Top 10 Popular Chess Openings

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Nimzo Indian or Queen's Indian?

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Black must also be prepared to play against 1.d4. There are two great families known as the Indian Defense (1.d4 Nf6) and the Closed Game (1.d4 d5). Since the various Indian Defenses taken together are more popular than the Closed Game, two of our top 10 popular openings are in the Indian family.

The first is where Black plays 2...e6, 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 as in the diagram. Now White decides whether to allow an immediate pin on the Queen's Knight.

• 3.Nc3 Bb4 : Nimzo Indian (the alternative 3...d5 transposes to a Closed Game)
• 3.Nf3 b6 : Queen's Indian (or 3...d5, also transposing to a Closed Game)

For more about the diagrammed position, see Nimzo Indian or Queen's Indian? in our Repertoire Recommendations.

1. Sicilian Defense - ...d6 Variations
2. Sicilian Defense - Black avoids an early ...d6
3. Ruy Lopez 4.Ba4
4. Italian Game
5. French Defense
6. Nimzo Indian or Queen's Indian?
7. King's Indian or Gruenfeld?
8. Closed Game
9. Reti System
10. English Opening

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