E31 Nimzo-Indian Defense: Leningrad Variation, Benoni Defense
E31 holds a single named line. It leaves E30 (Nimzo-Indian Defense: Leningrad Variation) with 4...h6 5.Bh4 c5 6.d5 d6. That final move, by the d-pawn, covers c5 and e5 and opens a line for the bishop on c8 and the queen on d8. Of all other reference positions, the board of A60 (Benoni Defense: Modern Variation) comes closest, ten squares apart.
| # | White | Black |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | d4 | Nf6 |
| 2 | c4 | e6 |
| 3 | Nc3 | Bb4 |
| 4 | Bg5 | h6 |
| 5 | Bh4 | c5 |
| 6 | d5 | d6 |
Moves only E31 plays
Same as E30 up to 4.Bg5, then:
- 4...h6 The h-pawn advances to h6, covering g5, opening a line for the rook on h8, attacking the bishop on g5.
- 5.Bh4 The bishop goes from g5 to h4, attacking the knight on f6.
- 5...c5 The c-pawn advances two squares to c5, covering b4 and d4, opening a line for the queen on d8.
- 6.d5 The d-pawn advances to d5, covering c6 and e6, opening a line for the queen on d1.
- 6...d6 The d-pawn advances to d6, covering c5 and e5, opening a line for the bishop on c8 and the queen on d8.
The road to E31
- 1.d4 … 3.Nc3three earlier stops: A40, A45, A50
- 3...Bb4E20 Nimzo-Indian Defense
- 4.Bg5E30 Leningrad Variation
- 6...d6E31
The position after 6...d6
White has brought out the knight on c3 and bishop on h4; Black the knight on f6 and bishop on b4. White could capture with Bxf6, dxe6. White is to move and has 27 legal moves.
Closest boards in other codes
| Code | Line | Differs on |
|---|---|---|
| A65 | Benoni Defense: King’s Pawn Line | ten squares: c1, e2, b4, c4, e4, h4, e6, h6 … |
| E20 | Nimzo-Indian Defense | ten squares: c1, d4, h4, c5, d5, d6, h6, c7 … |
| E38 | Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Berlin Variation | ten squares: c1, d1, c2, d4, h4, d5, d6, h6 … |
| E41 | Nimzo-Indian Defense: Rubinstein System | ten squares: c1, e2, e3, d4, h4, d5, d6, h6 … |
| B14 | Caro-Kann Defense: Panov Attack | 11 squares: c1, e2, b4, d4, h4, c5, d5, d6 … |
| D32 | Tarrasch Defense | 11 squares: c1, b4, d4, h4, d5, d6, f6, h6 … |
| D35 | Queen’s Gambit Declined: Normal Defense | 11 squares: c1, b4, d4, h4, c5, d5, d6, h6 … |