E57 Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Gligoric System, Bernstein Defense
E57 holds a single named line. It leaves E56, a position of the same name, with 8.a3 dxc4 9.Bxc4 cxd4. White, to move in that position, has 43 legal moves, the most of the 40 Nimzo-Indian Defense codes. When the reference line ends, Black is one pawn up on material. At 18 plies, its reference line is the second-longest of the 40 Nimzo-Indian Defense codes.
| # | White | Black |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | d4 | Nf6 |
| 2 | c4 | e6 |
| 3 | Nc3 | Bb4 |
| 4 | e3 | O-O |
| 5 | Bd3 | d5 |
| 6 | Nf3 | c5 |
| 7 | O-O | Nc6 |
| 8 | a3 | dxc4 |
| 9 | Bxc4 | cxd4 |
Moves only E57 plays
Same as E58 up to 8.a3, then:
- 8...dxc4 The d-pawn takes the pawn on c4, covering b3 and d3, opening a line for the queen on d8, attacking the bishop on d3.
- 9.Bxc4 The bishop on d3 takes the pawn on c4, opening a line for the queen on d1.
- 9...cxd4 The c-pawn takes the pawn on d4, covering c3 and e3, opening a line for the bishop on b4, attacking the knight on c3.
The road to E57
- 1.d4 … 6.Nf3eight earlier stops: A40, A45, A50, E20, E40, E46, E47, E48
- 6...c5E53 Gligoric System
- 7...Nc6E56 Bernstein Defense
- 9...cxd4E57
The position after 9...cxd4
White has brought out the knight on c3, knight on f3 and bishop on c4; Black the knight on c6, knight on f6 and bishop on b4. White has a half-open d-file. White could capture with Bxe6, Nxd4, Qxd4, axb4, exd4. The c-file is fully open.
Closest boards in other codes
| Code | Line | Differs on |
|---|---|---|
| E59 | Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Bernstein Defense | five squares: b2, c3, b4, d4, c5 |
| E54 | Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Gligoric System, Exchange Variation | six squares: a2, a3, d4, c5, c6, b8 |
| E55 | Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Gligoric System, Bronstein Variation | six squares: a2, a3, d4, c5, c6, d7 |
| D19 | Slav Defense: Czech Variation, Dutch Variation | 11 squares: a3, a4, d4, f5, c6, b8, c8, e8 … |
| E50 | Nimzo-Indian Defense | 12 squares: e1, f1, g1, h1, a2, a3, c4, d4 … |
| E51 | Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Ragozin Variation | 12 squares: e1, f1, g1, h1, a2, a3, c4, d4 … |
| D69 | Queen’s Gambit Declined: Orthodox Defense, Classical Variation | 13 squares: a1, c1, a2, a3, c3, f3, b4, d4 … |