E38 Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Berlin Variation
E38 holds three named lines, all under the name Nimzo-Indian Defense. It leaves E32 (Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation) with 4...c5. That final move, by the c-pawn, covers b4 and d4 and opens a line for the queen on d8. Of all other reference positions, the board of E20 (Nimzo-Indian Defense) comes closest, four squares apart.
| # | White | Black |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | d4 | Nf6 |
| 2 | c4 | e6 |
| 3 | Nc3 | Bb4 |
| 4 | Qc2 | c5 |
Lines filed under E38
All three share the start 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qc2 and then split two ways at Black’s move 4.
| Name | After the shared start | Plies | At the end |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Berlin Variation | 4...c5 | 8 | |
| Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Berlin Variation, Steiner Variation | 4...c5 5.dxc5 Bxc3+ | 10 | Black +2, check |
| Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Berlin Variation | 4...O-O 5.e3 d5 6.Nf3 c5 | 12 | Black castled |
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Berlin Variation, Steiner Variation
- 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...Bxc3+ The bishop on b4 takes the knight on c3, giving check.
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Berlin Variation
- 4...O-O Black castles kingside, opening a line for the queen on d8, guarding the pawn on g7.
- 5.e3 The e-pawn advances to e3, covering d4 and f4, opening a line for the bishop on f1 and the queen on c2.
- 5...d5 The d-pawn advances two squares to d5, covering c4 and e4, opening a line for the bishop on c8 and the queen on d8.
- 6.Nf3 The knight leaves g1 for f3, opening a line for the rook on h1.
- 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 E38
- 1.d4 … 3.Nc3three earlier stops: A40, A45, A50
- 3...Bb4E20 Nimzo-Indian Defense
- 4.Qc2E32 Classical Variation
- 4...c5E38
The position after 4...c5
White has brought out the knight on c3; Black the knight on f6 and bishop on b4. White could capture with Qxh7, dxc5. White is to move and has 33 legal moves.
Codes that branch off from E38
The reference lines of one other code leave E38 from the position after 4...c5, each with its own moves.
| Code | Moves | Reference line |
|---|---|---|
| E39 | 5.dxc5 O-O | Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Berlin Variation, Pirc Variation |
Closest boards in other codes
| Code | Line | Differs on |
|---|---|---|
| E22 | Nimzo-Indian Defense: Spielmann Variation | four squares: c2, b3, c5, c7 |
| E33 | Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Zurich Variation | four squares: c5, c6, c7, b8 |
| E34 | Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Noa Variation | four squares: c5, d5, c7, d7 |
| E41 | Nimzo-Indian Defense: Rubinstein System | four squares: d1, c2, e2, e3 |
| E42 | Nimzo-Indian Defense: Rubinstein System, Rubinstein Variation | five squares: d1, g1, c2, e2, e3 |
| E21 | Nimzo-Indian Defense: Three Knights Variation | six squares: d1, g1, c2, f3, c5, c7 |
| E23 | Nimzo-Indian Defense: Spielmann Variation, Romanovsky Gambit | six squares: c2, b3, d4, c5, c6, b8 |
Where lines continue from here
Two named lines filed under other codes pass through the position after 4...c5. All of them belong to the codes listed above.