variation