Bogo-Indian Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation
The Bogo-Indian Nimzowitsch Variation is 4.Bd2 Qe7, defending the b4 bishop with the queen. White builds with g3 and Bg2 or Nc3, while Black prepares ...Bxd2+ and ...Qb4 ideas or a central break with ...d6 and ...e5.
- Moves
- 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Bb4+ 4.Bd2 Qe7
- ECO
- E11
- Engine
- +0.38 · a slight edge for White (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
- Played
- 307 games in our lichess sample
- White scores
- 46.9%
Key ideas for both sides
White
- 5.g3 with Bg2 fianchettoes the light-squared bishop and keeps the long diagonal aimed at b7.
- 5.Nc3 challenges the bishop; after ...Bxc3 6.Bxc3 White has the bishop pair, and ...Ne4 can be met by Rc1.
- If Black trades on d2, recapture with the queen and use Na3 or Nc3 to develop.
- cxd5 trades in the center and gives White a free hand on the queenside once Black plays ...d5.
Black
- ...a5 keeps the bishop on b4, since Bxb4 would be met by a recapture with the a-pawn.
- After ...Bxd2+ and Qxd2, ...Qb4 offers a queen trade that eases Black's position.
- ...d6 and ...e5 use the queen on e7 to support a dark-square center.
- ...Ne4 hits the c3 bishop in the Nc3 lines, and ...O-O with ...d6 follows.
Plans and pawn structure
The queen on e7 does two jobs: it protects b4 and supports ...e5. White develops with g3, Bg2 and castling, then expands with Nc3 and e4. Black chooses between trading on d2 and swapping queens with ...Qb4, or holding the bishop with ...a5 and building ...d6 and ...e5. The center usually stays closed early, so piece placement matters more than tactics.
What the engine plays from here
Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position +0.38: a slight edge for White. Its three top choices for White:
- +0.38 5.g3 a5 6.Bg2 Bxd2+ 7.Qxd2 Qb4
- +0.27 5.Nc3 Bxc3 6.Bxc3 Ne4 7.Rc1 O-O
- +0.27 5.e3 Bxd2+ 6.Qxd2 d5 7.cxd5 exd5
Pawns, from White's side.
How it scores on lichess
307 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 46.9%.
Light: White wins. Grey: draws. Dark: Black wins. About the sample.
How to play against it
Fianchetto with 5.g3 and Bg2, then castle and decide on Nc3 or Na3. If Black trades on d2, take with the queen. Do not rush e4 before your king is safe, since ...e5 and pressure from the e7 queen can make d4 a target. White scored only 46.9% overall in this line, so steady play is needed.
Questions
What are the moves of the Bogo-Indian Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation?
The Bogo-Indian Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation starts 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Bb4+ 4.Bd2 Qe7. Its ECO code is E11.
Is the Bogo-Indian Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation good for Black?
Stockfish 17.1 rates the position +0.38 at depth 20, which is a slight edge for White. In 307 lichess games from our sample, White scored 46.9%. A sturdy, low-risk choice for Black players who like flexible dark-square setups; White needs patience to make the extra space count.
What is the main idea of the Bogo-Indian Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation?
Black defends the b4 bishop with the queen instead of trading or retreating. The queen also supports ...e5, and Black can trade on d2 later and offer queens with ...Qb4.
What should White play next?
The engine's first choice is g3, with Nc3 and e3 close behind. 5.g3 starts the fianchetto, putting the bishop on g2 to watch the long diagonal and the e4 square.
Related lines
Updated October 2026. Sources and method.