Caissa Codex
E33

Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Zurich Variation

Chess diagram: Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Zurich Variation after 4…Nc6

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

119,296 games: White 47.8% / Draw 6.2% / Black 46.0%

The moves played next. Pick one to see it on the board.
Next moveGamesWhite / Draw / BlackW / D / B
87,75988K
22,03222K
5,2255,225
2,2632,263
753753
396396
252252
241241

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

Engine evaluation

+0.42 White is slightly better

Best play: 5. e3 O-O 6. Bd2 a5 7. a3 Bxc3 8. Bxc3 b6 9. Nf3 d5

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

Overview

Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Zurich Variation (ECO E33, Indian Defenses) is a variation of the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, reached after 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 Nc6 (4 moves).

In 119,296 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 47.8%, Black 46.0% and 6.2% were drawn. White's most played move here is 5. Nf3, in 74% of those games.

It continues into one named variation, Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Milner-Barry Variation.

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

The most played answer, 5. Nf3, also scores best for White: 52.0%, with White winning 48.8% and Black 44.7% of 88K games. Of the main answers, 5. e3 scores lowest: 50.5%. Stockfish's first choice is 5. e3.

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 4…Nc6, the position after Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation also goes on to:

Cite this page

Caissa Codex. “Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Zurich Variation (E33)”. Lichess data as of 1 Nov 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/nimzo-indian-defense-classical-variation-zurich-variation

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