Learning the Nimzo-Indian

Hi all,

I have a question for you. Right now I'm trying to learn the Nimzo-Indian, but I don't really know where to start. I'm mostly a positional player, but I like having my pieces active and I don't really like closed positions. My opening repertoire is based around sound openings, but not the absolute mainlines: Scotch game, grand prix against Sicilian, and with Black the Sicilian Taimanov.

I thought the Nimzo would suit my playing style and I've played a few Nimzo games, with mixed results. The problem is that there are so many lines that White can play and I feel like I need to be prepared against all of them. E.g. 4.Qc2, 4.e3/5.Ne2, 4.e3/5.Bd3, 4.Nf3/5.g3, 4.Nf3/5.g3, 4.Bg5, etc. Is there a good book on the Nimzo that is suitable for my playing level (around 1700 FIDE)? Or are there any lines you can recommend?

Thanks in advance!

I'd start with some videos. Chris Ward and Gingerashvilli (phonetic spelling).

I found the Nimzo more of an ideas opening then a "variations" opening myself - and there are many interpretations with recurring themes across variations. Do you play d5/c5 ? fianchetto LSB ? go for a d6 e5 dark square wedge inviting d5 etc ? (Personally,I've come to like the d6/e5 theme for black,where possible, aiming perhaps for f5 and chance of a kingside attack.)

I wouldn't restrict myself to any notion of being a "positional " or any other type of player. Try and play the best moves and be a "Universal Player" !

Well, of course I understand some basic tactics, but what I was trying to say is that I want to have a sound positional basis before I start attacking. I know all openings have their positional grounds, but I'd rather play the Scotch than the king's gambit, for example. I also think my positional play is stronger than my tactical play, in general.

The Nimzo-Indian, move by move, is a very good book about understanding. I don't think there is an "easy" way to play the Nimzo without learning at least a few key lines, but knowing just a little against everything is perfectly fine. You must remember that the Nimzo is only half of a repertoire, since 3. Nf3/3. g3 is also possible, where Bb4+ doesn't have to be answered by Nc3. 

Chess Openings for black, explained, is a nice repertoire book which tells you what you know, but to get a repertoire without blunders, you need to do some analysis with the book. This book recommends the bogo-indian, and I think he proclaims equality in all lines, so be a little careful. 

You're running into exactly the reason I gave up on the Nimzo-Indian: White has a huge number of choices for his 4th move, and since I'm such a bookish player, that situation was daunting to me. I've been responding to 1. d4 with 1...d5 ever since.

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(p. 377)
      NIMZOWITSCH (or NIMZO-) INDIAN DEFENCE
   (1 P-Q4, N-KB3; 2 P-QB4, P-K3; 3 N-QB3, B-N5)

BLESSED with a catchy prefix, Nimzowitsch has lent his name to one
of Black's most active and sound defences. With a slight inversion of
moves it was introduced in Steinitz-Englisch, Vienna 1882, but the
dogmatic author of the monumental My System did all the spadework
and realized its hidden possibilities. When Tarrasch charged that
Nimzowitsch's moves were ugly, he replied: "The beauty of a chess
move lies not in its appearance, but in the thought behind it." An
increase of fifteen columns over the last edition testifies to its growing
vitality.
   The Nimzowitsch-Indian--Nimzo-Indian for
short--although not strictly an "Indian" struc-
ture since it involves no fianchetto, is the corner-
stone and turning point of modern opening
theory. Characterized by the pinning sortie
3 ... B-N5, it exerts pressure on the Queen's
side and centre by restraining P-K4. Black
must sometimes be prepared to exchange a
Bishop for a Knight, but he obtains compensa-
tion by rapid development and/or the doubling
of White's Queen's Bishop's pawn. Botvinnik
is probably correct in maintaining that it is doubtful whether there is
any refutation to this defence. It permits Black to equalize and keep
alive some winning chances without taking too much risk of losing.
It is hard to think of any modern master who at one time or another
has not resorted to this defence.
   THE CLASSICAL VARIATION, marked by 4 Q-B2, leads to a drab
game without chances for either side, though sometimes White is a
little freer. It is now regarded as an old system, somewhat played out.
Black can equalize with 4 ... P-Q4 (cols. 1-10), 4 ... P-B4 (cols.
11-15), 4 ... N-B3 (cols. 16-21), 4 ... O-O (cols 25-30). The
absence of a threat (other than P-K4, if that can be regarded as one),
as well as the premature development of White's Queen, holds little
future for this system if White wants to avoid drawish set-ups.
   THE SPIELMANN VARIATION, 4 Q-N3 (cols. 31-5), was popularized
by its namesake at Carlsbad 1929. Although quite sound, it has fallen
from favour. Either 4 ... P-B4 or 4 ... N-B3 equalize.
   THE RUBINSTEIN VARIATION, characterized by 4 P-K3 (cols. 36-88)
is by far and away the most fashionable answer to the Nimzo-Indian.
White sometimes gets a slight edge, but this is infinitesimal and requires
(p. 378)
patience and positional jockeying. Black's resources have kept the
defence on the gold standard. The sharpest reply is 4 ... P-K4,
though 4 ... P-Q4 and 4 ... O-O are often interchangeable and
transpose into the main line, exemplified by col. 43, where White gets
the two Bishops and Black gets full development. Both sides have
sought ways to vary. This variation has occupied stage centre for over
ten years, and extensive analysis seems to confirm the verdict: equality--
White is a little more comfortable--not enough to matter.
   THE SAMISCH VARIATION, 4 P-QR3 (cols. 89-100) is without
doubt the most clear-cut attempt at outright refutation. White loses a
move in order to force Black to carry out his strategy! Black can secure
good practical chances by 4 ... BxN ch; 5 PxB, P-B4, with the
idea of working against the doubled Queen's Bishop's pawn, or 5 ...
O-O followed by the central liquidation ... P-Q4, transposing into
many variations of the Rubinstein. White can often work up a sharp
attack, and the student is advised to familiarize himself with the
Samisch before he ventures on the Nimzo-Indian. It is still crucial.
   Diverse fourth moves for White are examined in cols. 101-5. At
present the most important of these are 4 P-B3 and 4 B-N5. More
tournament experience can be expected as the familiar procedures
become more unavailing.

Evans, Larry, and Walter Korn. 1965. Modern Chess Openings, 10th Edition. New York: Pitman Publishing Corporation.

You're too late. I'm now a Queen's Gambit Man.

I think the chessbase dvd Nimzo Indian the easy way(http://shop.chessbase.com/en/products/the_nimzoindian_defence-the_easy_way)  is a good starting point.

It explains the idea's quite well and has the moves to back it up. The repetoire is quite complete and solid with enough off beat systems to confuse your opponent. 

It is aimed at the 1600-2000ish range and often when I want to look up a certain system i still first check this dvd before taking out more complex stuff like sokolovs book.