E23 Nimzo-Indian Defense: Spielmann Variation, Romanovsky Gambit
E23 holds four named lines, all under the name Nimzo-Indian Defense. It leaves E22 (Nimzo-Indian Defense: Spielmann Variation) with 4...c5 5.dxc5 Nc6. When the reference line ends, White is one pawn up on material. White, to move in that position, has 25 legal moves, the third-lowest count of the 40 Nimzo-Indian Defense codes.
| # | White | Black |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | d4 | Nf6 |
| 2 | c4 | e6 |
| 3 | Nc3 | Bb4 |
| 4 | Qb3 | c5 |
| 5 | dxc5 | Nc6 |
Moves only E23 plays
Same as E22 up to 4.Qb3, then:
- 4...c5 The c-pawn advances two squares to c5, covering b4 and d4, opening a line for the queen on d8.
- 5.dxc5 The d-pawn takes the pawn on c5, covering b6 and d6.
- 5...Nc6 The knight leaves b8 for c6, opening a line for the rook on a8, guarding the bishop on b4.
Lines filed under E23
All four share their first ten plies, the whole reference line.
| Name | After the shared start | Plies | At the end |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nimzo-Indian Defense: Spielmann Variation, Romanovsky Gambit | (the shared start itself) | 10 | White +1 |
| Nimzo-Indian Defense: Spielmann Variation, Carlsbad Variation | 6.Nf3 Ne4 7.Bd2 Nxd2 | 14 | Black +2 |
| Nimzo-Indian Defense: Spielmann Variation, Stahlberg Variation | 6.Nf3 Ne4 7.Bd2 Nxc5 | 14 | |
| Nimzo-Indian Defense: Spielmann Variation, Stahlberg Variation | 6.Nf3 Ne4 7.Bd2 Nxc5 8.Qc2 f5 9.g3 | 17 |
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Spielmann Variation, Carlsbad Variation
- 6.Nf3 The knight leaves g1 for f3, opening a line for the rook on h1.
- 6...Ne4 The knight goes from f6 to e4, opening a line for the queen on d8, attacking the knight on c3.
- 7.Bd2 The bishop leaves c1 for d2, opening a line for the rook on a1.
- 7...Nxd2 The knight on e4 takes the bishop on d2, attacking the bishop on f1 and the queen on b3.
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Spielmann Variation, Stahlberg Variation
- 6.Nf3 The knight leaves g1 for f3, opening a line for the rook on h1.
- 6...Ne4 The knight goes from f6 to e4, opening a line for the queen on d8, attacking the knight on c3.
- 7.Bd2 The bishop leaves c1 for d2, opening a line for the rook on a1.
- 7...Nxc5 The knight on e4 takes the pawn on c5, attacking the queen on b3.
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Spielmann Variation, Stahlberg Variation
- 6.Nf3 The knight leaves g1 for f3, opening a line for the rook on h1.
- 6...Ne4 The knight goes from f6 to e4, opening a line for the queen on d8, attacking the knight on c3.
- 7.Bd2 The bishop leaves c1 for d2, opening a line for the rook on a1.
- 7...Nxc5 The knight on e4 takes the pawn on c5, attacking the queen on b3.
- 8.Qc2 The queen goes from b3 to c2.
The road to E23
- 1.d4 … 3.Nc3three earlier stops: A40, A45, A50
- 3...Bb4E20 Nimzo-Indian Defense
- 4.Qb3E22 Spielmann Variation
- 5...Nc6E23
The position after 5...Nc6
White has brought out the knight on c3; Black the knight on c6, knight on f6 and bishop on b4. White has a half-open d-file; Black a half-open c-file. White could capture with Qxb4.
Closest boards in other codes
| Code | Line | Differs on |
|---|---|---|
| E33 | Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Zurich Variation | five squares: c2, b3, d4, c5, c7 |
| E38 | Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Berlin Variation | six squares: c2, b3, d4, c5, c6, b8 |
| A33 | English Opening: Symmetrical Variation, Anti-Benoni Variation, Spielmann Defense | seven squares: d1, g1, b3, b4, d4, c5, f8 |
| E20 | Nimzo-Indian Defense | seven squares: d1, b3, d4, c5, c6, c7, b8 |
| E32 | Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation | seven squares: c2, b3, d4, c5, c6, c7, b8 |
| E39 | Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Berlin Variation, Pirc Variation | eight squares: c2, b3, c6, b8, e8, f8, g8, h8 |
| E41 | Nimzo-Indian Defense: Rubinstein System | eight squares: d1, e2, b3, e3, d4, c5, c6, b8 |