Why play the Nimzo-Indian Defense?

This is one of the most respected defensive setups against 1. d4.  It is in the realms of hypermodern theory - Black invites White to build a center, planning later to assault his center, and ultimately offers his some imbalance, which is good for chances to win the game.

The move order begins with 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4.

If you are interested in this defense, or are a current practitioner of the NID (Nimzo-Indian Defense), I have created a group around the Nimzo primarily.  It will also explore options involving other defenses that are in line with the NID, such as the QID (Queen's Indian Defense), the Bogo-Indian Defense (BID), the Queen's Gambit Declined (QGD), etc, in case White does not play 3. Nc3.  Of course, there are even transpositions as early as move 2 that Black needs to know - the Trompowsky, the Veresov, etc.  These can all be covered in the group.

Here is the link -

http://www.chess.com/groups/home/nimzo-indian-ninjas

http://www.chess.com/games/view.html?id=451511#

Here is a link to a draw involving John Nunn - Black goes for a quck kingside pawn storm, and White has strong pressure on the center of the board, but Black manages to find a three move repetition...a short game, but a good way to illustrate some of Black's defensive resources.

http://www.chess.com/games/view.html?id=1468721#

Here is a link to a 27-move win for Michael Adams over Alexei Shirov, two very powerful chess minds.  I hope you enjoy!

http://www.chess.com/games/view.html?id=928615#

Here is a game where Karpov bombs Ivanchuk with the Nimzo-Indian defense with a beautiful knight sac that rattled Ivanchuk to a 32-move loss.

http://www.chess.com/games/view.html?id=1714205#

Now, to give honor to the white side, here is a quick blowout with Kasparov on the White side against Timman...

http://www.chess.com/games/view.html?id=521651#

Here is one more knockout dragout match, involving Kasparov winning with the White pieces (I apologize, I can't at the moment remember the Black player's name).  But here Kasparov differs to playing the f3 move order rather than the e3 move order, and wins in 32 moves.

Good stuff - Thanks !

   Suggest interested players look at Alexander Alekhine's use of the Nimzo-Indian Defense for ideas, or if you already are a Nimzo-Indian player. 

   Although he played the QGD exclusively in his match with Capablanca, he was very skilled with the defense.

You're welcome.  The group isn't big yet, but I think that it has potential.  When you get a lot of people together that love a particular opening, the group flourishes quite well!  I have seen this happen with several of the groups I have helped create, and this shouldn't be any different.  It will be nice to be able to participate in those vote chess matches where everyone is on one page.  In other groups that are not opening oriented, the flow is a bit different, due to different styles that people are used to playing.  But with a core of players that all play the NID, the openings should be much more fluid!

I like this opening for black, thats why, as white, I usually play 3. Nf3

http://www.chess.com/groups/home/nimzo-indian-ninjas

Here is the link if you want to join the group...we are almost up to 10 people - about ready to start hunting for team and vote chess matches.

Why is 3. Bg5 a bad move for white in general?

For me, I don't like the positions that come out of it as black. I'm not really fond of basing the game around doubled pawns or, if white plays the classical, being down the bishop pair for a questionable amount in return. Those two bishops can be very convenient for queenside or kingside play and it seems like that makes it even harder for black to find enough counterplay. So it's a good opening, but not for everyone.