Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation
White's queen supports the pinned knight and prepares to recapture without doubled pawns. Moving the queen early costs development time; compare preserving the structure with finishing the kingside.
Your plan as White
Decide how to handle the c3 knight's pin and a possible doubled c-pawn structure.
The opponent’s plan
Use ...Bb4 to influence e4, then choose a central structure that fits White's response.
Watch out: Trading the bishop for the knight is a structural decision, not always a free improvement.
Opening game…
Practice this line as White.
Play three moves from the line you watched. Hints draw an arrow on the board. Complete a fresh attempt without hints or retries to pass.
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Name, background and sources
Aron Nimzowitsch helped popularize the defense, though he did not play its first recorded game. It rose to prominence during the 1920s.
Read the opening background on Chess.com ↗Lichess opening names and reference lines (CC0)
ChessSum provides original explanatory notes. Related lines are labeled separately. Reference lines illustrate ideas; they are not a claim that every other legal move is wrong.
Watch how the center and piece development change. Each arrow previews the next move.