Normal Variation, Gligoric System, Bernstein Defense
- 1.d4Nf6
- 2.c4e6
- 3.Nc3Bb4
- 4.e3O-O
- 5.Bd3d5
- 6.Nf3c5
- 7.O-ONc6
338 games
Nimzo-Indian line where Black answers White's castling with 7...Nc6, keeping the central tension and adding pressure on d4; a roughly balanced position.
Train it in TheoriaAbout the Bernstein Defense
The Bernstein Defense, 7...Nc6, keeps the central tension in the Gligoric System. Instead of releasing it with 7...dxc4, Black develops the queen's knight to add pressure on d4. White most often replies 8. a3, putting the question to the b4-bishop, while 8. cxd5 is the main alternative and 8. dxc5 is rarer. Results in the database are almost exactly even, and the engine regards the position as roughly balanced.