E42

Nimzo-Indian Defense: Rubinstein System, Rubinstein Variation

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Statistics from Lichess

94,236 games: White 51.1% / Draw 7.5% / Black 41.4%

The moves played next. Pick one to see it on the board.
Next move	Games	White / Draw / BlackW / D / B
	26,51227K
	24,42624K
	14,41014K
	12,99713K
	9,0829,082
	2,9092,909
	2,4392,439
	760760

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

Engine evaluation

+0.28 The position is about equal

Best play: 5... d5 6. a3 Ba5 7. dxc5 dxc4 8. Bd2 O-O 9. Ng3 b6 10. Bxc4

Stockfish 19, depth 30, after the line's last move. Scores are in pawns, from White's side.

Overview

Nimzo-Indian Defense: Rubinstein System, Rubinstein Variation (ECO E42, Indian Defenses) is a variation of the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Rubinstein System, reached after 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 c5 5. Ne2 (5 moves).

In 94,236 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 51.1%, Black 41.4% and 7.5% were drawn. Black's most played move here is 5…cxd4, in 28% of those games.

It branches into 2 named variations; the most played are Nimzo-Indian Defense: Rubinstein System, Rubinstein Variation, Main Line and Nimzo-Indian Defense: Rubinstein System, Rubinstein Variation, Sherbakov Attack.

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Description

How to play against the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Rubinstein System, Rubinstein Variation

The most played answer, 5…cxd4, also scores best for Black: 48.7%, with Black winning 44.6% and White 47.3% of 27K games. Of the main answers, 5…O-O scores lowest: 43.2%. Stockfish's first choice is 5…d5.

Main answers: those played in at least 5% of these games. Score: Black's wins plus half the draws, in rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500. How to play against other popular openings

Variations (2)

Cite this page

Caissa Codex. “Nimzo-Indian Defense: Rubinstein System, Rubinstein Variation (E42)”. Lichess data as of 30 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/nimzo-indian-defense-rubinstein-system-rubinstein-variation