Nimzo-Indian: 4.e3 O-O 5.Nf3 c5 6.Be2
Nimzo-Indian: 4.e3 O-O 5.Nf3 c5 6.Be2
Definition
The sequence 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 O-O 5.Nf3 c5 6.Be2 is a respected branch of the Nimzo-Indian Defence. After White’s solid fourth-move 4.e3 (the Rubinstein System), Black castles, strikes at the centre with ...c5, and White continues with the modest but flexible 6.Be2. The position balances positional play and latent tactical possibilities, making it a frequent guest in grandmaster praxis.
Move Order & Position After 6.Be2
Starting position after 6.Be2 (White to move):
Material is equal, Black has already exchanged no pieces, and both sides have castling rights intact. The tension in the centre (d4–c4 vs. ...c5) shapes the ensuing middlegame.
Strategic Ideas
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White’s Objectives
- Guard the e4 square and prepare a later e3–e4 pawn break.
- Maintain pawn structure flexibility—delaying a2–a3 until it is useful.
- Re-capture on d4 with a piece (often the knight from f3) if Black trades on d4, preserving the pawn duo c4–d4.
- Develop calmly with 0-0, Qc2, Rd1, and sometimes b3/Bb2 to pressurise the long diagonal once the c4 pawn advances.
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Black’s Objectives
- Undermine White’s centre immediately with ...c5xd4 or later ...d5, leading to an isolated queen’s pawn (IQP) for either side.
- Keep the bishop pair—especially the potent dark-square bishop on b4—active. Often ...Bxc3 followed by ...d5 equalises structure.
- Activate pieces quickly: ...Nc6, ...d5, ...b6, and ...Bb7 are common themes.
- Occasionally aim for kingside play with ...Re8, ...e5, swinging the queen or knight toward g5/h4.
Typical Plans & Structures
- IQP & Hanging-Pawn Scenarios – After ...cxd4 exd4, Black may later play ...d5, yielding an IQP on d4 for White. Alternatively, if White captures back with a piece, Black can trade on d4 again, resulting in hanging pawns on c4 and d4.
- Minor-Piece Manoeuvres – Knights often circle to d3/f4 (White) or d6/f5 (Black) to exert central pressure.
- Bishop Repositioning – White’s dark-square bishop may redeploy via d2–c3 or b2, while Black’s light-square bishop can eye the g1–a7 diagonal from b6.
- Latent Tactical Shots – Pins on the a5-e1 diagonal after ...Qa5, or discoveries along the c-file once it opens, frequently appear.
Historical / Practical Significance
The Rubinstein System (4.e3) is among the earliest analysed Nimzo-Indian lines, stretching back to Aron Nimzowitsch himself. The specific 5...c5 6.Be2 plan gained prominence in the 1970s–1980s when players such as Anatoly Karpov and Lajos Portisch used it to steer the game into rich but strategically balanced waters. It remains popular because:
- Both sides can fight for a full point without excessive risk.
- The theory is less forcing than sharper 4.f3 or 4.Qc2 systems, suiting players who prefer understanding over memorisation.
- Modern engines still rate the line as roughly equal, ensuring continuing relevance.
Illustrative Games
- Karpov – Portisch, Milan 1975: White demonstrated the power of the e3–e4 break, seizing space and winning a superior bishop vs. knight endgame.
- Kasparov – Short, Linares 1992: Black unleashed ...d5 and transitioned into a dynamic IQP middlegame, highlighting counter-chances.
- Carlsen – Anand, GRENKE Classic 2015: A modern example where both players neutralised each other, culminating in a balanced rook ending.
Interesting Facts & Anecdotes
- Anatoly Karpov’s laboratory: Karpov used 6.Be2 repeatedly in World Championship preparation against Viktor Korchnoi (1978), contributing original manoeuvres such as the queen shift Qc2–d1–c2–b1 to support b2-b4.
- Computer approval: Early versions of Deep Blue preferred 5...c5 over the more classical 5...d5, influencing Garry Kasparov’s repertoire investigations in the mid-1990s.
- The line is a perfect ‘model opening’ in many instructional textbooks because it illustrates Nimzowitsch’s key themes: restraint, prophylaxis, and piece activity in a single package.
Summary
Nimzo-Indian: 4.e3 O-O 5.Nf3 c5 6.Be2 lies at the crossroads of strategic subtlety and dynamic potential. By delaying central pawn commitments, both sides retain multiple plans, making the variation suitable for players who enjoy rich, maneuvering struggles rather than immediate tactical shoot-outs.