Caissa Codex
E57

Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Gligoric System, Bernstein Defense 9. Bxc4 cxd4

Chess diagram: Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Gligoric System, Bernstein Defense after 9…cxd4

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Statistics from Lichess

2,900 games: White 50.4% / Draw 6.4% / Black 43.2%

The moves played next. Pick one to see it on the board.
Next moveGamesWhite / Draw / BlackW / D / B
1,6361,636
1,0261,026
222222
1010
55
11

Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Oct 30, 2026

Engine evaluation

+0.54 White is slightly better

Best play: 10. axb4 dxc3 11. bxc3 Qc7 12. Be2 Rd8 13. Qa4 b6 14. b5 Na5

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, Bernstein Defense (ECO E57, Indian Defenses) is a variation of the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Gligoric System, Bernstein Defense, reached after 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 O-O 5. Bd3 d5 6. Nf3 c5 7. O-O Nc6 8. a3 dxc4 9. Bxc4 cxd4 (9 moves).

In 2,900 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 50.4%, Black 43.2% and 6.4% were drawn. White's most played move here is 10. exd4, in 56% of those games.

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How to answer 9…cxd4

10. axb4 scores best for White: 56.0%, with White winning 52.5% and Black 40.4% of 1,026 games. The most played, 10. exd4, scores 53.2% in 1,636 games, and 10. Nxd4 scores lowest: 44.8%. Stockfish's first choice is also 10. axb4.

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

Other lines from the same position

Instead of 8. a3 dxc4 9. Bxc4 cxd4, the position after Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Gligoric System, Bernstein Defense also goes on to:

Cite this page

Caissa Codex. “Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Gligoric System, Bernstein Defense (E57)”. Lichess data as of 30 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/nimzo-indian-defense-normal-variation-gligoric-system-bernstein-defense-2

https://chesscodex.org/openings/nimzo-indian-defense-normal-variation-gligoric-system-bernstein-defense-2