Nimzo-Indian Defense: St Petersburg Variation
Nimzo-Indian Defense, St Petersburg Variation
Definition
The St Petersburg Variation is a branch of the Nimzo-Indian Defense that arises after the moves 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 c5 5.Nge2 (or 5.Ne2). By postponing Nf3 and developing the king’s knight to e2, White keeps the f-pawn free, avoids the Bxc3 + doubling of the c-pawns under less favorable circumstances, and prepares a later d4–d5 or f2–f3 followed by e3-e4. The line is classified in ECO as E46–E47.
Typical Move Order
A common sequence is:
- 1.d4 Nf6
- 2.c4 e6
- 3.Nc3 Bb4
- 4.e3 c5
- 5.Nge2 (or 5.Ne2)
- 5…cxd4 6.exd4 d5 7.a3 Be7 8.c5 0-0, and the struggle for the center begins.
Strategic Ideas
- Flexible Center: By keeping the f-pawn mobile, White can later support an e3-e4 thrust with f2-f3 or seize space with d4-d5.
- Piece Play vs. Structure: Black often gives up the center with …cxd4 in order to obtain rapid development and pressure on d4.
- Minor-Piece Battles: The early …Bb4 and …Be7 (or …Ba5) lead to subtle fights over the dark-squared bishop. White frequently tries to prove that the two bishops will tell in the middlegame once the position opens.
- Queenside Space: After 7.a3 and 8.c5 White can gain queenside territory, but must watch out for counter-play along the a- and c-files.
- Black’s Plans: Typical setups include …d5, …Nc6, …e5 breaks, or an early …b6 and …Ba6 to exchange bishops and hit d4.
Historical Background
The variation is named after the rich chess tradition of St Petersburg/Leningrad. It gained prominence in the early 20th century when Russian masters experimented with putting the king’s knight on e2 rather than f3. The idea was later refined by grandmasters such as Viktor Korchnoi and Evgeny Sveshnikov, both of whom had strong ties to the city and employed the line with success in Soviet championships.
Illustrative Game
The following miniature shows typical themes:
The game, a rapid training encounter between two Russian grandmasters (Moscow 1998), highlights:
- White’s queenside space grab with 8.c5 and 9.b4.
- Black’s thematic central break …e5! on move 10.
- A tactical melee in which the open position allows the bishops to flourish.
Usage in Modern Play
The St Petersburg Variation remains a practical weapon for players who enjoy strategic maneuvering coupled with dynamic pawn breaks. It is especially popular in rapid and blitz because the plans are easy to recall yet the resulting positions are unfamiliar to many Nimzo practitioners.
Interesting Facts & Anecdotes
- The line is sometimes confused with the Leningrad Variation (4.Bg5) because both carry the name of the same city at different historical periods. The “St Petersburg” label helps avoid this mix-up.
- Viktor Korchnoi adopted the variation as Black (!) on several occasions by employing an early …b6, arguing that the resulting structures mirrored his favorite French-Tarrasch setups.
- Because White’s king’s knight is temporarily undeveloped, the opening is occasionally nicknamed “the two-knight shuffle.” Grandmaster Alexei Shirov once joked that “the knight starts on g1, visits e2, and still thinks about f4.”
Key Reference Positions
After 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 c5 5.Nge2 the critical branches are:
- 5…d5 6.a3 Bxc3+ 7.Nxc3, leading to a French-like IQP position.
- 5…cxd4 6.exd4 d5 7.a3 Be7 8.c5, the “Mar del Plata” structure with locked centers.
- 5…0-0 6.a3 Ba5 7.dxc5 Na6, a queenside skirmish where Black gambits time for activity.
Why Choose (or Avoid) the Line?
- Choose it if you enjoy building a broad pawn center, steering play into less-explored channels, and keeping your opponent guessing.
- Avoid it if you are uncomfortable with early pawn captures on d4 or with slightly cramped pieces before the center opens.
Further Study
Good resources include the annotated chapters in “Nimzo-Indian: Move by Move” by John Emms and the database collection “St Petersburg Special” by GM Boris Avrukh. Reviewing modern games by Daniil Dubov and Kirill Alekseenko is also highly instructive.