E59 Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Bernstein Defense
E59 holds two named lines, all under the name Nimzo-Indian Defense. It leaves E58 (Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Bernstein Defense, Exchange Line) with 9...dxc4 10.Bxc4. Four captures are made along the reference line, the most of the 40 Nimzo-Indian Defense codes. At 19 plies, its reference line is the longest of the 40 Nimzo-Indian Defense codes. Its deepest line, Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Bernstein Defense, runs to 11.Qc2, the 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 | Bxc3 |
| 9 | bxc3 | dxc4 |
| 10 | Bxc4 |
Moves only E59 plays
Same as E58 up to 9.bxc3, then:
- 9...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.
- 10.Bxc4 The bishop on d3 takes the pawn on c4, opening a line for the queen on d1.
Lines filed under E59
Both share the start 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 O-O 5.Bd3 d5 and then split two ways at White’s move 6.
| Name | After the shared start | Plies | At the end |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Bernstein Defense | 6.Nf3 c5 7.O-O Nc6 8.a3 Bxc3 9.bxc3 dxc4 10.Bxc4 | 19 | both castled |
| Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Bernstein Defense | 6.a3 Bxc3+ 7.bxc3 dxc4 8.Bxc4 c5 9.Nf3 Nc6 10.O-O Qc7 11.Qc2 | 21 | both castled |
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Bernstein Defense
- 6.a3 The a-pawn advances to a3, covering b4, opening a line for the rook on a1, attacking the bishop on b4.
- 6...Bxc3+ The bishop on b4 takes the knight on c3, giving check.
- 7.bxc3 The b-pawn takes the bishop on c3, covering b4 and d4, opening a line for the bishop on c1.
- 7...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.
- 8.Bxc4 The bishop on d3 takes the pawn on c4, opening a line for the queen on d1.
The road to E59
The position after 10.Bxc4
White has brought out the knight on f3 and bishop on c4; Black the knight on c6 and knight on f6. White has a half-open b-file; Black a half-open d-file. Black could capture with Nxd4, Qxd4, cxd4. Black is to move and has 35 legal moves.
Closest boards in other codes
| Code | Line | Differs on |
|---|---|---|
| E57 | Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Gligoric System, Bernstein Defense | five squares: b2, c3, b4, d4, c5 |
| E54 | Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Gligoric System, Exchange Variation | seven squares: a2, b2, a3, c3, b4, c6, b8 |
| E55 | Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Gligoric System, Bronstein Variation | seven squares: a2, b2, a3, c3, b4, c6, d7 |
| E29 | Nimzo-Indian Defense: Sämisch Variation | eight squares: e1, f1, g1, h1, d3, f3, c4, d7 |
| E56 | Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Gligoric System, Bernstein Defense | eight squares: a2, b2, a3, c3, d3, b4, c4, d5 |
| E28 | Nimzo-Indian Defense: Sämisch Variation | 11 squares: e1, f1, g1, h1, f3, c4, c5, c6 … |
| E49 | Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Botvinnik System | 12 squares: e1, f1, g1, h1, d3, f3, c4, c5 … |