Caissa Codex
E42

Nimzo-Indian Defense: Rubinstein System, Rubinstein Variation, Sherbakov Attack

Chess diagram: Nimzo-Indian Defense: Rubinstein System, Rubinstein Variation, Sherbakov Attack after 7. c5

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Statistics from Lichess

17 games: White 35.3% / Draw 5.9% / Black 58.8%

The moves played next. Pick one to see it on the board.
Next moveGamesWhite / Draw / BlackW / D / B
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55
33
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Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Oct 25, 2026

Engine evaluation

+0.02 The position is about equal

Best play: 7... d6 8. a3 Bxc3+ 9. Nxc3 dxc5 10. dxc5 Qxd1+ 11. Kxd1 Nc6 12. Be3

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, Sherbakov Attack (ECO E42, Indian Defenses) is a variation of the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Rubinstein System, Rubinstein Variation, reached after 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 c5 5. Ne2 cxd4 6. exd4 O-O 7. c5 (7 moves).

In 17 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 35.3%, Black 58.8% and 5.9% were drawn. Black's most played move here is 7…d6, in 35% of those games. That is too few games for the percentages to mean much.

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Other lines from the same position

Instead of 5…cxd4 6. exd4 O-O 7. c5, the position after Nimzo-Indian Defense: Rubinstein System, Rubinstein Variation also goes on to:

Cite this page

Caissa Codex. “Nimzo-Indian Defense: Rubinstein System, Rubinstein Variation, Sherbakov Attack (E42)”. Lichess data as of 25 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/nimzo-indian-defense-rubinstein-system-rubinstein-variation-sherbakov-attack

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