E36 Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Noa Variation
E36 holds four named lines, all under the name Nimzo-Indian Defense. It leaves E34, a position of the same name, with 5.a3. Black, to move in that position, has 37 legal moves, the fifth-highest count of the 40 Nimzo-Indian Defense codes. That final move, by the a-pawn, covers b4, opens a line for the rook on a1 and attacks the bishop on b4.
| # | White | Black |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | d4 | Nf6 |
| 2 | c4 | e6 |
| 3 | Nc3 | Bb4 |
| 4 | Qc2 | d5 |
| 5 | a3 |
Lines filed under E36
All four share their first nine plies, the whole reference line.
| Name | After the shared start | Plies |
|---|---|---|
| Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Noa Variation | (the shared start itself) | 9 |
| Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Noa Variation, Botvinnik Variation | 5...Bxc3+ 6.Qxc3 Nc6 | 12 |
| Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Noa Variation, Main Line | 5...Bxc3+ 6.Qxc3 Ne4 | 12 |
| Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Romanishin Gambit | 5...Bxc3+ 6.Qxc3 c5 | 12 |
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Noa Variation, Botvinnik Variation
- 5...Bxc3+ The bishop on b4 takes the knight on c3, giving check.
- 6.Qxc3 The queen on c2 takes the bishop on c3, guarding the pawn on c4 and the pawn on d4.
- 6...Nc6 The knight leaves b8 for c6, opening a line for the rook on a8.
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Noa Variation, Main Line
- 5...Bxc3+ The bishop on b4 takes the knight on c3, giving check.
- 6.Qxc3 The queen on c2 takes the bishop on c3, guarding the pawn on c4 and the pawn on d4.
- 6...Ne4 The knight goes from f6 to e4, opening a line for the queen on d8, attacking the queen on c3.
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Romanishin Gambit
- 5...Bxc3+ The bishop on b4 takes the knight on c3, giving check.
- 6.Qxc3 The queen on c2 takes the bishop on c3, guarding the pawn on c4 and the pawn on d4.
- 6...c5 The c-pawn advances two squares to c5, covering b4 and d4, opening a line for the queen on d8.
The road to E36
- 1.d4 … 3...Bb4four earlier stops: A40, A45, A50, E20
- 4.Qc2E32 Classical Variation
- 4...d5E34 Noa Variation
- 5.a3E36
The position after 5.a3
White has brought out the knight on c3; Black the knight on f6 and bishop on b4. Black could capture with Bxa3, Bxc3+, dxc4. Undefended and attacked: the pawn on c4.
Codes that branch off from E36
The reference lines of one other code leave E36 from the position after 6...Ne4, each with its own moves.
| Code | Moves | Reference line |
|---|---|---|
| E37 | 7.Qc2 | Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Noa Variation |
Closest boards in other codes
| Code | Line | Differs on |
|---|---|---|
| E24 | Nimzo-Indian Defense: Sämisch Variation | four squares: d1, c2, d5, d7 |
| E32 | Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation | four squares: a2, a3, d5, d7 |
| E35 | Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Noa Variation | four squares: a2, a3, c4, e6 |
| D35 | Queen’s Gambit Declined: Normal Defense | six squares: d1, a2, c2, a3, b4, f8 |
| D38 | Queen’s Gambit Declined: Ragozin Defense | six squares: d1, g1, a2, c2, a3, f3 |
| E20 | Nimzo-Indian Defense | six squares: d1, a2, c2, a3, d5, d7 |
| E22 | Nimzo-Indian Defense: Spielmann Variation | six squares: a2, c2, a3, b3, d5, d7 |
Where lines continue from here
Three named lines filed under other codes pass through the position after 5.a3. All of them belong to the codes listed above.