The Nimzo of E4?

I have recently fallen in love with the Nimzo Indian. What opening response to e4 is most like the Nimzo Indian? I am looking for your opinions on this (and maybe your reasoning) -- I don't expect there to be a definitive answer.

Anyone?

More info: I like the Nimzo because it's active. I tried using the Pirc-Modern defense as a system and didn't like it at all. I felt restricted. The nimzo feels very natural to me, like all of my pieces  are just falling onto the right squares. And I feel like I gain the initiative right away.

Any opinions on what defense to e4 I should try? I am trying to avoid the Sicilian Defence because it seems like there is endless theory behind it -- though I may just break down and start playing the Accelerated Dragon if there aren't any good alternatives.

I would say the Sicilian. It's just as hard for white as black. Go on, bite the bullet

 Okay thanks!

Which Sicilian do you prefer? Am I right to go with the Accelerated Dragon?

It's definitely this variation of Nimzo defense:

However, there are few chances that white would play like that.

 Hilarious, Yigor!

Which ever I say, someone else will say something else and you'll end up none the wiser I'm afraid. Personally I prefer e6 Sicilian systems as I like and play Bb5 systems for white.

Against the Accelerated I play the Maroczy Bind - in fact I love playing this. I would rather play the hedgehog positions that can arise from the e6 Sicilians for black. Perhaps IMHO, the Accelerated is good against 1e4 players that don't like playing an early c4 , which may usually be lower rated ones.

As black though, you will meet the Morra, c3, Grand Prix etc etc and you might want to look at the Anti Sicilian stuff first while making your mind up on your 'open variation'.

 You might say it's the tactical sicilians like dragon, since white doesn't have to play them.

Thanks Ziggy. I guess I'll take a thorough look at all the Sicilians.

After doing some limited research I think I'm going to investigate the Grivas Sicilian. Anyone familiar with it?

I'm not familiar with the Grivas Sicilian but I also like the Nimzo and I play the Sicilian Kan. It's really easy to learn and you can pretty much play the same moves no matter what White does. Here's a typical start:

Karpov played the Nimzo-Indian and also the Caro-Kann. An NM I know does the same. Both defenses allow Black to keep a solid structure and yet have chances for active play.

Thank you all for the thoughts. I have some things to consider now.

I've been playing the sicilian/ studying the sicilian for 8-10 years now. What I can say is it doesn't matter what variation you learn, you must learn the middle game plans for both sides of the board. If not it can be a frustrating game. As white you don't know how to attack and as black you  feel cramped and don't know how to win either. 

You cannot necessarily learn 1 line and be good. Both sides of the board can dictate where the game goes. White playing Bc4 for example is a completely different game than Be2 and black has to watch out for Nxe6 attacks. Black does have a formidable defense in the Scheveningen which is what I am learning. It gives you a lot of options to work with in our middle game plan. The dragon I would say may be the easiest to learn compared to the other variations.

Thanks for the heads up lovebecause.

Overall you should look att systems where black plays an early Bb4 and captures on c3 doubling whites pawns,I am a d4 player and the only system I can think of that have simililarites wit the nimzo is the Owens defense as mentioned earlier and maybe the french winawer.

The French is as close as you will get. Nimzowitch used to play the French. Many strong player combine both in their repertoire. Although the French is still considered a semi-open game.

1...e5. For sure.

While it's not as flexible as the Nimzo, it's very similar in that if you don't like one line it's very easy to find another, for example in the Spanish there are at least five to ten perfectly acceptable ways for black to play. 

And objectively, 1...e5 probably is the best response to 1. e4.