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Nimzo-Indian, Classical, Pirc Variation (E39)
1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nc3 Bb4 4 Qc2 c5 5 dxc5 O-O

Number of games in database: 1605
Years covered: 1934 to 2025
Overall record:
   White wins 31.0%
   Black wins 26.1%
   Draws 42.9%

Popularity graph, by decade

Explore this opening  |  Search for sacrifices in this opening.
PRACTITIONERS
With the White Pieces With the Black Pieces
Milorad Knezevic  20 games
Gyozo Forintos  18 games
Andrew Whiteley  15 games
Bartlomiej Macieja  24 games
Sarunas Sulskis  13 games
Alexei Barsov  12 games
NOTABLE GAMES [what is this?]
White Wins Black Wins
Kasparov vs V Chuchelov, 2003
Seirawan vs Portisch, 1983
J Silman vs C Van Buskirk, 1989
Taimanov vs B Larsen, 1970
Quinteros vs Ribli, 1974
J Eriksson vs J Hellsten, 2006
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 page 1 of 65; games 1-25 of 1,605  PGN Download
Game  ResultMoves YearEvent/LocaleOpening
1. S Belavenets vs Lisitsin  ½-½211934USSR Championship 1934/35E39 Nimzo-Indian, Classical, Pirc Variation
2. Botvinnik vs Lisitsin ½-½1071935MoscowE39 Nimzo-Indian, Classical, Pirc Variation
3. P Frydman vs Marshall  ½-½361935Warsaw OlympiadE39 Nimzo-Indian, Classical, Pirc Variation
4. Lilienthal vs Lisitsin  ½-½351936Trade Unions ChampionshipE39 Nimzo-Indian, Classical, Pirc Variation
5. Stahlberg vs E Steiner  1-0631937KemeriE39 Nimzo-Indian, Classical, Pirc Variation
6. S Vukovic vs E Steiner  0-1501937Stockholm OlympiadE39 Nimzo-Indian, Classical, Pirc Variation
7. P Frydman vs E Steiner  ½-½401937Stockholm OlympiadE39 Nimzo-Indian, Classical, Pirc Variation
8. V A Vasiliev vs N Novotelnov  1-031194015th Ch LeningradE39 Nimzo-Indian, Classical, Pirc Variation
9. J Foltys vs Barcza 1-0311942MunichE39 Nimzo-Indian, Classical, Pirc Variation
10. Koblents vs Keres 0-1391945Tallinn-Riga club team matchE39 Nimzo-Indian, Classical, Pirc Variation
11. E Lundin vs G Stoltz  1-0671946Stockholm /47E39 Nimzo-Indian, Classical, Pirc Variation
12. W H Sandifort vs Szabo  0-1491946Zaandam (Kottnauer Hexathlon)E39 Nimzo-Indian, Classical, Pirc Variation
13. T Florian vs Barcza  ½-½781946Hungarian ChampionshipE39 Nimzo-Indian, Classical, Pirc Variation
14. C van den Berg vs N Cortlever  ½-½561947NED-ch sfE39 Nimzo-Indian, Classical, Pirc Variation
15. Pirc vs Bondarevsky  ½-½411948Saltsjobaden InterzonalE39 Nimzo-Indian, Classical, Pirc Variation
16. Kholmov vs Bondarevsky  ½-½311948USSR ChampionshipE39 Nimzo-Indian, Classical, Pirc Variation
17. Flohr vs Barcza  ½-½411949Budapest-MoscowE39 Nimzo-Indian, Classical, Pirc Variation
18. K Galia vs A Beni  ½-½201949Schlechter MemorialE39 Nimzo-Indian, Classical, Pirc Variation
19. T van Scheltinga vs Gligoric  0-1311949Yugoslavia - NetherlandsE39 Nimzo-Indian, Classical, Pirc Variation
20. O'Kelly vs Pachman  ½-½141949Reti MemorialE39 Nimzo-Indian, Classical, Pirc Variation
21. J Barendregt vs H Kramer  ½-½181949BaarnE39 Nimzo-Indian, Classical, Pirc Variation
22. B H Wood vs Euwe  ½-½371949Hastings 1949/50E39 Nimzo-Indian, Classical, Pirc Variation
23. A Fuderer vs S Nedeljkovic  1-0341950Serbia-VojvodinaE39 Nimzo-Indian, Classical, Pirc Variation
24. E Keller-Herrmann vs F Heemskerk  1-0711950World Championship (Women) 1949/50E39 Nimzo-Indian, Classical, Pirc Variation
25. Flohr vs Najdorf ½-½141950Budapest CandidatesE39 Nimzo-Indian, Classical, Pirc Variation
 page 1 of 65; games 1-25 of 1,605  PGN Download
  REFINE SEARCH:   White wins (1-0) | Black wins (0-1) | Draws (1/2-1/2)  

Kibitzer's Corner
Jul-06-06
Premium Chessgames Member
  plang: I don't understand the appeal of the classical NI for white. He gets the two bishops but at the expense of very slow development. I have seen a lot of quick black victories.
Jun-26-14  solskytz: It seems that white has resources... he doesn't just get butchered every game

I also don't really understand this variation. It is really complex, with a lot of piece play and tons of possible ideas...

Provides for a rich game in any level, I guess, where the better player has good chances to get his understanding of the position to prevail.

(so what if you asked this 8 years ago - you still deserve an answer - or at least your progeny does...)

Jun-26-14
Premium Chessgames Member
  perfidious: <solskytz> Took up 4.Qc2 by the late 1990s and have long admired the elegance and energy displayed by the winner in Quinteros vs Ribli, 1974.
Jun-26-14  solskytz: The game is indeed remarkable. So many daring and original ideas packed into just 24 moves.

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