Nimzo-Indian Defense: Three Knights Variation, Shocron Gambit
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Statistics from Lichess
2,022 games: White 42.1% / Draw 5.0% / Black 52.9%
| Next move | Games | White / Draw / BlackW / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| 561561 | ||
| 416416 | ||
| 336336 | ||
| 302302 | ||
| 175175 | ||
| 6363 | ||
| 4949 | ||
| 3939 |
Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Oct 29, 2026
Engine evaluation
+0.37 White is slightly better
Best play: 6. dxe6 fxe6 7. cxb5 a6 8. e3 O-O 9. Bd2 d5 10. Bd3 axb5
Stockfish 19, depth 30, after the line's last move. Scores are in pawns, from White's side.
Overview
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Three Knights Variation, Shocron Gambit (ECO E21, Indian Defenses) is a gambit in the Bogo-Indian Defense, reached after 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Bb4+ 4. Nc3 c5 5. d5 b5 (5 moves).
In 2,022 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 42.1%, Black 52.9% and 5.0% were drawn. White's most played move here is 6. dxe6, in 28% of those games.
Written from the Lichess opening list and explorer. Know this line well? Write about it.
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How to play against the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Three Knights Variation, Shocron Gambit
6. Bg5 scores best for White: 52.6%, with White winning 50.0% and Black 44.7% of 416 games. The most played, 6. dxe6, scores 46.0% in 561 games, and 6. a3 scores lowest: 33.4%. Stockfish's first choice is 6. dxe6.
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
Transpositions
Cite this page
Caissa Codex. “Nimzo-Indian Defense: Three Knights Variation, Shocron Gambit (E21)”. Lichess data as of 29 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/nimzo-indian-defense-three-knights-variation-shocron-gambit