. d4-e6, 2. c4-nf6, 3. nc6-Bb4, 4. Pe3 - 0-0 5. Bd3 Pd5

I had a bit of a problem with openings before. I used to play quite a lot, rated in the mid to high 1800's, but that was 20+ years ago, (anyone remember the notation KP KP4? lol) and the new openings were killing me.

I needed something between Kings Indian, which was too passive, and the gambits, which call for sacrifices or sharp play early in the game.

Nimzo Indian is that compromise. I get more space, I can give white the horrible problem of doubled pawns after BxN, PxB, and with 5 ... pd5, I'm on the attack!

The problem is that White players don't really like the opening and can take you out of it pretty easily. 2. e4 is the one I run into most often. I play d5 and move to French, but i'd rather another option. I've been looking at 2. ... d6, but results have been mixed. Even in games I've won, I've the feeling I won despite the opening.

So, 1. d4 e6 2. e4 ?

No gambits please, and an alternative to the French defense, if there is one

@thaxiss-I myself am a Nimzo-Indian player and play 1.d4 Nf6 after which you would not face the problem of 2.e4.The position will transpose into the Nimzo-Indian mainline after 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4. 

I never even considered that. Thanx, Mishrashubham, that looks like a winner!

1...e6 isn't bad at all, and something of a favorite with me. After 1...e6 2c4 can play 2...Bb4ch 3Nc3 c5 with a nimzo styled position were the popular Qc2 avoiding doubled pawns isn't possible. It also avoids 1.d4 Nf6 2Bg5 were white very often gives up bishop pair himself to damage pawn structure.

If french isn't your defence to 1.e4 though, it is giving you unnecessary extra work. 

mishrashubham and TwoMove are quite correct:  You should normally only play 1 ...e6 if you are willing to play the French to 2 d4.  The "upside" is that most 1 d4 players don't want to transpose to a 1 e4 opening, it will usually only come from those who are French players themselves.  The other usefulness of 1 ...e6 is to play a Dutch while avoiding the Staunton Gambit and other sidelines for White.

1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6  3 Nc3 Bb4 is the normal move order for the Nimzoindian.  If that's what you most want to play, there is no reason to deviate from it.

I had the first 2 moves switched around, i guess. Or the dude I learned the opening from on youtube did. Which ever, I'm happy to have it fixed now.

Nimzo Indian is really my thing, I started winning with it almost immediately. It's almost instinctual.

I'm not uncomfortable with the French opening, infact, I play it with confidence if white opens with e4. But I get better results with Nimzo, so would prefer that one.

The thing you are going to run into is people declining to go into the Nimzo Indian by not playing 3. Nc3, but you have some options anyways, for instance playing 3...Bc4 anyways and going into the Bogo-Indian. Roman has a great video series on the Nimzo and a great one on the Bogo if you ever decide to upgrade your account.

Calm down a bit, man. I mean it's working for me at my current limited level of play, not that I'm suddenly unbeatable.

I think he feels that you were a bit nasty to me. I thought so too, but let it go. Piece pushers like me can want to get better too, you know, and talking about progress is no reason to get dumped on.

Your comment was out of line and you deserved a bit of comeuppance.

I have relied in the Nimzo for several years now, and it's really a great defense, rich in options and strategic choices. There's something there for every taste. But of course all those choices can add up to an overwhelming theoretical version unless you make some intelligent choices. Even in the classic 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 variation, the lines with 4....b6 take on quite a different character from the lines with 4...O-O 5.Bd3 (or 5.Nge2). And the classic 4/Qc2 line can be super sharp or fairly placid. You really have to make some choices and narrow down the possibilities.

I'm going to hijack this thread-

Hey Pfren, what do you like after 3. g3?

That some words dont translate well culturally and as a non-native speaker you might try to understand the concepts Pfren is trying to relate instead of taking offense. The word dumb is insulting in American english but there are some words that dont translate easily. I think that a better way to describe  might have been ignorant and naive about the nimzo. The nizmo has some very clear ideas and where the pieces go is fairly straight foward BUT the position is VERY difficult to play well. 

First your idea that the king's indian is too passive is well just wrong. My problem with it is that its too double edged Black is just going head hunting on the kingside while white tries to break through on the queenside. Black's attacks are usually a lot of fun but too nerve wracking for me. I dont understand why you dont just play the nimzo/queens indian complex as black. Your move order choice with e6 leaves you open to a variety of move orders that you might not like. 

Play 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 and see what happens you can play either the nimzo or queen's indian. 

It really should be obvious to anyone, given my very low rating, that I'm not speaking as an expert, or giving expert analysis.

Obviously I'm not playing the Kings Indian properly, I'm not really playing ANYTHING properly yet.

I've a lot of work still to do if I'm even going to come close to my earlier success, and you can bet I'd give your suggestion a shot, except I'm already working with it at Mish's suggestion.

No, pfren, I don't. In fact I'm ashamed of myself. Not that I agree with your conduct, but it doesn't excuse mine.

So I apologize for talking to you like that.