Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Gligoric System
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Statistics from Lichess
152,968 games: White 47.8% / Draw 6.1% / Black 46.1%
| Next move | Games | White / Draw / BlackW / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| 108,021108K | ||
| 21,65922K | ||
| 13,52214K | ||
| 5,8945,894 | ||
| 1,5891,589 | ||
| 1,1561,156 | ||
| 187187 | ||
| 140140 |
Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Oct 28, 2026
Engine evaluation
+0.22 The position is about equal
Best play: 7. cxd5 exd5 8. dxc5 Bg4 9. O-O Bxc5 10. b3 Nc6 11. Bb2 d4
Stockfish 19, depth 30, after the line's last move. Scores are in pawns, from White's side.
Overview
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Gligoric System (ECO E53, 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. Nf3 c5 (6 moves).
In 152,968 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 47.8%, Black 46.1% and 6.1% were drawn. White's most played move here is 7. O-O, in 71% of those games.
It branches into 4 named variations; the most played are Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Gligoric System, Exchange Variation and Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Gligoric System, Bernstein Defense. In all, 9 named lines continue from it.
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, Gligoric System
The most played answer, 7. O-O, also scores best for White: 51.3%, with White winning 48.2% and Black 45.7% of 108K games. Of the main answers, 7. a3 scores lowest: 49.4%. Stockfish's first choice is 7. cxd5.
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 (4)
All 9 named lines that continue from here
- E53 Gligoric System 7 moves
- E56 Bernstein Defense 7 moves
- E54 Exchange Variation 8 moves
- E53 Keres Variation 7 moves
- E58 Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Bernstein Defense, Exchange Line 9 moves
- E57 Bernstein Defense 9 moves
- E55 Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Gligoric System, Bronstein Variation 8 moves
- E54 Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Gligoric System, Smyslov Variation 8 moves
- E59 Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Bernstein Defense 10 moves
Cite this page
Caissa Codex. “Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Gligoric System (E53)”. Lichess data as of 28 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/nimzo-indian-defense-normal-variation-gligoric-system