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Nimzo-Indian Defense

80 variations · 5.3M games from Lichess · Updated January 2026

Key Finding

Nimzo-Indian Defense is balanced for White at 51.9% expected score.

This opening produces roughly even results, with outcomes depending more on middlegame play than opening choice.

You play
Playable
Rating
Time
White Expected Score0.0%Range (90% confident): 51.9% – 51.9%Aggregated from 80 variations
0%51.9%100%
Range (90% confident): 51.9% – 51.9%
ContextOverall · n=5.3M
Outcome Distribution
49.5%4.8%45.7%
Win
Draw
Loss
5.Nf3
Nimzo-Indian Defense
Variations80
Games (Context)5.3M
Avg Length35 moves
Draw Rate4.8%

What Should I Play?

Player-controlled continuations for White · Overall

#1Nimzo-Indian Defense: Ragozin DefenseTop Pick
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 O-O 5.Bd3 d5 6.Nf3 Nc6 7.O-O
Min adv +10.3% · n=21K
55.7%
#2Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Botvinnik System
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 O-O 5.Bd3 d5 6.a3 Bxc3+ 7.bxc3
Min adv +8.6% · n=19K
54.8%
#3Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Sämisch Deferred
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 O-O 5.Nf3 d5 6.a3
Min adv +8.6% · n=46K
54.7%
#4Nimzo-Indian Defense: Kmoch Variation
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.f3
Min adv +7.6% · n=211K
54.0%
#5Nimzo-Indian Defense: Rubinstein System, Rubinstein Variation
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 c5 5.Ne2
Min adv +6.7% · n=7.6K
54.3%
#6Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qc2
Min adv +6.4% · n=411K
53.3%
#7Nimzo-Indian Defense: Rubinstein System
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3
Min adv +6.0% · n=88K
53.3%
#8Nimzo-Indian Defense: Romanishin Variation
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.g3
Min adv +6.0% · n=71K
53.3%
#9Nimzo-Indian Defense: Three Knights Variation
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Nf3
Min adv +4.1% · n=712K
52.2%
#10Nimzo-Indian Defense: Three Knights Variation, Korchnoi Variation
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Nf3 c5 5.d5
Min adv +4.1% · n=26K
52.6%

Continuations show the most common variations from this opening. Higher expected scores indicate better statistical outcomes, but familiarity and playstyle matter too.

What is the Nimzo-Indian Defense expected score for White?

Snapshot

Overall, the Nimzo-Indian Defense family has a 51.9% expected score for White (we're 90% confident it's between 51.9% and 51.9%), aggregated from 80 variations and 5.3M Lichess games.

White Win% by Rating

Stable across ratings (~50%)

0
1000
1200
1400
1600
1800
2000
2200
2500+

  • 0-999: 50.0% win rate (21,929 games)
  • 1000-1199: 51.2% win rate (88,715 games)
  • 1200-1399: 51.2% win rate (251,996 games)
  • 1400-1599: 50.6% win rate (552,427 games)
  • 1600-1799: 49.8% win rate (952,282 games)
  • 1800-1999: 48.9% win rate (1,294,349 games)
  • 2000-2199: 48.6% win rate (1,141,612 games)
  • 2200-2499: 49.8% win rate (807,819 games)
  • 2500+: 50.3% win rate (192,737 games)

White Win% by Time Control

Best in Bullet (51%), worst in Classical (45%)

UltraBullet
Bullet
Blitz
Rapid
Classical

  • UltraBullet: 47.8% win rate (5,156 games)
  • Bullet: 50.5% win rate (1,636,565 games)
  • Blitz: 49.4% win rate (3,034,750 games)
  • Rapid: 47.8% win rate (597,319 games)
  • Classical: 44.8% win rate (30,076 games)

Rating vs Time Control Matrix

Click cells to filter · White expected scores

White% by Rating × Time Control

Click any cell to filter. Green = above 50%, Red = below 50%.

RatingUBBulleBlitzRapidClass
0-999
1000-1199
1200-1399
1400-1599
1600-1799
1800-1999
2000-2199
2200-2499
2500+

Expected score matrix by rating bracket and time control

  • 0-999 rating, UltraBullet: 44.4% expected score (43 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Bullet: 51.4% expected score (9,664 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Blitz: 51.1% expected score (9,790 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Rapid: 49.9% expected score (2,414 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Classical: 34.6% expected score (18 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, UltraBullet: 42.2% expected score (107 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Bullet: 53.3% expected score (37,532 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Blitz: 51.9% expected score (42,135 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Rapid: 50.5% expected score (8,820 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Classical: 51.3% expected score (121 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, UltraBullet: 48.1% expected score (371 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Bullet: 53.7% expected score (92,281 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Blitz: 52.4% expected score (131,263 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Rapid: 50.5% expected score (27,360 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Classical: 49.8% expected score (721 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, UltraBullet: 48.0% expected score (1,320 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Bullet: 53.0% expected score (175,721 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Blitz: 52.2% expected score (303,898 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Rapid: 50.9% expected score (68,520 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Classical: 49.1% expected score (2,968 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, UltraBullet: 48.0% expected score (1,838 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Bullet: 52.2% expected score (270,053 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Blitz: 51.7% expected score (546,564 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Rapid: 50.9% expected score (125,937 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Classical: 48.2% expected score (7,890 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, UltraBullet: 51.1% expected score (1,100 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Bullet: 51.8% expected score (331,322 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Blitz: 51.2% expected score (772,681 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Rapid: 50.4% expected score (178,074 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Classical: 48.8% expected score (11,172 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, UltraBullet: 54.3% expected score (306 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Bullet: 51.2% expected score (316,775 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Blitz: 51.4% expected score (685,291 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Rapid: 50.7% expected score (133,608 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Classical: 51.3% expected score (5,632 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, UltraBullet: 54.5% expected score (65 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Bullet: 51.8% expected score (295,585 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Blitz: 53.7% expected score (462,589 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Rapid: 53.3% expected score (48,372 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Classical: 52.8% expected score (1,208 games)
  • 2500+ rating, UltraBullet: 50.0% expected score (6 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Bullet: 54.8% expected score (107,632 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Blitz: 56.5% expected score (80,539 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Rapid: 58.1% expected score (4,214 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Classical: 53.6% expected score (346 games)

Matrix view reveals how performance varies across rating brackets and time controls. Green indicates favorable, red indicates challenging contexts.

Variations (80)

1
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Ragozin Variation2.9K games
58.1%
2
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Spielmann Variation, Stahlberg Variation245 games
60.6%
3
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Ragozin Defense21K games
55.7%
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Berlin Variation, Macieja System390 games
59.0%
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Rubinstein System, Taimanov Variation6.4K games
55.6%
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Sämisch Deferred46K games
54.7%
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Botvinnik System19K games
54.8%
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Taimanov Variation14K games
54.7%
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Fischer Variation14K games
54.6%
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Kmoch Variation211K games
54.0%
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Hübner Variation, Rubinstein Variation17K games
54.4%
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Ragozin Variation181K games
53.8%
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Noa Variation190K games
53.6%
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Rubinstein System, Rubinstein Variation7.6K games
54.3%
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Bishop Attack35K games
53.7%
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation411K games
53.3%
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Line143K games
53.3%
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Rubinstein System88K games
53.3%
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Romanishin Variation71K games
53.3%
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Bishop Attack, Classical Defense40K games
53.0%
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Three Knights Variation, Duchamp Variation, Modern Line611 games
55.8%
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Hübner Variation43K games
52.6%
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation52K games
52.5%
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Three Knights Variation, Korchnoi Variation26K games
52.6%
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Three Knights Variation712K games
52.2%
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Classical Defense20K games
52.7%
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Zurich Variation23K games
52.3%
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Gligoric System31K games
52.0%
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Reshevsky Variation49K games
51.9%
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Sämisch Variation265K games
51.7%
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Berlin Variation158K games
51.7%
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Bernstein Defense6.2K games
52.6%
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Gligoric System, Bernstein Defense7.8K games
52.2%
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Sämisch Variation, Keres Variation3.5K games
52.7%
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Bernstein Defense, Exchange Line6.2K games
52.3%
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Rubinstein System, Rubinstein Variation, Main Line1.3K games
53.5%
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Spielmann Variation154K games
51.2%
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Leningrad Variation650K games
51.1%
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Leningrad Variation, Benoni Defense2.3K games
52.6%
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Schlechter Defense22K games
51.5%
Nimzo-Indian Defense: St. Petersburg Variation, with Ne410K games
51.7%
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Leningrad Variation, Averbakh Gambit619 games
54.1%
Nimzo-Indian Defense: St. Petersburg Variation161K games
50.9%
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Three Knights Variation, Euwe Variation1.7K games
52.7%
Nimzo-Indian Defense860K games
50.8%
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Berlin Variation, Pirc Variation12K games
51.1%
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Spielmann Variation, Romanovsky Gambit5.8K games
51.4%
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Hübner Deferred23K games
50.7%
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Noa Variation, Botvinnik Variation1.9K games
52.1%
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Keres Defense16K games
50.8%
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Hübner Variation, Rubinstein Variation, Main Line2.8K games
51.8%
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Romanishin Variation, English Hybrid1.2K games
52.5%
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Three Knights Variation, Duchamp Variation172K games
50.2%
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Sämisch Variation, Accelerated178K games
50.2%
Nimzo-Indian Defense: St. Petersburg Variation, Romanishin–Psakhis Variation797 games
52.5%
Nimzo-Indian Defense: St. Petersburg Variation, American Variation1.2K games
51.8%
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Sämisch Variation, O'Kelly Variation4.8K games
50.5%
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Simagin Variation3.9K games
50.6%
Nimzo-Indian Defense: St. Petersburg Variation, Fischer Variation1.7K games
51.2%
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Bronstein (Byrne) Variation2.6K games
50.7%
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Gligoric System, Exchange Variation19K games
49.2%
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Milner-Barry Variation14K games
49.2%
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Mikenas Attack12K games
49.2%
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Dilworth Gambit29K games
48.6%
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Romanishin Gambit262 games
52.3%
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Gligoric System, Bronstein Variation2.0K games
49.0%
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Sämisch Variation, Capablanca Variation664 games
50.2%
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Gligoric System, Keres Variation2.0K games
48.8%
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Three Knights Variation, Shocron Gambit1.0K games
49.1%
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Berlin Variation, Steiner Variation698 games
49.5%
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Vitolins-Adorjan Gambit1.6K games
48.0%
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Spielmann Variation, Carlsbad Variation707 games
49.0%
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Spielmann Variation, Karlsbad Variation490 games
49.5%
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Modern Variation276 games
50.6%
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Sämisch Variation, Botvinnik Variation1.5K games
47.3%
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Sämisch Variation, Romanovsky Variation699 games
48.2%
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Noa Variation, San Remo Variation117 games
52.6%
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Rubinstein System, Hübner Variation3.1K games
46.2%
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Hübner Variation, Main Line3.1K games
45.2%
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Noa Variation, Main Line632 games
42.2%
Analyze Nimzo-Indian Defense PositionsGet move-by-move win rates with the TrueElo analyzer

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Nimzo-Indian Defense win rate?

The Nimzo-Indian Defense family has a 49.5% (90% CI: 49.5%-49.5%) win rate for white, aggregated from 80 variations and 5.3M rated games from Lichess.

How many Nimzo-Indian Defense variations are there?

This analysis covers 80 Nimzo-Indian Defense variations with sufficient game data. Each variation has its own statistics page with detailed win rates by rating and time control.

At what rating does the Nimzo-Indian Defense perform best?

The Nimzo-Indian Defense family performs best at 1200-1399 Elo with a 51.2% win rate for white (252K games). Performance may vary by specific variation.

Is the Nimzo-Indian Defense better in blitz or rapid?

Bullet (50.5%) outperforms Classical (44.8%) by 5.7% across all Nimzo-Indian Defense variations.

How sharp is the Nimzo-Indian Defense?

Nimzo-Indian Defense games are 95.2% decisive (non-draws), with an average length of 35 moves. Sharpness varies by specific variation.

Is the Nimzo-Indian Defense a good opening family?

The Nimzo-Indian Defense family is statistically balanced overall with a 49.5% (90% CI: 49.5%-49.5%) aggregated win rate. However, win rates vary significantly between the 80 variations—explore individual lines to find the best fit for your style.