Nimzo-Indian Defense: St. Petersburg Variation

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 b6

ECO E43

The Nimzo-Indian Defense: St. Petersburg Variation is a chess opening line in the Nimzo-Indian Defense complex, reached after 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 b6.

It is catalogued under code E43 in the Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings (ECO).

The defining move b6 is chosen by Black on move 4.

4 named continuations branch from this position, including the with Ne4 and the American Variation.

Named variations

• Nimzo-Indian Defense: St. Petersburg Variation, with Ne4 — ECO E43
• Nimzo-Indian Defense: St. Petersburg Variation, American Variation — ECO E44
• Nimzo-Indian Defense: St. Petersburg Variation, Romanishin-Psakhis Variation — ECO E44
• Nimzo-Indian Defense: St. Petersburg Variation, Fischer Variation — ECO E45

Study this line with a grandmaster

This position is covered in the Nimzo-Indian Defense course: a GM-authored repertoire you study move by move, then practice against a human-like AI opponent.

Every chess term used here is defined in the chess terms glossary. Browse all opening courses or the full ECO code index.