Nimzo-Indian: 4.e3 O-O 5.Bd3 d5 6.Ne2 c5
Nimzo-Indian Defence:
4.e3 O-O 5.Bd3 d5 6.Ne2 c5
Definition
This line is a branch of the Nimzo-Indian Defence that arises after the moves 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 O-O 5.Bd3 d5 6.Ne2 c5. It combines three well-known Nimzo sub-systems:
- 4.e3 – the Rubinstein System, a solid way to avoid doubled c-pawns.
- 5.Bd3 – often called the Classical or Capablanca Variation, placing the bishop on the king-side diagonal to pressure h7.
- 6.Ne2 – the Karpov System, in which the knight stays off c3 to keep the c-pawn mobile and to support a later f2–f3/e3–e4 thrust.
When Black replies with …d5 and …c5 he builds a broad pawn centre, seeking either an Isolated Queen’s Pawn (IQP) or a set of hanging pawns after exchanges. The resulting positions blend themes from the Queen’s Gambit Declined, Tarrasch Defence, and even the Catalan.
Typical Move Order
- 1.d4 Nf6
- 2.c4 e6
- 3.Nc3 Bb4
- 4.e3 O-O
- 5.Bd3 d5
- 6.Ne2 c5
At this moment both sides have reached the tabiya of the variation. White must now decide whether to castle, play 7.a3, strike in the centre with 7.cxd5, or hold tension with 7.O-O. Black, in turn, chooses among …dxc4, …Nc6, or temporarily ignoring the c-pawn to finish development with …Nc6 and …Re8.
Strategic Ideas for White
- Flexible central break. By keeping the knight on e2, White can support either f2-f3 & e3-e4 or the immediate c4-cxd5 followed by e3-e4.
- Pressure on h7. The bishop on d3 eyes the h7-square; if Black ever plays …h6 the g6-square weakens.
- Two bishops. After an eventual a2-a3 Bxc3+ White often enjoys the bishop pair in open positions.
- Queenside pawn majority. If Black captures on c4, White may regain the pawn while keeping a healthy 3-vs-2 majority on the queenside for the endgame.
Strategic Ideas for Black
- Central tension. By placing pawns on d5 and c5 Black fights for every central square and keeps the light-squared bishop active.
- Isolated or hanging pawns. After …dxc4 followed by …cxd4 Black may accept an IQP, banking on piece activity, or provoke White to capture and leave him with hanging c- and d-pawns that can later advance.
- Minor-piece pressure. Typical manoeuvres include …Nc6, …dxc4, …e5 or …b6 & …Bb7, aiming pieces at d4 and e4.
- Safe king. Castling early removes the king from the centre so that Black can open lines with …cxd4 or …e5 without fear.
Historical Background
The move 6.Ne2 was championed by Anatoly Karpov in the 1970s, most famously in his matches with Viktor Korchnoi (Candidates Final 1974 and World Championship 1978). Karpov’s refined treatment demonstrated that the neglected knight could re-route via g3 or f4 at an opportune moment, leading to rich middlegame play. Garry Kasparov later adopted the line with Black, bringing …c5 into the limelight during the 1980s and 1990s, while contemporary stars such as Levon Aronian and Magnus Carlsen have tested it from both sides.
Model Games
-
Karpov – Korchnoi, Candidates Final, Game 2, Moscow 1974
Karpov steered the game into an IQP structure and outplayed his opponent in a long endgame. -
Kasparov – Short, PCA World Championship, Game 14, London 1993
Kasparov used 6.Ne2 as White, but Short’s …c5 setup equalised; Garry later sacrificed an exchange to create mating threats and won. -
Aronian – Kramnik, Candidates, Khanty-Mansiysk 2014
Both players demonstrated modern subtleties: White delayed castling, Black countered with …dxc4 and an early …b5, leading to a tense draw.
Typical Plans and Tactics
- e3-e4 break. Supported by f2-f3 or Re1, this transforms the structure and opens lines for White’s bishops.
- …cxd4 & …Nc6-b4. Black may liquidate centre pawns and hop a knight into d3 or c2.
- Exchange sacrifice on f3. After Bxf3 gxf3 Black can throw …cxd4 and …Qa5 to rip open the king.
- Minor-piece endgames. With bishops of the same colour, the side with the healthier pawn structure (often White) presses; with opposite-coloured bishops, drawing chances rise sharply.
Common Transpositions
If White plays 7.cxd5 exd5 8.O-O, the game can transpose to a Tarrasch IQP. Alternatively, postponing Ne2 and playing 6.Nf3 allows a Queen’s Gambit Declined structure, while 5.Nf3 instead of 5.Bd3 would steer the game into a Catalan-flavoured line after …d5 6.g3.
Interesting Facts & Anecdotes
- Capablanca’s trial. José Raúl Capablanca experimented with 5.Bd3 against Yates in 1931, decades before it became fashionable.
- Opening “cat-and-mouse.” Karpov would occasionally switch between 6.Nf3 and 6.Ne2 specifically to deny Korchnoi the counter-punching …c5 setups he preferred.
- Engine approval. Modern engines rate the position after 6…c5 as roughly equal (≈0.10) but often recommend subtle waiting moves over immediate pawn captures, mirroring top-level human practice.
- Flexible naming. Some databases tag 6.Ne2 lines as the “Hübner Variation” when Black follows up with …dxc4 and …cxd4, reflecting grandmaster Robert Hübner’s deep research in the 1970s.