Library/Openings/Nimzo-Indian Defense/Normal Variation/Bernstein Defense ECO E59
Opening· 19 plies

Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Bernstein Defense

An entry in the Encyclopedia of Chess Openings (ECO E59), reached after 19 half-moves: 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.

Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Bernstein Defense ECO E59
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Black rook
Black bishop
Black queen
Black rook
Black king
Black pawn
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Black pawn
Black pawn
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Black knight
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Black knight
Black pawn
White bishop
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End of this line

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

About this opening

Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Bernstein Defense is an opening in the Encyclopedia of Chess Openings, classified under code E59. 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 19 half-moves from the starting position, with the move sequence 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.

It belongs to the Nimzo-Indian Defense family. Within that family this is a level-2 branch (the Normal Variation → Bernstein Defense line). The immediate parent line is Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, transitioned via 10.Bxc4.

The opening sequence in prose form: 1.d4 Nf6, 2.c4 e6, 3.Nc3 Bb4, 4.e3 O-O, 5.Bd3 d5, 6.Nf3 c5. 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.