Caissa Codex
E53

Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Gligoric System, Keres Variation

Chess diagram: Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Gligoric System, Keres Variation after 7…b6

Type a move and press Enter: e4, Nf3, O-O, or from and to squares like g1f3 (e7e8q to promote). The board is also played with the mouse.

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Statistics from Lichess

4,882 games: White 46.5% / Draw 5.7% / Black 47.8%

The moves played next. Pick one to see it on the board.
Next moveGamesWhite / Draw / BlackW / D / B
2,1692,169
1,2801,280
281281
238238
210210
202202
140140
124124

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

Engine evaluation

+0.08 The position is about equal

Best play: 8. dxc5 dxc4 9. Bxc4 Qxd1 10. Rxd1 Bxc5 11. a3 Bb7 12. b4 Be7

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, Keres Variation (ECO E53, Indian Defenses) is a variation of the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Gligoric System, reached after 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 O-O 5. Bd3 d5 6. Nf3 c5 7. O-O b6 (7 moves).

In 4,882 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 46.5%, Black 47.8% and 5.7% were drawn. White's most played move here is 8. a3, in 44% of those games.

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How to play against the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Gligoric System, Keres Variation

8. cxd5 scores best for White: 53.3%, with White winning 50.2% and Black 43.7% of 1,280 games. The most played, 8. a3, scores 49.1% in 2,169 games, and 8. Ne2 scores lowest: 48.0%. Stockfish's first choice is 8. dxc5.

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 7. O-O b6, the position after Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Gligoric System also goes on to:

Cite this page

Caissa Codex. “Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Gligoric System, Keres Variation (E53)”. Lichess data as of 30 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/nimzo-indian-defense-normal-variation-gligoric-system-keres-variation

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