Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Berlin Variation, Macieja System

An entry in the Encyclopedia of Chess Openings (ECO E39), reached after 14 half-moves: 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 c5 5. dxc5 O-O 6. a3 Bxc5 7. Nf3 b6.

Black rook — Use ← → arrows or click moves to step through.

Black knight — Use ← → arrows or click moves to step through.

End of this line

No further variations branch from this position in our database. To explore neighbouring ideas:

About this opening

Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Berlin Variation, Macieja System is an opening in the Encyclopedia of Chess Openings, classified under code E39. ECO group E (E00–E99) covers Indian defences against 1.d4, covering the Nimzo-Indian, Queen's Indian, King's Indian and Catalan systems. This particular variation is reached after 14 half-moves from the starting position, with the move sequence 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 c5 5. dxc5 O-O 6. a3 Bxc5 7. Nf3 b6.

It belongs to the Nimzo-Indian Defense family. Within that family this is a level-3 branch (the Classical Variation → Berlin Variation → Macieja System line). The immediate parent line is Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Berlin Variation, transitioned via 7…b6.

The opening sequence in prose form: 1.d4 Nf6, 2.c4 e6, 3.Nc3 Bb4, 4.Qc2 c5, 5.dxc5 O-O, 6.a3 Bxc5. From this position the encyclopaedia records no further canonical continuations — practical play branches into unnamed transpositions or returns to the parent line for alternative ideas.