Nimzo-Indian Defense: Mikenas Attack
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Mikenas Attack
Definition
The Mikenas Attack is a branch of the Nimzo-Indian Defense that arises after the moves:
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Bb4+ 4. Nbd2
Instead of the mainstream 4. Nc3 or the Rubinstein 4. e3, White blocks the check with the queen-knight, avoiding the doubled c-pawns that often result from …Bxc3+. The system is named after the Lithuanian-Estonian grandmaster Vladas Mikėnas (1910-1992), who pioneered the idea in the 1930s.
Strategic Purpose
- Pawn structure preservation: By putting a knight on d2, White keeps the option of recapturing on c3 with a knight rather than a pawn.
- Flexibility for e2–e4: Because the c-pawn remains unblocked, White can often prepare either e2–e4 in one go or via e3 & Bd3.
- Ambiguity for Black: Black must decide whether to transpose to Bogo-Indian (…Bb4+) lines, play an early …d5, or even retreat the bishop.
- Piece play: Knight on d2 may later travel to f3, b3 or e4; the bishop on c1 can stay inside the pawn chain and keep options open.
Typical Continuations
The most common branches continue:
- 4… b6 5. a3 Bxd2+ 6. Bxd2 (the bishop pair remains)
- 4… 0-0 5. a3 Be7 6. e4 d5 (transposing to Queen’s Indian / Catalan motifs)
- 4… d5 5. a3 Be7 6. e3 (solid set-up where White mimics Queen’s Gambit play)
A very thematic move for White is 5. a3, forcing the Nimzo bishop to decide. If Black exchanges on d2, White keeps harmonious piece development; if Black retreats, c4-c5 may gain space.
Historical & Competitive Significance
- First championed by Vladas Mikėnas at Kemeri 1937, scoring several notable wins.
- Used sporadically by Viktor Korchnoi in the 1970s Candidates matches to sidestep Anatoly Karpov’s deep Nimzo preparation.
- Magnus Carlsen adopted it against Fabiano Caruana (Tata Steel 2015), out-maneuvering his rival in an endgame grind.
- Its rarity at elite level makes it a potent surprise weapon; databases show it appears in fewer than 3 % of Nimzo-Indian games above 2500 [[Chart|Popularity|Classical|2000-2023]].
Illustrative Game
Below is the classic introduction of the line by its namesake:
Mikėnas – Flohr, Kemeri 1937.
White preserved the bishop pair and exploited kingside space to conduct a successful attack, a textbook demonstration of the line’s spirit.
Plans for Each Side
White’s Ideas
- Push e2–e4 once d2-knight moves or after Re1, seizing central space.
- Queenside expansion with c4-c5 and b2-b4 if Black delays …d5.
- Retain bishop pair and apply pressure along the a1-h8 and c1-h6 diagonals.
Black’s Counterplay
- Timely …d5 break challenging White’s center before e4 is possible.
- Fianchetto via …b6 and …Bb7, leveraging pressure on e4 and long diagonal.
- Piece play: Knight reroutes to e4 or c5; bishop may retreat to e7 then to f6 to eye d4.
Common Tactical Motifs
- Fork on e4: After …d5, if White carelessly plays e4, …dxe4 Nxe4 Qxd4! wins a pawn.
- Exchange on f3: Black may eliminate the key defender of e4/d5 squares, doubling White’s pawns and opening the g-file.
- c4-c5 break: Can open the long diagonal for Bc3 and create an isolated d5-pawn to attack.
Anecdotes & Trivia
- Vladas Mikėnas was also an accomplished linguist; legend says he conceived the 4. Nbd2 idea while annotating a Bogo-Indian for a Lithuanian chess magazine.
- Because the line begins with …Bb4+, some databases incorrectly index it under the Bogo-Indian; purists insist on the Nimzo tag because of Black’s earlier …e6.
- In friendly blitz, Garry Kasparov once referred to 4. Nbd2 as “the polite way to say
No thank you
” when offered doubled pawns.
Practical Tips
- If you aim for e4 quickly, place your queen on c2 and rook on e1 before pushing.
- After 4…0-0 5. a3 Be7, consider 6. e4 immediately; if Black responds …d5, dxc5 can leave Black with an isolated pawn.
- Keep an eye on the c4-pawn; once the knight leaves d2, the pawn may become loose to …c5 breaks.
Summary
The Mikenas Attack is a dynamic, slightly offbeat reply to the Nimzo-Indian that appeals to players who value structural integrity and flexible central control. By sidestepping the typical doubled-pawn imbalances, it invites a rich middlegame full of positional ideas and occasional tactical fireworks.