Nimzo-Indian: the Classical Variation — Chess Library

White answers the pin with 4. Qc2, keeping the pawn structure intact and preparing to recapture on c3 with the queen instead of a pawn.

Lesson

White to move. Main line: 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 d5 5. cxd5 Qxd5 6. Nf3 Qf5 7. Qd1 e5

Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Belyavsky Gambit (E34). The line runs 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 d5 5. cxd5 Qxd5 6. Nf3 Qf5 7. Qd1 e5 — the move order matters, and this is the one the theory follows.

Qc2 protects the c3-knight and keeps the option of Qxc3 after ...Bxc3+, preserving the pawn structure at the cost of developing the queen early.

Black’s ...d5 and ...e5 challenge the center before White completes development. White must decide whether the bishop pair and central pawns justify the queen’s repeated moves.