Beginner's Nimzo-Indian

Regarding post # 21:

Beginners Nimzo-Indian does not mean Black has to drop a piece (5...d5?? 6.Qa4+).

Please try thinking before posting (if possible).

Is this position bad. I know all of blacks other moves are no problem but didn't find much info on d5 for black?

Is this position bad. I know all of blacks other moves are no problem but didn't find much info on d5 for black?

I think a Sämisch setup with 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 makes lot of sense against the early d5. White has obtained the advantage of the bishop pair and will get rid of the doubled pawns with cxd5 obtaining a central pawn majority. Possible future plans could be Bd3+Ne2+0-0+f3 preparing e4.

Black has a fair share of play too: 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 c5, with intentions to meet cxd5 with Nxd5. Yes, white's pawn structure gets improved, but black is active and can put lots of pressure on white's center, much like in the semi-tarrasch defense in the queen's gambit, exchange variation.

There are some very crucial differences compared to semi-Tarrasch and they all seem to favour white: he has already netted the bishop pair and when white eventually plays e4 black cannot save a tempi by exchanging on c3.

In general, it's of course true that black isn't without chances after a3 but I doubt the idea of Nxd5 shouldn't be terribly succesfull here. Better just take on d5 with a pawn or perhaps try 5. a3 Be7.