1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 b6 5.Nge2 Ba6 opens the Nimzo-Indian Defence: 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4... Ba6, ECO E45. Lichess records 12,920 games in this line, which gives us a reliable view of how it actually performs in practice.
History and Notable Players
It arises from the Nimzo-Indian Defence: 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4... 5.Nge2. Among the most prolific White practitioners are Rainer Knaak (13 games), Jan Hein Donner (13 games), Svetozar Gligoric (12 games). Black-side regulars include Andreas Huss (11 games), Matthias Wahls (10 games), Jan H Timman (10 games).
Performance Across Rating Levels
How well the Nimzo-Indian Defence: 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4... Ba6 works depends on what level you're playing at. At 1200 Elo, the opening shows up in 0.00% of games (35 samples). White scores 51.4%, Black 48.6%, draws 0%. At 1800 the opening surfaces in 0.00% of games; White wins 49.6%, Black 45.3%, draws 5.1%. Among 2500-rated players the line appears in 0.02% of games and draws spike to 10.3%, indicating tight preparation. White's edge erodes by 7.2pp from 1200 to 2500 Elo, suggesting Black's counterplay is easier to find with experience.
Move Diversity and Theory Depth
Move choice is far from uniform in the Nimzo-Indian Defence: 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4... Ba6. At 1200 Elo, the top reply is a3, played 54.3% of the time. There are 5 other moves seeing meaningful share, and 74.3% of games stick to established theory. Entropy: 2.35. By 2500, a3 dominates at 75.4% of replies; only 2 viable alternatives remain and 99% of moves are theory. Entropy drops to 1.04. That entropy collapse is the signature of a line where preparation pays off: at the top, players know the best move and play it.
Common Mistakes
- 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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