Theoria
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Nimzo-Indian Defense

Classical Variation, Modern Variation

E37tacticaloffbeat

  1. 1.d4Nf6
  2. 2.c4e6
  3. 3.Nc3Bb4
  4. 4.Qc2d5
  5. 5.a3Bxc3+
  6. 6.Qxc3Ne4
  7. 7.Qc2c5
34 games38%15%47%

Nimzo-Indian Noa Variation line (E37) where Black answers 5. a3 with ...Bxc3+, ...Ne4 and ...c5, trading the bishop pair for active play.

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About the Modern Variation

This branch of the Noa Variation (4...d5) continues 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. Qxc3 Ne4. The knight gains a tempo on the queen, and after 7. Qc2 Black strikes at d4 with 7...c5 instead of defending passively. White's bishop pair is set against Black's lead in development and central pressure. The most frequent reply is 8. dxc5, and 8. e3 and 8. cxd5 are also played. The line is rarely seen, and the engine rates it roughly balanced.

Popular continuations