Nimzo-Indian Defense
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4
The Nimzo-Indian Defense is a sophisticated and highly respected chess opening that begins with the moves 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4. Named after the Latvian Grandmaster Aron Nimzowitsch, this opening allows Black to exert pressure on White's center and control the game’s strategic flow by pinning the knight on c3. The Nimzo-Indian Defense is renowned for its flexibility and the diverse range of pawn structures and positions it can lead to. It offers Black a balanced mix of solidity and dynamic opportunities, often leading to rich, complex middlegame battles. The opening has been a favorite of numerous world champions, including Garry Kasparov and Anatoly Karpov, due to its deep strategic concepts and potential for sharp counterplay.