Starting from 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.a3 Bxc3+ 5.bxc3 c5 6.e3, players enter the Nimzo-Indian Defence: 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4... 6.e3 — ECO E26. Across rating levels it shows up in 107,768 recorded games — enough data to map exactly where it succeeds and where it stalls.
History and Notable Players
It arises from the Nimzo-Indian Defence: 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4... 5.bxc3. On the White side, Laszlo Szabo (13 games), Efim Geller (13 games), Viktor Moskalenko (12 games) top the database. Notable Black exponents: Ratmir Kholmov (6 games), Hans Mueller (5 games), Alberic O'Kelly de Galway (5 games).
Performance Across Rating Levels
How well the Nimzo-Indian Defence: 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4... 6.e3 works depends on what level you're playing at. At 1200 Elo, the opening shows up in 0.00% of games (1,576 samples). White scores 46.8%, Black 49.2%, draws 3.9%. Move up to 1800 Elo and the share shifts to 0.00%, with White winning 45.3% versus Black's 50%. At the top end (2500+ Elo), popularity is 0.02% with 8% draws — a clear sign of how much theory rules the line at master level. White's score improves by 3.2pp from the 1200 bracket to the 2500 bracket — the line rewards preparation.
Move Diversity and Theory Depth
What players actually play after the opening moves depends heavily on rating. At 1200 Elo, the top reply is O-O, played 23.8% of the time. There are 7 other moves seeing meaningful share, and 61.2% of games stick to established theory. Entropy: 2.89. By 2500, Nc6 dominates at 36.4% of replies; only 4 viable alternatives remain and 76.4% of moves are theory. Entropy drops to 2.23. The narrowing is significant — strong players consolidate around a small set of best moves, while amateurs scatter across many plausible-looking options.
Common Mistakes
- Neglecting development — Extra pawn moves in the opening are tempting, especially when you "know the moves". Developing a piece each turn is the simple correction.
- Letting White own the centre — Hypermodern openings concede central space on purpose, but only if you strike back in time. Delay the counter-blow and you end up squeezed.
Practice on Chessiverse
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