E37 Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Noa Variation
E37 holds three named lines, all under the name Nimzo-Indian Defense. It leaves E36 (Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Noa Variation, Main Line) with 7.Qc2. Black, to move in that position, has 38 legal moves, the third-highest count of the 40 Nimzo-Indian Defense codes. That final move, by the queen, attacks the knight on e4.
| # | White | Black |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | d4 | Nf6 |
| 2 | c4 | e6 |
| 3 | Nc3 | Bb4 |
| 4 | Qc2 | d5 |
| 5 | a3 | Bxc3+ |
| 6 | Qxc3 | Ne4 |
| 7 | Qc2 |
Moves only E37 plays
Same as E36 up to 5.a3, then:
- 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.
- 7.Qc2 The queen goes from c3 to c2, attacking the knight on e4.
Lines filed under E37
All three share their first 13 plies, the whole reference line and then split two ways at Black’s move 7.
| Name | After the shared start | Plies |
|---|---|---|
| Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Noa Variation | (the shared start itself) | 13 |
| Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Modern Variation | 7...c5 | 14 |
| Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Noa Variation, San Remo Variation | 7...Nc6 8.e3 e5 | 16 |
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Modern Variation
- 7...c5 The c-pawn advances two squares to c5, covering b4 and d4, opening a line for the queen on d8.
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Noa Variation, San Remo Variation
- 7...Nc6 The knight leaves b8 for c6, opening a line for the rook on a8.
- 8.e3 The e-pawn advances to e3, covering d4 and f4, opening a line for the bishop on f1 and the queen on c2.
- 8...e5 The e-pawn advances to e5, covering d4 and f4, opening a line for the bishop on c8.
The road to E37
- 1.d4 … 4...d5six earlier stops: A40, A45, A50, E20, E32, E34
- 5.a3E36 Noa Variation
- 6...Ne4E36 Main Line
- 7.Qc2E37
The position after 7.Qc2
Black has brought out the knight on e4; White has not yet moved a knight or bishop. Black could capture with Nxf2, dxc4.
Closest boards in other codes
| Code | Line | Differs on |
|---|---|---|
| E34 | Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Noa Variation | six squares: a2, a3, c3, b4, e4, f6 |
| D30 | Queen’s Gambit Declined | eight squares: b1, d1, a2, c2, a3, e4, f8, g8 |
| D31 | Queen’s Gambit Declined: Queen’s Knight Variation | eight squares: d1, a2, c2, a3, c3, e4, f8, g8 |
| D35 | Queen’s Gambit Declined: Normal Defense | eight squares: d1, a2, c2, a3, c3, e4, f6, f8 |
| E24 | Nimzo-Indian Defense: Sämisch Variation | eight squares: d1, c2, c3, b4, e4, d5, f6, d7 |
| E32 | Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation | eight squares: a2, a3, c3, b4, e4, d5, f6, d7 |
| E35 | Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Noa Variation | eight squares: a2, a3, c3, b4, c4, e4, e6, f6 |