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Nimzo-Indian Defense

Rubinstein System, Hübner Variation

E41positionalsolid

  1. 1.d4Nf6
  2. 2.c4e6
  3. 3.Nc3Bb4
  4. 4.e3c5
  5. 5.Bd3Nc6
  6. 6.Nf3Bxc3+
  7. 7.bxc3d6
112 games36%57%

Nimzo-Indian line, named after Robert Hübner, in which Black gives up the bishop on c3 to double White's c-pawns and then sets up with ...d6.

Train it in Theoria

About the Hübner Variation

The Hübner Variation is named after the German grandmaster Robert Hübner. Black captures on c3 without first being provoked by a3, leaving White with doubled c-pawns, and follows with 7...d6. With pawns on c5, d6 and e6, Black builds a compact dark-square setup that limits White's bishop pair. 8. O-O is by far the most common reply, and 8. e4 is the main alternative. The engine rates the position as roughly balanced, and Black has scored well in online games.

Popular continuations