- ECO code
- E46
- Moves
- 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 O-O
- Family
- Nimzo-Indian Defense
- To move
- White
- Master games
- 1,218
- Average game length
- 45 moves
- Years covered
- 1922–2026
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation is the opening filed under ECO code E46, reached after 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 O-O. It belongs to the Nimzo-Indian Defense family and is known as the Normal Variation; in the resulting position it is White to move.
Katuranga's collection of 138,070 master games contains 1,218 games on this line — the 94th most played opening in the collection. The oldest game on this line is from 1922 and the most recent from 2026. The busiest decade in this collection is the 2020s, with 576 games. An average game here lasts 45 moves.
White wins 29% of those games, 44% end in a draw, and Black wins 27%. That is close to the collection average (White 37%, draws 35%, Black 28%). Draws are more common here than usual, by 9 points.
From this position the most popular move is 5.Bd3, played in 742 games, followed by 5.Ne2 (192) and 5.Bd2 (134). 5.Bd3 leads into Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation (E47). After 5.Bd3 White scores 26% and Black 28%.
The name that appears most often on the White side of this line is Caruana,F (74 games); on the Black side, Nakamura,Hi (52).
2 named variations branch off this position and have their own page here, among them Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation (E47); Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Classical Defense.
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Results in master games
- White 29% (354)
- Draws 44% (530)
- Black 27% (334)
Most played continuations
| Move | Games | White / draws / Black | Leads into |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5.Bd3 | 742 | 26/46/28 | Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation (E47) |
| 5.Ne2 | 192 | 26/46/28 | — |
| 5.Bd2 | 134 | 36/38/26 | — |
| 5.a3 | 85 | 49/24/27 | — |
| 5.Nf3 | 63 | 29/47/24 | — |
| 5.a4 | 1 | 100/0/0 | — |
| 5.Qc2 | 1 | 0/0/100 | — |
Variations from this position
- Normal Variation (E47) · 5.Bd3 · 742 games
- Classical Defense · 5.Bd3 d5 · 481 games
How the position is reached
- Queen's Pawn Game · 1.d4 · 45,810 games
- Indian Defense · 1.d4 Nf6 · 29,631 games
- Indian Defense: Normal Variation · 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 · 22,243 games
- Nimzo-Indian Defense · 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 · 4,729 games
- Nimzo-Indian Defense: Rubinstein System · 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 · 1,893 games
Played most often by
As White
- Caruana,F 74
- Grischuk,A 59
- So,W 57
As Black
- Nakamura,Hi 52
- Aronian,L 40
- So,W 39
Games per decade
- 1920s 6
- 1930s 9
- 1940s 17
- 1950s 69
- 1960s 89
- 1970s 54
- 1980s 44
- 1990s 50
- 2000s 106
- 2010s 198
- 2020s 576
Master games on this line
| White | Black | Result | Year | Events |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Caruana,F | Durarbayli,Vasif | 1/2-1/2 | 2026 | Naroditsky Mem Blitz 2026 |
| Yu Yangyi | So,W | 1/2-1/2 | 2026 | Chess.com Open PlayIn2 KO |
| Nosach,Roman Al | Nepomniachtchi,I | 1/2-1/2 | 2026 | 1st 3-0 Thu 29th Jan 2026 |
| Nepomniachtchi,I | Vidit,S | 1-0 | 2026 | 3rd UzChess Cup Masters |
| Caruana,F | Vidit,S | 1-0 | 2026 | Titled Tue 2nd Jun 2026 |
| Praggnanandhaa,R | Gukesh,D | 1/2-1/2 | 2026 | GCT Super Rapid Croatia |
Frequently asked questions
What is the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation?
It is the opening with ECO code E46, reached after 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 O-O. It belongs to the Nimzo-Indian Defense family.
Is the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation good for White or for Black?
In 1,218 master games on this line White wins 29%, 44% are drawn and Black wins 27%. The collection average is White 37%, draws 35%, Black 28% — so this line is no worse than usual for White than the field as a whole.
What is the main continuation of the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation?
5.Bd3 — played in 742 of the master games on this line, which leads into Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation (E47).
Which grandmasters play the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation?
On the White side Caruana,F (74), Grischuk,A (59), So,W (57); on the Black side Nakamura,Hi (52), Aronian,L (40), So,W (39).
Every number on this page is computed from Katuranga's master game collection; names and ECO codes follow the lichess opening book (CC0).
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