Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Bernstein Defense 10…Qc7 11. Qc2
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Statistics from Lichess
1,455 games: White 39.8% / Draw 6.3% / Black 53.9%
| Next move | Games | White / Draw / BlackW / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| 923923 | ||
| 209209 | ||
| 119119 | ||
| 7171 | ||
| 6666 | ||
| 2929 | ||
| 1616 | ||
| 1212 |
Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Oct 30, 2026
Engine evaluation
+0.15 The position is about equal
Best play: 11... cxd4 12. exd4 e5 13. Bg5 Bg4 14. Bxf6 gxf6 15. Ba2 exd4 16. Bb1
Stockfish 19, depth 30, after the line's last move. Scores are in pawns, from White's side.
Overview
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Bernstein Defense (ECO E59, Indian Defenses) is a variation of the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Botvinnik System, reached after 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 O-O 5. Bd3 d5 6. a3 Bxc3+ 7. bxc3 dxc4 8. Bxc4 c5 9. Nf3 Nc6 10. O-O Qc7 11. Qc2 (11 moves).
In 1,455 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 39.8%, Black 53.9% and 6.3% were drawn. Black's most played move here is 11…e5, in 63% of those games.
Written from the Lichess opening list and explorer. Know this line well? Write about it.
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How to answer 11. Qc2
11…b6 scores best for Black: 60.3%, with Black winning 57.9% and White 37.3% of 209 games. The most played, 11…e5, scores 58.9% in 923 games, and 11…cxd4 scores lowest: 47.1%. Stockfish's first choice is 11…cxd4.
Main answers: those played in at least 5% of these games. Score: Black's wins plus half the draws, in rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500. How to play against other popular openings
Cite this page
Caissa Codex. “Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Bernstein Defense (E59)”. Lichess data as of 30 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/nimzo-indian-defense-normal-variation-bernstein-defense-2