Classical Variation, Traditional Variation, Nimzowitsch Line

The Nimzowitsch Line departs from the usual hypermodern treatment of the Queen's Indian. Instead of trading on c3 with 7...Ne4, Black puts a pawn on d5 and claims the center directly. The resulting structure resembles a Queen's Gambit Declined, but with the black bishop on b7 rather than c8 and White's bishop fianchettoed on g2. Both long diagonals bear on d5, and the tension between c4 and d5 shapes the play. The line is reached almost as often as the 7...Ne4 main line.

White has three main replies. The most popular is 8. Ne5, which clears the g2 bishop's diagonal toward d5 and b7 and takes up a central post. The next is 8. cxd5, which resolves the tension and lets the structure become fixed. The quieter 8. b3 supports c4 and keeps the central pawns in place. The engine gives White a slight edge. In the Lichess database White scores somewhat better than Black, and draws are uncommon.