Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Botvinnik System
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Statistics from Lichess
42,768 games: White 52.2% / Draw 5.6% / Black 42.2%
| Next move | Games | White / Draw / BlackW / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| 14,87815K | ||
| 10,77011K | ||
| 5,8305,830 | ||
| 3,3633,363 | ||
| 2,7182,718 | ||
| 1,7331,733 | ||
| 886886 | ||
| 714714 |
Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Nov 3, 2026
Engine evaluation
+0.19 The position is about equal
Best play: 7... dxc4 8. Bxc4 c5 9. Ne2 Qc7 10. Ba2 b6 11. O-O Ba6 12. Bb2
Stockfish 19, depth 30, after the line's last move. Scores are in pawns, from White's side.
Overview
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Botvinnik System (ECO E49, Indian Defenses) is a variation of the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Classical Defense, reached after 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 O-O 5. Bd3 d5 6. a3 Bxc3+ 7. bxc3 (7 moves).
In 42,768 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 52.2%, Black 42.2% and 5.6% were drawn. Black's most played move here is 7…dxc4, in 35% of those games.
It continues into one named variation, Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Bernstein Defense.
Written from the Lichess opening list and explorer. Know this line well? Write about it.
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How to play against the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Botvinnik System
The most played answer, 7…dxc4, also scores best for Black: 46.6%, with Black winning 43.4% and White 50.1% of 15K games. Of the main answers, 7…Nbd7 scores lowest: 43.9%. Stockfish's first choice is also 7…dxc4.
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
Variations (1)
Cite this page
Caissa Codex. “Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Botvinnik System (E49)”. Lichess data as of 3 Nov 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/nimzo-indian-defense-normal-variation-botvinnik-system