[Event "🏆 Nimzo/Bogo Indian Repertoire 🏆: Nimzo/Bogo Indian Introduction/Ideas"] [Site "https://lichess.org/study/DeAekads/Fo4wntxQ"] [Result "*"] [Annotator "https://lichess.org/@/Mr_Penings"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "E43"] [Opening "Nimzo-Indian Defense: St. Petersburg Variation"] [UTCDate "2020.06.23"] [UTCTime "18:24:24"] [Source "https://lichess.org/study/ZWHbJIPd/1Htpfpgv"] [Orientation "black"] { If I can describe the tempo of the Nimzo/Bogo Indian, I will say it is basically the opposite of the tempo of the Kings Indian. As we saw in the Kings Indian guide, those positions likely lead to unclear play where both sides are trying to outpace their opponent on their side of the board. Nimzo/Bogo are slower and quieter } 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 { d4 Nf6 c4 e6 is the starting position for the Nimzo/Bogo. 3. Nc3 leads to a Nimzo, while 3. Nf3 leads to a Bogo. They can transpose to one another, but usually, they lead to different setups in the position. This opening is known to be very solid, and it's played by grandmasters all the time (if not the most frequent defense against 1. d4) } { [%cal Gg1f3,Gb1c3] } 3. Nc3 Bb4 { As a higher level concept, the Nimzo/Bogo Indian are focused around the e4 square. White would ideally want to play e4 safely and take the full pawn center. Black could play d5 and play a Slav/QGD, but the Nimzo Indian takes an approach of stopping White's e4 without playing d5. } { [%csl Ge4] } 4. e3 { There are four major moves for White on move 4: Qc2, f3, a3, and e3. 4. Nf3 usually transposes back to a Bogo Indian. I will be analyzing each of these moves in detail below. } (4. Qc2) (4. f3) (4. a3) 4... b6 5. Bd3 Bb7 { You can see the battle for the e4 square already forming. Black wants to control e4 without pushing d5 } *