Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Gligoric System
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Gligoric System
Definition
The Nimzo-Indian Defense arises after 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4. In the Normal Variation White plays 4.e3, solidly supporting the center and allowing the dark-squared bishop to develop. The Gligoric System is characterized by the follow-up 5.Bd3 after 4…O-O, leading to the position:
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 O-O 5.Bd3
ECO code: E53
Strategic Ideas
- Bd3 vs. c4-pawn: The bishop eyes the sensitive h7-square and supports a later e3-e4 break, but temporarily blocks the d-pawn, making d4–d5 harder.
- Leaving the knight on g1: By delaying Nf3, White keeps flexibility: 6.Nf3 or 6.Ne2 are both possible depending on Black’s setup.
- Center vs. Structure: As in most Nimzo-Indians, Black often inflicts doubled c-pawns (…Bxc3), gaining queenside pressure; White hopes the bishop pair and spatial edge compensate.
- Black’s Plans:
- …d5 and …c5 to challenge the center (Classical line).
- …b6 and …Bb7 targeting d4 (Queenside fianchetto line).
- Immediate …c5 (Hübner) provoking d4–c5 tension.
Typical Move Orders
After 5.Bd3 the most common continuations are:
- 5…d5 6.Nf3 c5 7.O-O dxc4 8.Bxc4 — central exchange; Black tries to use the c-file while White develops harmoniously.
- 5…c5 6.Nf3 d5 7.O-O — the Hübner-style approach with an early …c5.
- 5…b6 6.Nf3 Bb7 7.O-O — Black keeps the light-squared bishop, aiming at e4.
Historic & Naming Background
The system is named after the Yugoslav grandmaster Svetozar Gligorić, who employed 5.Bd3 as a mainstay of his repertoire in the 1950s and 1960s. His successes against top Soviet players popularized the line, proving that classical development could offset Black’s structural trumps.
Illustrative Game
Gligorić – Keres, Zürich Candidates 1953
Key moments:
- Move 9: Gligorić recaptures on c4 with the bishop, maintaining the pair.
- Move 15: After …Bxc3, White’s doubled pawns are immobile but control central squares; the bishops dominate the long diagonals.
- White eventually converted the bishop pair and central pressure into a winning kingside attack.
Modern Practice
Although superseded at elite level by sharper alternatives like 4.f3 (Saemisch) or 4.Qc2, the Gligoric System remains a robust choice:
- Used by Viswanathan Anand in rapid/blitz events to sidestep deep computer prep.
- Favored by club players who appreciate sound structure and clear plans.
Current database statistics show White scoring ≈55 % across all levels.
Typical Middlegame Themes
- e3–e4 break: Timed correctly, it unleashes the Bd3 and opens lines for attack.
- Minority attack: If Black castles queenside after …c5, White’s a- and b-pawns can advance.
- Bishop pair endgames: White often steers toward endings where the long-range bishops outclass Black’s knights.
Interesting Facts
- The line is sometimes nicknamed the “Old-fashioned Nimzo” because it follows classical development principles: knights before bishops for Black, bishops and short castling for White.
- In the famous Kasparov – Karpov World Championship matches, the Gligoric idea appeared several times as a transpositional weapon, proving its enduring utility.
- Engines evaluate the starting Gligoric position at roughly +0.25 for White, illustrating a small but steady edge without tactical minefields.
Practice Tips
- Memorize key pawn breaks (e3–e4 and c4–c5) rather than long variations.
- Work on endgames with bishops vs. knights, as they frequently arise.
- Study Gligorić’s own games; his handling of slow-burn kingside pressure is exemplary.