Demystifying the Nimzo-Indian
A Resource Guide
New to chess openings?
The Nimzo-Indian Defense offers a flexible and dynamic approach for Black, perfect for controlling the center and launching attacks.
Experienced players can sharpen their repertoire with in-depth articles, strategic breakdowns, and video lectures from Grandmasters. This archive equips Black and White players with the knowledge to master this exciting opening.
Nimzo-Indian Wikipedia Page
General opening theory, History and Variations
(Page just for this Variation)
BOOKS (Free)
Free Nimzo-Indian Defense Chessable Courses
- Nimzo-Indian Defense- Tournament Edition - 37 Trainable Variations
- Short & Sweet: Nimzo-Indian - 21 Trainable Variations by IM Sieleki
- Short & Sweet: Nimzo-Indian - 25 Trainable Variations by WFM Keetman
- Short & Sweet: Nimzo-Indian Defense - 31 Trainable Variations GM Ganguly
- Short & Sweet: La Nimzo Clásica - 30 Variations GM Fernandez (SPANISH)
Nimzo-Indian Chess Articles
The Nimzo-Indian: An Essential Guide to One of the Best Chess Openings - Huge Article with 6 Imbedded Videos done By several GM's (Very Nice Place to Start)
How To Play The Nimzo Indian Defense Chess Opening - Hercules Chess
A Pawn Sacrifice Revisited - IM Andrew Martin
Nimzo-Indian Defence - Simplify Chess Opening Guide
Nimzo-Indian Defense - Opening Guide by IM Alberto Chueca
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Play, Attack, and Counter as White & Black - Chessable Blog Opening Guide ( very nice)
Nimzo-Indian LiChess Studies
Explore interactive training tools to solidify your understanding of the opening's concepts.
- Nimzo-Indian Defense - 39 Chapter Guide (500 hearts)
- The Complete Guide to the Nimzo - 6 Chapter Study (56 hearts)
- Nimzo Indian defense - 7 Chapter Study showing Main Lines
- Playing against the NIMZO-INDIAN - 9 Chapter Study
- QGD vs Nimzo Indian - 3 Chapter Study
Games Databases
Analyze real-life games featuring the Nimzo-Indian and see how it's played in practice.
365Chess.com
- E20 - E59 Nimzo-Indian Defense - (Lists Broken Down by ECO Code)
Chessgames.com
- Nimzo-Indian (E20-E59) - 74 Annotated Games
Annotated Nimzo-Indian Games
Bacrot, E. vs Anand, V. (E20) - Boris Schipkov
Lautier, J. vs Korchnoi V. (E20) - Boris Schipkov
Timman vs Karpov (E21) - Inside Chess GM Yasser Seirawan
Volkov, S. vs Sakaev, K (E25) - Boris Schipkov
Khalifman, A vs Anand, V. (E42) -Boris Schipkov
Malakhov, Vladimir - Nielsen, Peter Heine [E46] - Boris Schipkov
Aleksandrov, Aleksej (2630) - Lugovoi, Alexei (2540) [E48]
Van Wely, Loek (2681) - Acs, Peter (2591) [E48]
Lugovoi, Aleksei - Balashov, Yuri [E52]
Aleksandrov, A. (2620) - Adams, M. (2745) [E55]
Khalifman A vs Anand V [E55]
Goldin, Alexander (2618) - Ye Jiangchuan (2676) [E61]
Nimzo Indian Chess Video Lessons
Playlists
- The Nimzo - indian defense explained - 36 Video Playlist - Jozarov's Chess Channel
- Nimzo-Indian Defense - 13 Video playlist - Chess Geek
- Improve your openings with IM Sagar Shah - 23 Video Playlist - Chessbase India - (First 6 Days Videos Nimzo-Indian - 8.5 Hrs !)
I Played This Aggressive Opening For 20 Years And Even Defeated GMs - 24 Min - GM Igor Smirnov - reveals a secret variation that serves as a solid opening system for Black. This variation eliminates the need to master the complex theories of the Nimzo-Indian Defense and can be played against all of White's responses. It also offers the opportunity to launch a powerful kingside attack.
WIN GAMES with the Nimzo-Indian Defense! - 37 Min IM Rozman - In-depth look at the Nimzo-Indian Defense. Explains the key moves and strategies, emphasizing that this defense is not a quick-win scheme but a solid and strategic approach. The video covers various lines and responses, including the main lines with e3 and queen c2, and offers practical advice on how to handle different situations that may arise during a game.
Chess Openings Uncovered Ep 4 - The Nimzo Indian - 53 Min - ChessExplained - IM Christof Sielecki
Chess Coach IM Andreas Toth
- Intro into the Nimzo-Indian - Understanding Your Openings #5 - 28 Min
- Tricky sidelines in the Nimzo-Indian - Understanding Your Openings #5 - 15 Min
- Nimzo-Indian Mainline with 4.e3 | Understanding Your Openings #6 - 27 Min
- Nimzo Indian Defence | Lines Against Qc2 | Understanding Your Openings #9 - 17 Min
- The Anti Nimzo Indians | Understanding Your Openings - 13 Min
- The Amateur's Mind, Classical OTB analysis - NImzo Indian Defence - 8 Min
St Louis Chess Club
- The Nimzo-Indian Defence, Classical Variation - Chess Openings Explained - 44 Min
- Play the Nimzo-Indian Defence - GM Varuzhan Akobian - 24 Min GM Akobian
- Weaken White with the Nimzo-Indian | Grandmaster's Choice - IM Dorsa Derakhshani - 2 HR
- Entertaining Nimzo-Indian & King's Indian - Beginner Breakdown - 52 min
(f3 Nimzo Series) NM Caleb Denby
- Fight with the f3 Nimzo-Indian: Part 1 | Chess Openings Explained - 64 Min
- Fight with the f3 Nimzo-Indian: Part 2 | Chess Openings Explained - 57 Min
- The f3 Nimzo-Indian: Part 4 | Chess Openings Explained- 58 Min
- The f3 Nimzo-Indian: Surprising Ne8! | Chess Openings Explained - 65 Min
- The f3 Nimzo-Indian: Perplexing Bishop Retreat | Chess Openings Explained - 66 min
- The 4.f3 Nimzo-Indian Defence | Road to 2000 - 57 Min
- The f3 Nimzo-Indian: ...c5 (Dark Sq. Plan) | Chess Openings Explained - 68 Min
- The f3 Nimzo-Indian: More 4...c5 | Chess Openings Explained- 57 Min
- The f3 Nimzo-Indian: Odds & Ends | Chess Openings Explained - 59 Min
Nimzo-Indian Game Videos w/ Analysis
Playlists
- Nimzo-Indian - 160 Video Playlist - Kingscrusher (Famous Games)
- Nimzo-Indian Defense - 108 Video Playlist - agadmantor (Famous games)
- Nimzo-Indian Defense - 91 Video Playlist - Chess School
- Nimzo Indian - 82 Video Playlist - Chessbase India - (Lessons and Games)
- GM Akobian vs Nimzo Indian - 6 Video playlist - ( All are 30-40 Min Lectures at St. louis CC)
GM Naroditsky
- Master Class | Nimzo-Indian Defence | Chess Speedrun | Grandmaster Naroditsky - 47 Min
- Nimzo-Indian Positional Break Down | Queen's Indian | The Sensei Speedrun | GM Naroditsky - 18 Min
Ivanchuk vs Karpov - 11 Min Video
Anand vs Kramnik - 11 Min Video
Kasparov vs Chuchelov - 8 Min Video
Portisch vs Fischer - 8 min Video
Topalov vs Aronian - 11 Min Video
Reshevsky vs Donner - 9 Min Video
Morozevich vs Carlsen - 10 Min Video
Murshed vs Bradbury - 9 Min Video