Nimzo-Indian: Classical 4...c5 5.dxc5 Nc6
Nimzo-Indian: Classical, 4...c5 5.dxc5 Nc6
Definition
The sequence 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qc2 c5 5.dxc5 Nc6 forms a sub-line of the Nimzo-Indian Defence known as the Classical Variation, or sometimes the Nimzo Classical with ...c5 Nc6. Black combines the standard Nimzo-Indian ideas of Bb4 (pinning the knight on c3) with an immediate ...c5 pawn break, recapturing the pawn only after 5.dxc5 with 5…Nc6. The position is sharp, unbalanced, and rich in strategic themes.
Typical Move Order
The line usually proceeds:
- 1.d4 Nf6
- 2.c4 e6
- 3.Nc3 Bb4 (the Nimzo-Indian Defence)
- 4.Qc2 (Classical/Capablanca Variation, protecting the knight and preparing e4)
- 4…c5 (Black strikes in the centre and invites White to grab the c-pawn)
- 5.dxc5 (most principled; 5.e3 or 5.a3 are alternatives)
- 5…Nc6! (Black ignores the pawn for a moment, develops quickly, and prepares ...Bxc5 or ...Qa5)
Strategic Ideas
For Black
- Rapid development: ...Nc6, ...Qa5, and ...0-0 put pressure on c3 and c5.
- Pawn sacrifice motifs: If White tries to hold the extra pawn, Black often sacrifices a second pawn with ...b6 to rip open lines.
- Minor-piece activity: The dark-squared bishop may retreat to e7 or a5, while the light-squared bishop often lands on d6 or e7 after ...Bxc5.
- Central counter-punch: ...d5 is a thematic break that can free Black’s game.
For White
- Extra pawn on c5: White hopes to consolidate with e3, Nf3, and a3, then return the pawn at a convenient moment.
- Space advantage: After Nf3 and g3/Bg2, White can aim for a kingside expansion with e4.
- Pressure on the queenside: If White keeps the c-pawn, the b-file may open, granting rook activity.
Historical Perspective
The line first gained attention in the 1950s through the games of Soviet grandmasters such as David Bronstein and Efim Geller. Its modern renaissance is largely due to Garry Kasparov, who used it as Black to defeat Vishy Anand in Linares 1992. Today the variation remains a high-level weapon for aggressive Nimzo-Indian specialists like Levon Aronian and Maxime Vachier-Lagrave.
Illustrative Game
The following rapid game is a model example of Black’s dynamic compensation:
[[Pgn| d4|Nf6|c4|e6|Nc3|Bb4|Qc2|c5|dxc5|Nc6|a3|Bxc5|Nf3|d5|cxd5|exd5|Bg5|Be6|e3|h6|Bh4|Rc8|Rd1|Be7|Be2|O-O|O-O|Qa5 |fen|rnb2rk1/pp2bpp1/2n1p2p/q2pP2B/3P3B/P1Q2N2/1P2BPPP/R1BR2K1|arrows|c5c4,d5d4|squares|c4,d4 ]]- Kasparov – Anand, Linares 1992 (0-1). After 16…Qa5, Black’s piece activity overwhelmed White’s extra pawn.
Typical Tactical Themes
- Fork on b4/c3: …Ne4 or …Nb4 can hit c2 and d3 simultaneously.
- Queen swing: …Qa5+ or …Qa5 to pin the knight on c3 and target c5.
- Pawn lever ...d5: Opens lines against the white king if castled kingside.
Practical Tips
- If you play Black, do not rush to recapture on c5. Keep White’s pieces tied to the pawn.
- As White, decide early whether to (a) keep the pawn with b4 & a3 systems or (b) return it with cxd5 and maintain structural integrity.
- Time your kingside castling; sometimes leaving the king in the centre for a move or two helps coordinate rooks.
Interesting Facts
- The line has occasionally transposed into Queen’s Gambit Accepted structures if Black plays …Bxc5 followed by …d5.
- In correspondence play, engines initially like White’s extra pawn, but human practice shows near-perfect compensation for Black.
- The sequence 5…Nc6 was once considered inferior until Dutch GM Jan Timman revived it in the 1980s.
Further Study
Players wishing to explore the line should analyze:
- Tournament games by Levon Aronian and mvl.
- Thematic puzzles featuring the ...Qa5 pin.
- Recent engine-assisted correspondence encounters (2020-2023) for cutting-edge novelties.