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Chess Opening Theory/1. d4/1...Nf6/2. c4/2...e6/3. Nc3/3...Bb4/4. Qc2

< Chess Opening Theory | 1. d4 | 1...Nf6 | 2. c4 | 2...e6 | 3. Nc3 | 3...Bb4
Nimzo-Indian Defence:Classical Variation
a b c d e f g h
8a8 black rookb8 black knightc8 black bishopd8 black queene8 black kingf8 black kingg8 black kingh8 black rook8
7a7 black pawnb7 black pawnc7 black pawnd7 black pawne7 black kingf7 black pawng7 black pawnh7 black pawn7
6a6 black kingb6 black kingc6 black kingd6 black kinge6 black pawnf6 black knightg6 black kingh6 black king6
5a5 black kingb5 black kingc5 black kingd5 black kinge5 black kingf5 black kingg5 black kingh5 black king5
4a4 black kingb4 black bishopc4 white pawnd4 white pawne4 black kingf4 black kingg4 black kingh4 black king4
3a3 black kingb3 black kingc3 white knightd3 black kinge3 black kingf3 black kingg3 black kingh3 black king3
2a2 white pawnb2 white pawnc2 white queend2 black kinge2 white pawnf2 white pawng2 white pawnh2 white pawn2
1a1 white rookb1 black kingc1 white bishopd1 black kinge1 white kingf1 white bishopg1 white knighth1 white rook1
a b c d e f g h
Position in Forsyth-Edwards Notation (FEN)

rnbqk2r/pppp1ppp/4pn2/8/1bPP4/2N5/PPQ1PPPP/R1B1KBNR b

Moves: 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2

Nimzo-Indian Defence:Classical Variation

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The Classical Variation, 4.Qc2, aims to address two main problems posed by the Nimzo-Indian defence. On c2 the white queen protects the knight on c3, meaning that Black will no longer be able to double White's pawns by exchanging bishop for knight. At the same time, the queen hits the important e4 square.

A note on strategy and rules of thumb: Beginning chess players are often told not to move the queen too early in the opening. While as a general rule this advice is valuable, it is not sacrosanct. The Classical Nimzo provides an excellent opportunity to examine this rule, and its limitations, more closely. The admonition against early queen moves stems partly from the fact that the opposing player may be able to harass the queen simply by making useful developing moves. While one player is struggling to return his queen to safety, the second is gaining a decisive lead in development. In the Classical Variation, however, the queen's deployment to c2 is hardly a brazen sortie into enemy territory. It is unlikely that Black will be able to easily attack the queen anytime soon, so White's move is not considered risky.

A second reason to delay the queen's development is that the queen does not work well without the assistance of the minor pieces, and it is not clear until the knights and bishops are deployed where the queen will be most useful. With 4.Qc2, it is true that White neglects to develop a kingside piece or even to open lines for development, but it is clear that the queen will perform a useful function on c2. The fight for the e4 square is always a significant theme in Nimzo-Indian games, and the queen contributes to this fight. She also bolsters White's position on the queenside by protecting the pawn structure, and at the same time she takes aim at Black's kingside. White should not have a problem deploying the queen from c2 to whatever theater of battle requires her services.

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References

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