Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Noa Variation (6… Ne4 7. Qc2)
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 d5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. Qxc3 Ne4 7. Qc2
The Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Noa Variation is a chess opening classified as ECO E37, reached after 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 d5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. Qxc3 Ne4 7. Qc2. It is a line of the Nimzo-Indian Defense. Black is to move. 2 named lines continue from this position.
In 12.6 million rated Lichess games (blitz and slower), this position was reached 21 times by this move order. White won 52%, 5% were drawn and Black won 43%. The most popular continuation is 7… O-O (48% of games).
Engine evaluation: +0.26 (Stockfish, depth 42; best line 7… c5 8. dxc5 Nc6 9. Nf3 Qa5+ 10. Bd2)
- ECO
- E37
- Moves
- 13 plies
- FEN
rnbqk2r/ppp2ppp/4p3/3p4/2PPn3/P7/1PQ1PPPP/R1B1KBNR b KQkq - 2 7- PGN
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 d5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. Qxc3 Ne4 7. Qc2
Analyse with Stockfish · Board image (SVG) · Open on Lichess
Results by rating
| Average rating | Games | White / draw / Black |
|---|---|---|
| 0-1499 | 2 | |
| 1500-1999 | 9 | |
| 2000+ | 10 | |
| All | 21 |
Most played moves
| Move | Games | White / draw / Black |
|---|---|---|
| 7… O-O | 10 (48%) | |
| 7… c5 Classical Variation, Modern Variation | 4 (19%) | |
| 7… Qf6 | 3 (14%) | |
| 7… Qh4 | 1 (5%) | |
| 7… f5 | 1 (5%) | |
| 7… c6 | 1 (5%) | |
| 7… Nc6 | 1 (5%) |
Master games
62 over-the-board games are classified under this line (White 39%, draw 21%, Black 40%). The strongest:
- GM Sam Shankland (2670) – GM Rustam Kasimdzhanov (2675) 0-1 · Titled Tue 15th Jul Early · 2025-07-15
- GM Frode Olav Olsen Urkedal (2572) – GM Viswanathan Anand (2767) 1/2-1/2 · PRO League Group Stage · 2018-02-07
- GM Erwin L'Ami (2618) – GM Alexander Moiseenko (2701) 1/2-1/2 · Qatar Masters Open 2014 · 2014-12-02
- GM Maxim Matlakov (2676) – IM Karasev, Vl. (2365) 1/2-1/2 · Petersburg Summer Rapid 2013 · 2013-08-31
- IM Jesper Sondergaard Thybo (2473) – GM Maksim Chigaev (2555) 1/2-1/2 · 47th Rilton Cup 2017-18 · 2017-12-29
Highest-rated Lichess games
- FM sergeikim2003 (2534) – bvv15 (2479) 0-1 · 2026-09-04 · 180 + 0s
- thekinglear (2348) – chiko2025 (2426) 1-0 · 2026-09-07 · 180 + 2s
- vadana67 (2255) – craigmaster (2424) 1-0 · 2026-09-07 · 180 + 2s
Comes from
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Noa Variation, Main Line 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 d5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. Qxc3 Ne4
Continuations
- Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Modern Variation E37 · 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 d5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. Qxc3 Ne4 7. Qc2 c5
- Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Noa Variation, San Remo Variation E37 · 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 d5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. Qxc3 Ne4 7. Qc2 Nc6 8. e3 e5
More Nimzo-Indian Defense lines (all)
- Nimzo-Indian Defense (3. Nc3 Bb4) E20
- Nimzo-Indian Defense: Dilworth Gambit E20
- Nimzo-Indian Defense: Kmoch Variation E20
- Nimzo-Indian Defense: Mikenas Attack E20
- Nimzo-Indian Defense: Romanishin Variation (3… Bb4 4. g3) E20
- Nimzo-Indian Defense: Romanishin Variation (5… O-O 6. Bg2) E20
- Nimzo-Indian Defense: Romanishin Variation, English Hybrid E20
- Nimzo-Indian Defense: Three Knights Variation E21
- Nimzo-Indian Defense: Three Knights Variation, Euwe Variation E21
- Nimzo-Indian Defense: Three Knights Variation, Korchnoi Variation E21
- Nimzo-Indian Defense: Three Knights Variation, Shocron Gambit E21
- Nimzo-Indian Defense: Spielmann Variation E22
Opening names and moves from the Lichess openings dataset; statistics from the Lichess open database, 2026-09 (CC0), sample of 12.6 million games, bots excluded; evaluations from Lichess cloud analysis (all CC0). Master games from The Week in Chess #920–#1664 by Mark Crowther, used with permission.