The Classical Variation, Berlin Variation, Pirc Variation is a variation of the Nimzo-Indian Defense, catalogued as ECO E39. The line runs 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 c5 5. dxc5 O-O, reaching the position shown below after 10 half-moves.
The four central squares are empty of pawns, so the fight for them is being conducted by pieces. Development is level at one minor pieces each, and White is up a pawn of material. It is White to move after five moves. Black has castled while White’s king is still uncommitted; White has doubled pawns on the c-file.
On the Nimzo-Indian Defense generally: One of the most respected defenses to 1.d4. Black pins the knight and fights for central control.
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The Classical Variation, Berlin Variation, Pirc Variation goes 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 c5 5. dxc5 O-O. It is a variation of the Nimzo-Indian Defense and is catalogued as ECO E39.
The Classical Variation, Berlin Variation, Pirc Variation is ECO E39. ECO codes group openings by their move order, so nearby codes cover closely related lines of the Nimzo-Indian Defense.
Stockfish evaluates the position after 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 c5 5. dxc5 O-O at +0.35 at depth 18, which is a slight pull for White, within normal opening margins. Engine evaluation is only a starting point — at club level the practical value of a line is mostly about whether you know its plans better than your opponent does.
The four central squares are empty of pawns, so the fight for them is being conducted by pieces. Development is level at one minor pieces each, and White is up a pawn of material. It is White to move. Black has castled while White’s king is still uncommitted; White has doubled pawns on the c-file.