The Classical Variation, Noa Variation, Botvinnik Variation is a variation of the Nimzo-Indian Defense, catalogued as ECO E36. The line runs 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 d5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. Qxc3 Nc6, reaching the position shown below after 12 half-moves.
Both sides have pawns in the centre (White on d4, Black on d5), and one pawn capture is available, so the structure has not settled yet. Black is ahead in development, with three minor pieces out to White's one. It is White to move after six moves. White has the bishop pair.
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, Noa Variation, Botvinnik Variation goes 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 d5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. Qxc3 Nc6. It is a variation of the Nimzo-Indian Defense and is catalogued as ECO E36.
The Classical Variation, Noa Variation, Botvinnik Variation is ECO E36. 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 d5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. Qxc3 Nc6 at +0.47 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.
Both sides have pawns in the centre (White on d4, Black on d5), and one pawn capture is available, so the structure has not settled yet. Black is ahead in development, with three minor pieces out to White's one. It is White to move. White has the bishop pair.