E23

Nimzo-Indian Defense: Spielmann Variation, Stahlberg Variation 8…f5 9. g3

Chess diagram: Nimzo-Indian Defense: Spielmann Variation, Stahlberg Variation after 9. g3

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Statistics from Lichess

7 games: White 57.1% / Draw 28.6% / Black 14.3%

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Next moveGamesWhite / Draw / BlackW / D / B
55
22

Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Nov 10, 2026

Engine evaluation

+0.65 White is slightly better

Best play: 9... O-O 10. Bg2 b6 11. O-O Bb7 12. Rad1 Bxc3 13. Bxc3 Qe7 14. Ne5

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

Overview

Nimzo-Indian Defense: Spielmann Variation, Stahlberg Variation (ECO E23, Indian Defenses) is a variation of the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Spielmann Variation, Stahlberg Variation, reached after 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qb3 c5 5. dxc5 Nc6 6. Nf3 Ne4 7. Bd2 Nxc5 8. Qc2 f5 9. g3 (9 moves).

In 7 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 57.1%, Black 14.3% and 28.6% were drawn. Black's most played move here is 9…O-O, in 71% of those games. That is too few games for the percentages to mean much.

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Cite this page

Caissa Codex. “Nimzo-Indian Defense: Spielmann Variation, Stahlberg Variation (E23)”. Lichess data as of 10 Nov 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/nimzo-indian-defense-spielmann-variation-stahlberg-variation-2