In the Nimzo Indian Defence, also called Nimzowitsch Defence, Black is prepared to give up the bishop pair by playing …Bxc3, giving his bishop for a knight. This loses the two bishops for Black but he gets dynamic compensation in doubling White’s c-pawns.

As White has the two bishops Black should create a blocked position to reduce the power of the two bishops of White. Black should keep the position closed as this would be favorable for knights.

This opening is very solid for Black and I suggest that you study and play it yourself. It is also played at high level chess and world championships.

The first moves are:
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4

White moves

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 Rubinstein System	1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4.Qc2 Capablanca Variation
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1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4.Nf3 Kasparov Variation Former world champion Garry Kasparov used this variation six times against Karpov in the world championship match 1985.	1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4.f3 f3 Variation (Kmoch Variation) White tries to control e4 but delays development. Usually Black answers 4…d5 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.bxc3 c5 7.cxd5 Nxd5 putting pressure to c3 and d4.
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1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4.Bg5 Leningrad Variation developed by players from Leningrad. Main line 4. … h6 5. Bh4 c5 6.d5 d6 7. e3 Bxc3+ 8. bxc3 e5	1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4.a3 Saemisch Variation White gives up a tempo playing the pawn move a3 and gets doubled c-pawns to gain the bishop pair. After 4..BxN 5.bxc Black should blockade the doubled pawns with 5….c5 and apply pressure on the pawn at c4.
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