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Tree path 2 levels Nimzo-Indian Defense › Rubinstein System
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  2. Nimzo-Indian Defense E20
  3. Rubinstein System E40 you are here
E40

Nimzo-Indian Defense: Rubinstein System

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Overview

Nimzo-Indian Defense: Rubinstein System is a variation within the Indian Defenses family, indexed as ECO E40.

The Indian Defenses group covers Indian defences — hypermodern lines where Black challenges the centre with pieces rather than pawns.

It is reached after 7 plies of play, with the move sequence 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3.

It is a direct variation of Nimzo-Indian Defense.

It branches into 5 notable variations — Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Nimzo-Indian Defense: Rubinstein System, Taimanov Variation, and others.

Below the direct variations, the full subtree contains 47 documented sub-variations.

Step through the moves on the interactive board below, review the live Lichess statistics, or play this position against Stockfish at one of six difficulty levels.

ECO code
E40
Group
Indian Defenses (E)
Plies
7
Parent
Nimzo-Indian Defense
Direct variations
5
Total in subtree
47

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

1,836,342 games · White 49.3% / Draw 5.9% / Black 44.8%

MovesGamesW / D / B
O-O737,024
c5340,651
b6262,430
d5187,467
Bxc3+177,201
Ne487,833
Nc614,587
d69,514

Source: Lichess Opening Explorer · cached 2026-09-26 01:44:11

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Variations (5)

Related variations at the same level

Sister lines that share the same parent Nimzo-Indian Defense:

Show all 47 sub-variations (full subtree)

https://chesscodex.org/openings/nimzo-indian-defense-rubinstein-system