Rubinstein 4.e3
Nimzo-Indian Defence · E54 · you play Black. 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 O-O 5.Bd3 d5
About the Rubinstein 4.e3
The Rubinstein Variation, 4.e3, is White's most solid Nimzo. Black castles, plays ...d5 and ...c5 and takes on c4, reaching an isolated queen's pawn position after ...cxd4. Black's knights blockade d5 and the bishop pair is White's compensation.
Playing the Nimzo-Indian Defence as Black? The Rubinstein 4.e3 (E54) begins 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 O-O, and is one of 3 lines you can practise here. Start in learn mode to see the idea behind every move, then play the Rubinstein 4.e3 yourself and let the coach correct your mistakes. Knowing the moves is only half the work, so this page also covers the plans for the middlegame, the endgames to aim for and some grandmaster games. Add it to your repertoire of chess defences for Black, and repeat it in speed mode or the drill until you no longer have to think about it.