Caissa Codex
E23

Nimzo-Indian Defense: Spielmann Variation, Romanovsky Gambit

Chess diagram: Nimzo-Indian Defense: Spielmann Variation, Romanovsky Gambit after 5…Nc6

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

16,687 games: White 46.0% / Draw 6.5% / Black 47.5%

The moves played next. Pick one to see it on the board.
Next moveGamesWhite / Draw / BlackW / D / B
9,3589,358
2,9812,981
1,8631,863
970970
718718
477477
123123
7171

Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Oct 29, 2026

Engine evaluation

−0.02 The position is about equal

Best play: 6. Nf3 Ne4 7. Bd2 Nxd2 8. Nxd2 Bxc5 9. g3 O-O 10. Bg2 Be7

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

Overview

Nimzo-Indian Defense: Spielmann Variation, Romanovsky Gambit (ECO E23, Indian Defenses) is a gambit in the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Spielmann Variation, reached after 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qb3 c5 5. dxc5 Nc6 (5 moves).

In 16,687 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 46.0%, Black 47.5% and 6.5% were drawn. White's most played move here is 6. Nf3, in 56% of those games.

It branches into 2 named variations; the most played are Nimzo-Indian Defense: Spielmann Variation, Carlsbad Variation and Nimzo-Indian Defense: Spielmann Variation, Stahlberg Variation. In all, 3 named lines continue from it.

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How to play against the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Spielmann Variation, Romanovsky Gambit

The most played answer, 6. Nf3, also scores best for White: 51.8%, with White winning 48.3% and Black 44.6% of 9,358 games. Of the main answers, 6. Bg5 scores lowest: 47.0%. Stockfish's first choice is also 6. Nf3.

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

Variations (2)

All 3 named lines that continue from here

Cite this page

Caissa Codex. “Nimzo-Indian Defense: Spielmann Variation, Romanovsky Gambit (E23)”. Lichess data as of 29 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/nimzo-indian-defense-spielmann-variation-romanovsky-gambit

https://chesscodex.org/openings/nimzo-indian-defense-spielmann-variation-romanovsky-gambit