Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Noa Variation, Botvinnik Variation

An entry in the Encyclopedia of Chess Openings (ECO E36), reached after 12 half-moves: 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 d5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. Qxc3 Nc6.

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

Black bishop — 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, Noa Variation, Botvinnik Variation is an opening in the Encyclopedia of Chess Openings, classified under code E36. 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 12 half-moves from the starting position, with the move sequence 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 d5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. Qxc3 Nc6.

It belongs to the Nimzo-Indian Defense family. Within that family this is a level-3 branch (the Classical Variation → Noa Variation → Botvinnik Variation line). The immediate parent line is Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Noa Variation, transitioned via 6…Nc6.

The opening sequence in prose form: 1.d4 Nf6, 2.c4 e6, 3.Nc3 Bb4, 4.Qc2 d5, 5.a3 Bxc3+, 6.Qxc3 Nc6. 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.