ecocodes
Volume E · Indian defenses‹ E39E41 ›
a1b2c3d4e5f6g7h8
Reference position · Black to move

E40 Nimzo-Indian Defense: Rubinstein System

E40 holds two named lines, all under the name Nimzo-Indian Defense. It leaves E20 (Nimzo-Indian Defense) with 4.e3. Lines of 21 other codes continue from its position, the second-widest spread of the 40 Nimzo-Indian Defense codes. That final move, by the e-pawn, covers d4 and f4 and opens a line for the queen on d1 and the bishop on f1.

Score sheet
#WhiteBlack
1d4Nf6
2c4e6
3Nc3Bb4
4e3

Lines filed under E40

Both share their first seven plies, the whole reference line.

NameAfter the shared startPlies
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Rubinstein System(the shared start itself)7
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Rubinstein System, Taimanov Variation4...Nc68

Nimzo-Indian Defense: Rubinstein System, Taimanov Variation

  1. 4...Nc6 The knight leaves b8 for c6, opening a line for the rook on a8, guarding the bishop on b4.

The road to E40

  1. 1.d4 … 1...Nf6two earlier stops: A40, A45
  2. 2.c4A50 Normal Variation
  3. 3...Bb4E20 Nimzo-Indian Defense
  4. 4.e3E40

The position after 4.e3

White has brought out the knight on c3; Black the knight on f6 and bishop on b4. Black could capture with Bxc3+. Black is to move and has 33 legal moves.

WhiteBlackMaterial (pawn units)3939Minor pieces developed12Moves spent on pawns31Pawns on d4, e4, d5, e510Squares attacked in the other half54not castlednot castled

Codes that branch off from E40

The reference lines of three other codes leave E40 from the position after 4.e3, each with its own moves.

CodeMovesReference line
E414...c5Nimzo-Indian Defense: Rubinstein System
E434...b6Nimzo-Indian Defense: St. Petersburg Variation
E464...O-ONimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation

Closest boards in other codes

CodeLineDiffers on
E21Nimzo-Indian Defense: Three Knights Variationfour squares: g1, e2, e3, f3
E22Nimzo-Indian Defense: Spielmann Variationfour squares: d1, e2, b3, e3
E24Nimzo-Indian Defense: Sämisch Variationfour squares: a2, e2, a3, e3
E30Nimzo-Indian Defense: Leningrad Variationfour squares: c1, e2, e3, g5
E32Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variationfour squares: d1, c2, e2, e3
E42Nimzo-Indian Defense: Rubinstein System, Rubinstein Variationfour squares: g1, e2, c5, c7
E44Nimzo-Indian Defense: St. Petersburg Variationfour squares: g1, e2, b6, b7

Where lines continue from here

Besides the codes above, they belong to E28, E29, E42, E44, E45, E47, E48, E49, E50, E51, E52, E53, E54, E55, E56, E57, E58, E59.

Volume E

  1. 00
  2. 01
  3. 02
  4. 03
  5. 04
  6. 05
  7. 06
  8. 07
  9. 08
  10. 09
  11. 10
  12. 11
  13. 12
  14. 13
  15. 14
  16. 15
  17. 16
  18. 17
  19. 18
  20. 19
  21. 20
  22. 21
  23. 22
  24. 23
  25. 24
  26. 25
  27. 26
  28. 27
  29. 28
  30. 29
  31. 30
  32. 31
  33. 32
  34. 33
  35. 34
  36. 35
  37. 36
  38. 37
  39. 38
  40. 39
  41. 40
  42. 41
  43. 42
  44. 43
  45. 44
  46. 45
  47. 46
  48. 47
  49. 48
  50. 49
  51. 50
  52. 51
  53. 52
  54. 53
  55. 54
  56. 55
  57. 56
  58. 57
  59. 58
  60. 59
  61. 60
  62. 61
  63. 62
  64. 63
  65. 64
  66. 65
  67. 66
  68. 67
  69. 68
  70. 69
  71. 70
  72. 71
  73. 72
  74. 73
  75. 74
  76. 75
  77. 76
  78. 77
  79. 78
  80. 79
  81. 80
  82. 81
  83. 82
  84. 83
  85. 84
  86. 85
  87. 86
  88. 87
  89. 88
  90. 89
  91. 90
  92. 91
  93. 92
  94. 93
  95. 94
  96. 95
  97. 96
  98. 97
  99. 98
  100. 99

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