Nimzo-Indian Defense
also known as: Nimzo
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4
Named after
Aron Nimzowitsch (1886–1935), Latvian-born hypermodern prophet, author of "My System" — chess's most influential (and most argumentative) strategy book.
Origin
Developed by Nimzowitsch in the 1910s–20s as hypermodernism's answer to 1.d4: control the center with pieces, not pawns.
The story
Nimzowitsch — brilliant, cantankerous, famous for standing on his head between moves and once shouting "Why must I lose to this idiot?" after a defeat — distilled his whole philosophy into 3...Bb4: the pin on the knight controls e4 without placing a single pawn in the center, and Black cheerfully gives the bishop pair to saddle White with doubled c-pawns (his beloved "blockade" targets). It was scandalous doctrine in 1920 and is simply the truth in 2020: the Nimzo-Indian is universally considered Black's soundest ambitious defense to 1.d4, so much so that avoiding it (via 3.Nf3 or 3.g3) defines entire White repertoires.
Why it matters
The most respected defense to the queen's pawn: every world champion since Capablanca has played it. Its themes — bishop-for-structure trades, dark-square blockades, the isolated pawn couple — are core curriculum for positional chess.
Notable games
- Sämisch–Nimzowitsch, Copenhagen 1923 (the "Immortal Zugzwang Game")
- Botvinnik–Capablanca, AVRO 1938 (the most famous combination in a Nimzo ever played)