Current position
Nimzo-Indian Defense: St. Petersburg Variation
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4
The Nimzo-Indian Defense starts with 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 and is catalogued under ECO E20, in the indian defenses half of the book. The catalog indexes 99 lines inside it, grouped into 68 named variations, and the position after those moves has 1 playable continuation to walk from here.
Root edges show how often each move is played around your Elo. Use the arrow on a position to reveal the next replies.
Current setup
Move ideas
Takes central space with a protected pawn and frees the queen’s bishop.
Idea: Build a stable center that supports a broad positional setup.
Develops a knight and prevents White from occupying e4 unchallenged.
Idea: Keep the central pawns flexible and choose an Indian setup after White commits.
Advances the c-pawn to gain queenside space and control new squares.
Idea: Create useful wing space while keeping the central structure flexible.
Advances to e6 to claim central space and control nearby key squares.
Idea: Give the pieces room to develop behind a durable central foothold.
Develops the knight to c3, bringing it into the game.
Idea: Improve piece coordination and clear the back rank for castling and the rooks.
Develops the bishop to b4, bringing it into the game.
Idea: Improve piece coordination and clear the back rank for castling and the rooks.
Develops the knight to f3, bringing it into the game.
Idea: Improve piece coordination and clear the back rank for castling and the rooks.
Advances the b-pawn to gain queenside space and control new squares.
Idea: Create useful wing space while keeping the central structure flexible.
Advances to e3 to claim central space and control nearby key squares.
Idea: Give the pieces room to develop behind a durable central foothold.
Repositions the knight to e4, where it influences a new part of the board.
Idea: Improve the piece’s activity and support the next stage of the plan.
Repositions the queen to c2, where it influences a new part of the board.
Idea: Coordinate threats carefully while avoiding unnecessary tempi against the queen.
Develops the bishop to b7, bringing it into the game.
Idea: Improve piece coordination and clear the back rank for castling and the rooks.
Develops the bishop to d3, bringing it into the game.
Idea: Improve piece coordination and clear the back rank for castling and the rooks.
Captures the knight on c3 and changes the local pawn or piece balance, forcing the king to answer a check.
Idea: Remove an active defender and improve the moving piece’s influence.
Waiting for Lichess game popularity.
Each line below is an indexed entry under Nimzo-Indian Defense. Open one to load it on the board and keep exploring from that position.
44 more named lines sit inside this family — the tree above walks all of them.
ECO groups openings by the structures they lead to, so these families tend to share plans with the Nimzo-Indian Defense.