Nimzo-Indian Defense: Leningrad Variation, Benoni Defense
In the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Leningrad Variation, Benoni Defense, aim to understand the plans and pawn structures, not just memorize the first moves.
The Nimzo-Indian Defense: Leningrad Variation, Benoni Defense is a chess opening classified under ECO code E31. It is reached after the moves 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Bg5 h6 5. Bh4 c5 6. d5 d6: 12 moves in, with White to play.
It belongs to the Nimzo-Indian Defense family — one of many ways the line can branch. Understanding the parent system’s plans is the fastest way to play this variation well.
Club players rarely lose the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Leningrad Variation, Benoni Defense in the opening itself. They lose it a few moves later, when the plan behind the moves runs out: that is what reading your own games in this line shows you.