Caissa Codex
E32

Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Vitolins-Adorjan Gambit

Chess diagram: Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Vitolins-Adorjan Gambit after 6…b5

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.

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Statistics from Lichess

6,731 games: White 42.0% / Draw 8.4% / Black 49.6%

The moves played next. Pick one to see it on the board.
Next moveGamesWhite / Draw / BlackW / D / B
5,2135,213
476476
417417
229229
148148
133133
6969
2121

Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Oct 31, 2026

Engine evaluation

+0.15 The position is about equal

Best play: 7. cxb5 c6 8. f3 Nd5 9. Qb3 f5 10. Nh3 Qh4+ 11. g3 Qxd4

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

Overview

Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Vitolins-Adorjan Gambit (ECO E32, Indian Defenses) is a gambit in the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, reached after 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 O-O 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. Qxc3 b5 (6 moves).

In 6,731 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 42.0%, Black 49.6% and 8.4% were drawn. White's most played move here is 7. cxb5, in 77% of those games.

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How to play against the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Vitolins-Adorjan Gambit

7. e3 scores best for White: 47.8%, with White winning 44.5% and Black 48.9% of 476 games. The most played, 7. cxb5, scores 47.4% in 5,213 games, and 7. Bg5 scores lowest: 38.8%. Stockfish's first choice is 7. cxb5.

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

Other lines from the same position

Instead of 4…O-O 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. Qxc3 b5, the position after Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation also goes on to:

Cite this page

Caissa Codex. “Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Vitolins-Adorjan Gambit (E32)”. Lichess data as of 31 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/nimzo-indian-defense-classical-variation-vitolins-adorjan-gambit

https://chesscodex.org/openings/nimzo-indian-defense-classical-variation-vitolins-adorjan-gambit