Starting from 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 0-0, players enter the Nimzo-Indian Defence: 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4... 0-0 — ECO E46. With 764,157 games on record, the patterns below come from the largest practical sample available.
History and Notable Players
It arises from the Nimzo-Indian Defence: 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4... 4.e3. Among the most prolific White practitioners are Svetozar Gligoric (156 games), Aleksej Aleksandrov (147 games), Fernando Peralta (82 games). Black-side regulars include Wolfgang Unzicker (62 games), Ivan Farago (60 games), Viktor Korchnoi (43 games).
Performance Across Rating Levels
How well the Nimzo-Indian Defence: 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4... 0-0 works depends on what level you're playing at. Among 1200-rated players, it appears in 0.00% of games — 14,241 of them on record — with White winning 49.8% and Black 46.8%. At 1800 the opening surfaces in 0.02% of games; White wins 48.4%, Black 46.6%, draws 4.9%. At 2500, 0.41% of games go into this opening; draws sit at 9.6% — the line is well-mapped at this level. Positions also become less sharp as level rises (sharpness 0.97 → 0.90).
Time Control Patterns
Look at the same opening across time controls and blitz stands out. In bullet, it appears in 0.01% of games (270,872); White wins 49.9%. Blitz shows 0.02% adoption across 677,191 games, White scoring 48.6%. In rapid, the share rises to 0.01% — 85,398 games, White 46.7%. White's score swings 3.2pp across formats, so time control isn't just a stylistic choice here — it shifts the actual results.
Move Diversity and Theory Depth
Looking at move selection shows how forcing — or not — the position really is. At 1200 Elo, the top reply is Nf3, played 29.2% of the time. There are 5 other moves seeing meaningful share, and 67.6% of games stick to established theory. Entropy: 2.58. By 2500, Bd3 dominates at 51.6% of replies; only 3 viable alternatives remain and 91% of moves are theory. Entropy drops to 1.81. That entropy collapse is the signature of a line where preparation pays off: at the top, players know the best move and play it.
Historical Trends
Year-over-year data tells you whether this opening is a contemporary fixture or a fading one. Adoption peaked in 2016 at 0.02% (14,681 games). By 2025 it sits at 0.01% — a 42% shift overall, leaving the line on the rise.
Main Lines and Variations
After 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 0-0, the established follow-ups are:
Each branch leads to a different middlegame character — the resulting pawn structure decides what kind of game you get.
Common Mistakes
- Drifting away from main theory — At 400 Elo, theory adherence sits at 66.8% — versus 89.4% at 2000. The most popular deviation is a3 (played 22.4% of the time at 400, much less so up top). It looks fine but quietly hands the better-prepared side an edge.
- Neglecting development — It can feel productive to make extra pawn moves early, but falling behind in piece development is what loses most amateur games — especially in open positions where active pieces find squares fast.
- 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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