Tree path 5 levels Nimzo-Indian Defense › Rubinstein System › Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation › Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation › Classical Defense
- Chess Codex
- Nimzo-Indian Defense E20
- Rubinstein System E40
- Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation E46
- Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation E47
- Classical Defense E48 you are here
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Classical Defense
Overview
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Classical Defense is a named branch in the Indian Defenses group of chess theory, classified under ECO E48.
The Indian Defenses group covers Indian defences — hypermodern lines where Black challenges the centre with pieces rather than pawns.
It is reached after 10 plies of play, with the move sequence 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 O-O 5. Bd3 d5.
In the opening tree, this line branches off from Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, part of the broader Nimzo-Indian Defense system.
4 named variations grow from this line, including Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Botvinnik System, Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Gligoric System, Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Schlechter Defense, and others.
In total, the branch covers 15 sub-variations across all depths.
Use the board to walk through every move, check how the position has scored on Lichess, or take it head-to-head against Stockfish.
- ECO code
- E48
- Group
- Indian Defenses (E)
- Plies
- 10
- Direct variations
- 4
- Total in subtree
- 15
This overview is generated automatically from the opening's metadata. Know this line well? Write a description — submissions are reviewed before publishing.
Statistics from Lichess
231,134 games · White 49.5% / Draw 6.0% / Black 44.5%
| Moves | Games | W / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| Ne2 | 84,294 | |
| Nf3 | 74,258 | |
| cxd5 | 31,870 | |
| a3 | 29,348 | |
| c5 | 3,555 | |
| Qc2 | 3,337 | |
| Bd2 | 2,265 | |
| f4 | 1,050 |
Source: Lichess Opening Explorer · cached 2026-09-26 02:23:15
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Variations (4)
Show all 15 sub-variations (full subtree)
- E49 Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Botvinnik System 13-ply
- E53 Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Gligoric System 12-ply
- E52 Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Schlechter Defense 12-ply
- E48 Nimzo-Indian Defense: Ragozin Defense 13-ply
- E59 Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Bernstein Defense 21-ply
- E53 Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Gligoric System 14-ply
- E56 Bernstein Defense 14-ply
- E54 Exchange Variation 15-ply
- E53 Keres Variation 14-ply
- E51 Nimzo-Indian Defense: Ragozin Variation 14-ply
- E58 Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Bernstein Defense, Exchange Line 17-ply
- E57 Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Gligoric System, Bernstein Defense 18-ply
- E55 Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Gligoric System, Bronstein Variation 16-ply
- E54 Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Gligoric System, Smyslov Variation 16-ply
- E59 Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Bernstein Defense 19-ply