Nimzo-Indian Defense: Rubinstein System

Main line

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 c5 5.Ne2 cxd4 6.exd4 d5 7.a3 Be7

Diagram shows the position after 6 half-moves of the main line. On SpeakChess you can drill this line move by move — the trainer plays the other side and corrects you instantly, then spaced repetition schedules each variation so you review it right before you would forget it.

Move by move

The first 12 moves of the main line, explained one at a time. Every move of every variation is annotated like this inside the trainer — this page shows the opening moves so you can judge the explanations before signing up.

1. 1.d4 White advances the pawn to d4, staking a claim right in the center and giving the bishop and queen room to develop.
2. 1...Nf6 Black's knight jumps to f6, a strong central square. It eyes the d5 and e4 squares and gets a piece into the game quickly.
3. 2.c4 White pushes the pawn to c4, building a big pawn center alongside d4. Together these two pawns control lots of important squares.
4. 2...e6 Black moves the pawn to e6, opening a path for the dark-squared bishop and keeping the center solid and safe.
5. 3.Nc3 Out comes your knight to c3, a cosy dark square! It hops off the back row to join the game, helping your pawns on c4 and d4 take charge of the middle. Bringing pieces out early is a smart, friendly start.
6. 3...Bb4 Black's bishop glides to b4, pinning the white knight on c3. This is the Nimzo-Indian, a clever way to fight for control of the center.
7. 4.e3 White advances the pawn to e3, giving the dark-squared bishop room to develop and keeping the center pawns well protected.
8. 4...c5 Black pushes the pawn to c5, immediately challenging White's d4 pawn and fighting for control of the center.
9. 5.Ne2 The knight moves to e2 instead of the usual f3. This keeps the c1 bishop's diagonal open and avoids the pin from the bishop on b4.
10. 5...cxd4 Black's pawn captures the pawn on d4. This trade opens up the center and changes the shape of the position.
11. 6.exd4 White's e-pawn captures back on d4, restoring a strong central pawn and keeping White's control of the middle squares.
12. 6...d5 Black pushes the pawn all the way to d5, striking at the center and creating a strong pawn challenge against White's c4.

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Win rates by rating

Results from real online games, measured after the line shown in each row. Most opening sites show one aggregate number — how an opening scores depends heavily on who is playing it.

Most played continuations (1000-1200 rating)

After 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3:

• Bxc3+ — played 24.9% of the time (White wins 47.8%, draws 3.3%, Black wins 48.9%)
• O-O — played 23.8% of the time (White wins 48.8%, draws 4.7%, Black wins 46.5%)
• Ne4 — played 18.2% of the time (White wins 50%, draws 1.5%, Black wins 48.5%)

Related openings

• Nimzo-Indian Defense
• Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation
• Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation
• Nimzo-Indian Defense: Three Knights Variation

Frequently asked questions

Why is 4.e3 the main line rather than something sharper?

Because it keeps every option open. Sharper tries commit White's structure early, which tells Black exactly which plan to adopt. The Rubinstein delays those decisions until Black has committed first, and that flexibility is worth more in a long game than a couple of tempi would be.

What is Black's main plan against it?

Usually ...c5 and ...d5, striking at the centre before White finishes developing, and often ...Bxc3 at the moment when doubling White's pawns costs Black the least. Timing that exchange is the recurring judgement call — too early and the bishop pair is a gift, too late and Black is simply passive.

Is the Rubinstein System drawish?

It has a quiet reputation and it is not a drawing line. The structures that arise — hanging pawns, isolated queen's pawn, doubled c-pawns — each carry real winning chances for the side that understands them better, which is precisely why strong players keep choosing it.