Nimzo-Indian Defense: Romanishin Variation, English Hybrid
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Statistics from Lichess
2,870 games: White 46.2% / Draw 10.8% / Black 43.0%
| Next move | Games | White / Draw / BlackW / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| 1,9191,919 | ||
| 547547 | ||
| 150150 | ||
| 112112 | ||
| 7171 | ||
| 6060 | ||
| 55 | ||
| 33 |
Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Oct 13, 2026
Engine evaluation
+0.12 The position is about equal
Best play: 9. Qb3 Nc6 10. Nxc6 bxc6 11. O-O Qa5 12. Bd2 Bxc3 13. Bxc3 Nxc3
Stockfish 19, depth 30, after the line's last move. Scores are in pawns, from White's side.
Overview
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Romanishin Variation, English Hybrid (ECO E20, Indian Defenses) is a variation of the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Three Knights Variation, reached after 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Nf3 c5 5. g3 cxd4 6. Nxd4 O-O 7. Bg2 d5 8. cxd5 Nxd5 (8 moves).
In 2,870 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 46.2%, Black 43.0% and 10.8% were drawn. White's most played move here is 9. Bd2, in 67% of those games.
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How to play against the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Romanishin Variation, English Hybrid
9. Qb3 scores best for White: 58.0%, with White winning 52.3% and Black 36.2% of 547 games. The most played, 9. Bd2, scores 52.1% in 1,919 games, and 9. O-O scores lowest: 37.7%. Stockfish's first choice is also 9. Qb3.
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
Cite this page
Caissa Codex. “Nimzo-Indian Defense: Romanishin Variation, English Hybrid (E20)”. Lichess data as of 13 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/nimzo-indian-defense-romanishin-variation-english-hybrid