Nimzo-Indian: Classical Noa 5.e3 O-O
Nimzo-Indian: Classical, Noa, 5.e3 O-O
Definition
The line arises from the Nimzo-Indian Defence after the moves 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 O-O 5. e3. It belongs to the Classical Variation (4.Qc2) and is catalogued in the ECO as E36, often called the “Noa” Variation—named after the early 20th-century German master Max Noa, who analysed the sequence with 4…O-O.
Move Order
The standard path to the position is:
- 1. d4 Nf6 – Black discourages 2.e4 and heads toward Indian setups.
- 2. c4 e6 – Preparing …Bb4 and freeing the dark-squared bishop.
- 3. Nc3 Bb4 – The hallmark Nimzo pin on the c3-knight.
- 4. Qc2 – The Classical move, immediately unpinning and supporting e2-e4.
- 4…O-O – The defining Noa move; Black postpones …d5 / …c5 decisions.
- 5. e3 – White shores up the d- and f-file squares and readies Nf3/Bd3.
Strategic Themes
- Flexible Centre: White keeps both central pawns on their home squares, delaying e2-e4 or d4-d5 until the optimal moment.
- Two Bishops vs. Structure: Black usually intends …Bxc3, grabbing the strategic pair of bishops for doubled c-pawns.
- Delayed Commitment: By castling first, Black can choose between pawn breaks …d5 and …c5 depending on White’s setup (Nf3, a3, Bd3 lines).
- Piece Play: The uncommitted pawn structure often leads to rich middlegames where piece activity outweighs static considerations.
Typical Continuations
- 5…d5 6.a3 Bxc3+ 7.Qxc3 c5 – Classical Rubinstein set-up, aiming at pressure on d4.
- 5…c5 6.dxc5 Na6 – The Romanishin idea, steering for dark-square play and an eventual …Nxc5.
- 5…b6 6.Bd3 Bb7 – Queenside fianchetto, leading to hedgehog-style positions.
Model Game
World Championship practice has repeatedly validated the line.
- Karpov – Kasparov, WCh (Seville) 1987, Game 10 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qc2 O-O 5.e3 d5 6.a3 Bxc3+ 7.Qxc3 b6 … Kasparov equalised comfortably and later prevailed, showcasing Black’s strategic resources.
Illustrative Line
The diagram can be followed in the interactive PGN:
Historical Notes
• Early instances appear in the 1920s, notably in games by Siegbert Tarrasch and Rudolf Spielmann. • The modern revival is credited to Anatoly Karpov, who used the line as White throughout the 1970s before employing it successfully as Black. • The 4…O-O idea’s attribution to Max Noa is somewhat anecdotal; very few of Noa’s own games survive, but his analyses were circulated in German chess journals of the era.
Typical Plans
- For White
- Push e2-e4 in one stroke (often prepared by Nf3 & Rd1).
- Expand on the queenside with a3, b4, and c5 after Black captures on c3.
- Use the bishop pair in open positions once the centre clarifies.
- For Black
- Destroy White’s pawn structure via …Bxc3+ at the right moment.
- Counter in the centre with …d5 or …c5, leading to hanging-pawn or IQP structures favourable for active piece play.
- Pressure the c- and d-file weaknesses with rooks and minor-piece maneuvers (…Nc6-a5-c4 ideas).
Interesting Facts
- The move 4.Qc2 was popularised by Aron Nimzowitsch himself, who loved avoiding doubled c-pawns; ironically, in many “Noa” lines those very doubled pawns arise anyway after …Bxc3+.
- Modern engines rate the line as dynamically balanced, but it remains one of the most complex branches of the Nimzo-Indian; in correspondence chess it scores close to 50% for both colours.
- The first computer to beat a World Champion, Deep Blue, played the Classical 4.Qc2 line as Black against Garry Kasparov in 1997 (Game 5), although it chose 4…c5 instead of 4…O-O.
Why Choose—or Avoid—the Line?
Players who relish flexible positions with multiple middlegame transpositions will enjoy steering either side of the Noa Variation. Those preferring concrete pawn structures may find the strategic ambiguity less appealing, as a single inaccurate move can irreparably damage one’s centre or bishop pair activity.